By Kay Luckett
Meet The Boys: two big boys born in the springtime. They will be eleven years old this May.
When they arrived at Miss Kitty’s adoption, they appeared to be one huge black lump cuddled in the farthest corner of their new abode, well hidden under a cat tower. They protected each other. Their previous owner, Father Norman, had left them at his home at Sacred Heart Church while he travelled to Cincinnati on a church assignment. Sadly, he never returned home as he had passed away after a fatal auto accident.
The Boys were at the shelter for three months before Bill knew about them, and then he immediately called to find out if they were still available for adoption. Bill became the hero of the shelter because of his open heart and willing to adopt.
In his words, “Black cats are the least likely cat type to be adopted, and the brothers were four-time losers in that they were black, they were a pair that could not be split up, they were older (nine years at the time), and they had health issues.
“Both were obese, plus Malachi suffers from chronic bronchitis. This requires his parent to get him a shot every month to manage his condition.”
Bill stepped up on all four counts, and they currently reside happily with their Forever Dad.
Bill continues, “It’s been quite an adventure unlocking the boys’ characteristics and personalities. After almost two years, I’m still surprised when a new trait or behavior emerges.
“Suffice it to say, they’ve done a marvelous job at training me and have learned to tolerate me quite well.”
Please note, that in addition to being an attentive full time cat dad, Bill donates his time to The Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott. He publishes their Talking Sun Newsletter for members and sits on their Board of Trustees.
Bill describes his first meeting with them The Boys. “I went over to visit Miss Kitty’s to introduce myself, and it was over. Yes, these were my future roommates.
“Levi wouldn’t even come out from down under and kept scrunching himself further and further away from the stranger. Malachi, on the other hand, was wide-eyed at the stranger who seemed to understand the value of a good ear rub.
“When I returned a week later to pick them up, no one could get Levi out of the kitty igloo he was hiding in. So we just picked him up, igloo and all, and put him in an over-sized cat carrier. That’s how he arrived at this new home.”
Bill continues, “I have to admit that I was a little nervous at first, because these two big boys were the first time I’ve had two cats all by myself.
“The first few months were a bit tense and somewhat arduous at times as both were on prescription diet food to address their weight issue. Levi was almost 21 pounds when he came home, but with proper control, he has arrived at this somewhat optimal weight of 16 pounds. He looks the part of ginormous.
“Comparatively, Malachi fluctuates at around 18 pounds and looks more like Notch, the black jaguar at Prescott’s Heritage Park Zoo.”
“Other than being siblings and both black, Malachi and Levi, like so many brothers, I suppose, could not possibly be any more different from each other.
“Malachi loves brushing, Levi not so much. Malachi is outgoing, where Levi is still rather shy and reserved. However, Levi is far more vocal than his brother except that when Malachi has something to say (like ‘It’s couch time: pet me’), you know it.
“Malachi enjoys a good belly rub, but I cannot recommend trying that with Levi unless you are wearing plenty of arm protection.”
“Levi is sitting in front of the screen door celebrating springtime, enjoying the fresh air while surveying everything and anything that moves. Malachi, on the other hand, has a total aversion to the front door.
“When I open the front door, or even unlock it, Malachi is gone. I suspect this may have something to do with a past experience.”
Bill is a most conscientious cat dad and will readily stop to tell a tale about the boys. He tells a funny story that of all the brands of cat food he has tried—especially the most expensive gourmet brands of all—his boys tend to like Friskies.
He laughs and says that his boys run the show and that their vet, Dr. Baxter, seemed to feel that as long as they really liked the food, it was okay.
So Happy Spring to all and to cats, good eats, and good naps.
Meow.
