CATS, Forever Loved

In August 1997, not many would have adopted Lelu, who was a four month old baby Manx rescued from a ravine, sick, dirty and skinny. Not many would have adopted four month old Mitzy, when the breeder himself admitted that she was 'frail'-"Any other, but her," he said, pointing at the healthier kittens. But it was to be! From that crowded back room at the animal shelter, Lelu came home with me, and from that skeptical breeder, so did Mitzy.

Not knowing a thing about Manx or Siamese kittens, I immediately went to the book store and I purchased a cat encyclopedia. The basics I discovered helped me relax a bit, but my natural maternal/human instinct worked miracles. Apart from what I read, I decided to consider Lelu and Mitzy as children and I would verbally share with them everything. I sensed that they knew exactly what I was saying and I could tell that I was dealing with two very intelligent cats.

From the very beginning, in the process of monitoring my own performance, I photographed every step of their life. In February last year when Lelu died suddenly, I was devastated. He would have been 13 years old in April. Because he retained his kitten like personality to the end, I could not believe that soon the day will arrive when my beautiful Lelu would die. I knew that, naturally, after the age of 7 cats begin to age. I also knew that there is a geriatric stage following and that the average life expectancy in male Manx is between 10 to 12 (PURINA web site). What I did not know was, how lucky I was that Lelu was a super-healthy Manx. He was a perfect Manx!

Weeks after Lelu died, out of that dramatic pain of loosing him, the book "Forever Loved" was born. Immortalized in the 84 pages, Lelu and Mitzy's story is a symbol of our immense love for our cats and the love they have for each other.

Elysse

(©photo by Elysse Poetis)