The Story of Two Geezer Meezers, Kimi and Daffy:

Old cats are the hardest cats to place from a rescue shelter. Most people want the cute kittens, or a cat young enough to stay with them for a long, long time. Plus, the older cats usually come with pre-existing medical conditions, which is often why they are given up to begin with. But what kind of life is it when you have to live your final years in a shelter after having spent most of your life in a comfortable home? How could anyone spend 10-15 years with a cat and then just callously give the cat up because it has become too much trouble for them? Maria and I adopted two old "geezer meezers," both of them owner give-ups, because we wanted them to live their final years in comfort and with the dignity they richly deserve.

You wanna make something of it? Kimi glares at the camera - she doesn't care much for having her picture taken, so we don't have too many good photos of her to show!

Kimi was our first geezer that we adopted. She was about 13 years old when we first saw her at the Siamese Rescue Shelter hiding under a table, growling at all the other cats that walked by. Her growl, however, didn't sound so much like a growl as a cackle, which I thought was hilarious. Despite her crabby demeanor, each time I picked her up she relaxed immediately, curling up contentedly and falling asleep as I stroked her silky fur. It is often said that you don't so much pick out a cat, the cat picks out you. Each time I visited the Rescue Shelter she would cackle at me and I would scoop her into my arms where she curled up blissfully and purred contentedly. Knowing that the chances were slim that anyone would adopt a cat at that age, and especially with her apparent "attitude" problem, we adopted her. Kimi quickly established her territory once we brought her home, claiming the bed as her own and insisting on sleeping next to us each night. We were worried about how our other cats would take to a new cat, but they all treated her with the respect an older cat commands.

Kimi cozies up next to Daffy, our other geezer meezer. Kimi still growls (cackles, actually) at other cats, but has a soft spot in her heart for Daffy, and will sometimes seek him out at night to snuggle with.

Kimi was given up at the age of thirteen after spending her whole life with one owner. The owner claimed that Kimi had developed "irritable bowel syndrome" and was vomiting constantly, and that she just couldn't deal with it. Sure, Kimi occasionally throws-up her meals, like all cats do (and humans, for that matter), but very rarely; certainly not on a regular basis. Maybe the owner just got tired of her? How can anyone give up a cat after spending thirteen years with that cat? I can't even begin to comprehend that, but her loss is our gain. We love our little "crabby girl" and are happy to provide that forever home for her to live out her remaining years.

Daffy looks very content on the cat tree by the window. It didn't take him long at all to make himself right at home!

Daffy was turned into the Bull Run Veterinary Clinic at the age of 15 to be euthanized. The original owner with whom Daffy had spent his entire life died, and so Daffy was given to the daughter. Unfortunately, the daughter was a breeder of Tonkinese cats, and wanted nothing to do with a non-Tonk, so she took him to the vet to be killed. Fortunately, the veterinarians at the Bull Run Veterinary Clinic know us very well and knew that we were active volunteers for the Siamese Rescue Shelter and contacted us instead. Daffy had to be given a pill daily to prevent his urinary tract from becoming blocked, but other than that he was perfectly healthy. We fostered him for a month, but Daffy seemed so happy with us and with our home that we officially adopted him a month later. Daffy is one of the most easy-going, friendly cats I've ever encountered, and all our other cats got along with him right away.

Daffy provides me with navigational assistance while I negotiate the treacherous terrain of "Might and Magic VIII." We seem to have a family of highly computer-literate cats - see the picture of Tiger assisting me with "Heroes of Might and Magic" on my Tabbies page.

With proper diet, we have been able to control Daffy's urinary problems without medication. He adores our other cats, and they all seem to adore him, often taking turns snuggling up with him. He is a favorite at the Bull Run Veterinary Clinic as well, and each of the vet techs know him by sight and take turns petting him when we bring him in or a visit. We are glad we could give Daffy a proper home that he can enjoy, and we hope he has many years left with us.

Ahhh! That's the spot! Nothing like a cozy catbed to curl up on.

Look! We got to meet Sandy Claws! May all our wishes come true...and it seems like they already have.

Editors Note: We regret that Kimi "crossed the bridge" on June, 2004 at the age of 17, and Daffy soon after at the age of 19.
Go here to view the Memorial Page.

Comments? Write to my daddy at kelly@kswmyy.com!