 | Home:Twentynine Palms, CA |
Sex: Male Weight: 10 lbs.
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Leave a treat for Philo (1986-2003)
Nicknames:
Mr. Philo, P Money, Philoman, Pee, Kitty Man, El Nino, Senor Nino, Devil Cat, Cow Cat, Lord of the Bed, King of the Pillows, Farto (Dad's name)
Quick Bio:
Coloration:
Black and White
Likes:
Philo's favorite activites were climbing and jumping, snarfing catnip, and daily birdwatching
Pet-Peeves:
A slightly used litter box meant it was okay to poop just outside the box.
Favorite Toy:
feather & mylar taunters, anything filled with catnip
Favorite Nap Spot:
anyplace where the sun, but especially on the bed, on the pillows by an open window
Favorite Food:
strawberry jam, yoghurt and tuna juice
Skills:
He could climb up onto anything - he had a secret spot up on the roof, I discovered one day!
Dwells:
indoors and outdoors
Arrival Story:
When I was in college in Austin, Texas and I got my first apartment with my friend Beth, we were both determined to become cat parents. During the summer before my junior year, Beth adopted her cat, Frodo, from the local shelter. I adopted a fine little black and white kitten who was born to a feral cat in our area. The mother cat was in the process of teaching her babies how to avoid people and forage for food at the dumpsters. Beth and I spent hours getting the family used to us so we could get close enough to trap one. Finally, we isolated the kitty at the dumpster and trapped him carefully with a towel. It took him a while to become friends, but soon enjoyed his life with humans. I named this catlet, Philo, after the heart-shaped black spot on top of his head; "philo" means loving in Greek. And so began the cat-love of my life.
Bio:
Philo enjoyed his cat tree and his buddy Frodo, and our life in Austin. He also loved to climb anthing thing when he was young! His cat tree, local trees and fences outside, sometimes with embarrasing outcomes. While Philo spent some time outdoors, within the grounds of our complex, it was only when we were home, and he was trained to come inside at sundown, when I whistled for him. Good, good kitty!
When I first moved from Austin, he stayed with my parents in Dallas, until I could find a place to live that I was good for cats too. It took almost a year, and during that time, Philo became the grandchild my parents never had. My dad, especially - NOT A CAT PERSON - loved him dearly and spoiled Philo rotten (see photos Dad taking him outside when I had left instructions that he NOT be allowed outside) . Finally, Philo joined me in sunny California, where he enjoyed the mild, pleasant weather.
Philo had pretty happy life being my Only Cat for many years. He was the love of my life for a long time, and he was my best friend and a connection with home at a time when I was very homesick in a pretty strange place.
When I met my fiance and started our life together, P Money tolerated Andrew; but truly, they respected each other. A creative a clever person, Andrew made up songs and rap rhymes surrounding Philo's gangster persona - P Money $ - cat from the streets, feral-style, see.
When we got our first apartment together Andrew and I became involved in feral cat rescue in our area. Through our efforts, we placed many cats in homes, and had many other ferals fixed to live out their lives peacefully. Our family grew to 2, then 3 feral cats. Philo tolerated all this, but Lu Lu the Kitten really made his life hell (see her catster page). She only wanted to play - agressively - and he just wanted to be left alone. It was also around the time he started becoming an older cat, and a little arthritic.
Unfortunately, P Money had many experiences at the vet's office, throughout his life. He came to hate the vet, of course. Once when he was young, he swallowed a string from one of his toys requiring an operation to recover it. He had some treatment for his arthritis, and then he had hyperthyroidism, and lost a lot of weight. Radiation treatment at UC Davis (twice!) resolved this, but there was worse to come.
My beloved kitty would become diabetic with heart problems too, and this would later take his life. Philo was a good patient throughout all these illnesses. He didn't cooperate with pills, but he allowed me to test his blood sugar and give him insulin shots like a trooper. Controlling diabetes is hard, and over two years, we were never able to get it under control for more than 4 months. It was very hard on him, but I was encouraged by others with diabetic cats that it could be controlled, so we tried everything we could. Philo gave it his best, but finally, he became too ill for insulin to help. Andrew was away for many months (he's in the Marines) at that time, but fortunately, my future mother-in-law was with Philo and me when the time came to say goodbye. It was the saddest day of my life, next to when my father had passed away, just a few years before that.
My sweet kitty died in spring 2003, at the age of 16. I'll never forget this special piebald cat, but there will never be another cat like P Money. Andrew and I now have six fur-children (we aren't having kids), and they fill our lives with joy. But Philo was our first fur-child together and will always be our big ole boy.
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[that was my minion, Ho Ho, a cute little tuxie, walking across the keyboard, see her catster page]
Forums Motto:
P. Money
The Groups I'm In:
College Football Fans, =^..^= Southern Kitties =^..^= all others are welcome too!!!, Black And White Units, Black and White: Stripes, Cow Contentment - Black and White Cats and Dogs, Fabulous Ferals, feral cats united
I've Been On Catster Since:
| April 7th 2005 |
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More than 4 years! |
Rosette, Star and Special Gift History
Catster Id:
136119
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