I have been loving cats since I was in my early 20's. My story is one of a crazy thing that happens. When I was a very young girl, I was terribly allergic to cats! I could not even live next door to a person who owned cats. My Mom says that I would get a very high fever and become very ill. So as I grew up, I was never allowed to be around them or to even appreciate them. But in my heart, I always knew that I would love those furry little puff balls.
I started off with my first cat, whose name was Muffin. She was a kitten when I got her, when I was maybe 21 or 22 years of age. She had semi long hair. I still lived at home with my parents so I was made to keep her in this great big cage outside. I am thinking that Mom was still afraid for my life. So, I finally got my own apartment, and off Muffin and I went. She was an outside cat at the time. I did not then know the dangers of a cat roaming around outside. I always thought it was the natural thing.
One day when it was time for Muffin to come in, she arrived, however, I could feel that something wasn't right with her. She seemed very lethargic but I figured she was gonna be ok. I thought maybe she was just tired from the day. The next day I came home from work and found her dead in my bathroom. She was bleeding from the behind. I cried until I thought I would not be able to see anymore. I loved that cat so very much and I didn't think I would stop missing her. I figured she got into either something bad like glass or poison but she died so quickly, she didn't have a chance. As time went on, I would get a kitty here and there, but somehow no one could replace my Muffin. As the years went on, I started finding out more and more things about Persian Cats. I saw pictures and I knew that they were beautiful, but heck, I thought I would never be able to afford one.
Price range for kittens was anywhere from 400 to 1000 dollars. So I waited. Then I began learning about these shelters that you could adopt pets from. Prices weren't too bad, like around 75 dollars. So I got online on Petfinder and I found my first beautiful persian cat. His name was Amos and he had long charcoal color hair and he was the best cat since Muffin. He would not use the bathroom anywhere but the litterbox. He would hold it in forever if he had too. Amos ran away one day, and he was strictly an inside cat. I worried all day, but that night he came home.
He had a boo boo on his little paw. I figured maybe he got into fight or maybe an antpile. Well I cleaned the boo boo and I washed it good and it never would get better. Finally, I brought him to the Vet for it. My Vet said that there was good news and bad news. The good news was that this thing he had was not identifiable, but it could be taken care of. The bad news was, we had to amputate his little leg. I was devestated. I got him the surgery and he ended up with three legs. He healed and was good to go. He hopped on things like he was supercat. Amos got old and he passed away.
He was said to have been a Himilayan. I cried and grieved for him and I still do. He lived to be a good old age and I think God took him to heaven. I tried to get other cats after Amos, but none worked out for one reason or the other. Until one day, I looked upon Petfinder again. I found this beautiful picture of a Persian named Roxy. I went to the place where they were adopting her out, filled out the application, and was able to pick her up the next day. I was so happy. The kids were so happy. I had also aquired a white Persian a couple years before that, his name is Orion. Orion ran away a few months ago. Roxy and Orion were both inside only cats.
He decided not to come back even though we searched the neighorhood for days and asked all the people if they see him please let us know. Well about a month ago, someone saw Orion down the street. My kids and I investigated and sure enough, we saw him, he was not the cat who left my house! He was dirty, and matted hair, and so skinny that his bones were showing. My kids cried when they picked him up. Come to find out, the man down the street was feeding him fish everyday. I am guessing that's why he stayed and didn't come home. He was not getting enough to eat however. I don't understand if he was mad at us or what. So we caught him, brought him home, I shaved his hair down, wormed him, bathed him, and fed him until he is now almost back to normal.
His hair is still short but it will get long and white and beautiful again. These are a few stories and experiences that I have had with my Persian Cats. And I wouldn't trade anything for any of them. They are my life, my heart and soul besides my children. I find that the Persian Breed is the funniest, nuttiest breed of cats around. They are almost like humans. If they get mad, they run away. If they get upset, they wee wee and doo doo anywhere. But most of all, if they love you? Then they REALLY LOVE YOU! My two Persians Orion and Roxy are doing well. Thank God they came to me. Wouldn't trade them for the world!