My Sister Charlie and the Late Great Clyde
When I was brought into my new home there was already a resident kitty named Charlie. Charlie is a girl. Here is the story of Charlie, and my predecessor Clyde.
This was Claudia Suzanna Sourpuss Squishy Face Ping Pong Fizzy Soroka, Clyde for short. Mama was just 19 years old when she got Clyde in January of 2000, Clyde was 8 months old. She travelled with Mama through adulthood, college, career, good times, bad times and even the big move to NYC.
She was a bit of a grump, liked to be pet on her own terms. She would sleep on her own pillow on bed for you to pet her or the arm of the sofa, but never on top of a human. She even had her own couch and she enjoyed watching TV on it.
Futurama was her favorite show
She was cool with being an only cat and would growl at any she may have seen outside. She didn't particularly care for other animals so she remained the only cat for the next 14 years. Clyde started Mama's love affair with long haired cats.
Clyde liked to watch TV and beg for food. She was always there when you were eating. Even if you were pretending to eat she would watch you so intently hoping for a morsel of goodness to drop on the floor.
In August 2012, Clyde had a heck of a night, she ended up overnight in the ER. It was suspected that she had a stroke and it was discovered that she has hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscles), hyperthyroidism, hypokalemia, and a cranial mediastinal cyst in her heart.
Over the months, at various vet visits it showed that her heart was starting to fail, and her kidneys were none to good either. Mama spent several thousands of dollars on her care and set up a fundraiser online. At the time Clyde and Mama had live in NYC for six years, and were done. The fundraiser allowed Mama to afford Clyde's bills and say SCREW YOU NYC, I'M OUT.
Can you resist this face???
Facing the inevitable death of an aging pet can be a traumatic experience, and Mama decided to make the transition easier by adopting a second cat. Charlie was adopted from Courageous Cats in Long Island, NY in February 2013. She was approximately 12 weeks old. According to the Rescue Organization, Charlie was found in a yard in Long Island with another kitten and their mother. She is a beautiful Maine Coon cat mix.
Charlie, Clyde and Mama relocated to Upstate NY, and met who I now call Daddy just 9 days after the move! Charlie being the adorable little stinker she is had a fondness of ruining anything paper she could find.
And of course, terrorizing Clyde, the poor old lady.
Clyde lived another 9 months after Charlie was adopted, and after much heartache the decision was made to lead her to Rainbow Bridge. RIP 11/8/13
Charlie was lost without Clyde and cried constantly. She didn't know why she was all alone during the day. Mama was heartbroken. Shortly after, Charlie and Mama moved in with Daddy, and it eased Charlie's loneliness a bit.
Several months went by and it was time for Charlie, Mama & Daddy to open their home to another cat, and they adopted me!!!! Charlie didn't like me at first. She hissed and hid. At first I beat her up a little because I was like "HEY don't you dare hiss at me!"
Soon after our bickering turned into playing and now I love sleeping near her and licking her pretty face. When I met her I never thought I would be calling her family, but now she is my sister!
I would like to thank Clyde for being a wonderful cat, who showed Mama (and Daddy) many things about life and what it is to love an animal! Rest in Peace sweet grumpy lady.
