In loving memory of my cat George, who died aged 13 years old on 16th November 2001 in Basildon, England.
Having had cats all my life, it was not long after moving into our new house in 1987 that we contacted the local Cats Protection League to arrange a visit to a local lady who had several kittens for rehoming. George was about 8 weeks old when we first saw her, a timid little thing that had taken to burrowing her way under the arm of the couch for warmth and as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was the kitten I wanted.
It turned out that she had been homed before, to a family that had dogs and several children and she had been kept in an enclosed box for most of the time she had been there before being returned to the CPL. Small and very frightened, we took her home and although it took her some time to settle in, she soon began to enjoy her new home and all the little treats that came her way, a special basket, lots of new toys for her to play with and the very best food to suit her "increasingly cultured tastes" - prawns and chicken being her particular favourites.
The question of a name was soon resolved, my wife Frances at the time being a huge George Michael fan and although not a truly feminine name, George it was destined she was going to be.
George was never really what you would call a "lap cat" but she would show affection on her own terms and when she wanted. Very independent, it was only in her latter years that she became outgoing and friendly and it has to be said that she was very much "my cat" following me all over the house just to be near me, often sitting on the arm of my chair with me stroking her or letting me put my arm around her while she softly and gently purred to herself, thoroughly enjoying the love and affection she was being shown. It is fair to say that she was never really greatly enamoured with other cats and when we added Chalky to our house two years after her and Steffi and Ted in 1992, she kept her distance and always remained aloof from them, showing great distain if any of the other cats even came anywhere near her, indeed George was a cat that lived life on her terms in almost every way.
It was in November 2001 that we started to notice that George's health had taken a turn for the worse and after an examination at the vets, we were given the devastating news that she had a large cancerous tumour in her stomach. I took the decision to let the vet operate to see if the tumour could be removed but it was only when they started the operation that they found that the cancer had spread and after discussion and there being no hope of a recovery for George, she was put to sleep on 16th November 2001. She was cremated and her ashes brought home which is where they are today.
George was a beautiful little cat who brought much fun and pleasure into our lives and she in turn had a long and happy life with us. Quirky in her own way but very loveable nonetheless, she is much missed indeed and will never be forgotten.
Having had cats all my life, it was not long after moving into our new house in 1987 that we contacted the local Cats Protection League to arrange a visit to a local lady who had several kittens for rehoming. George was about 8 weeks old when we first saw her, a timid little thing that had taken to burrowing her way under the arm of the couch for warmth and as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was the kitten I wanted.
It turned out that she had been homed before, to a family that had dogs and several children and she had been kept in an enclosed box for most of the time she had been there before being returned to the CPL. Small and very frightened, we took her home and although it took her some time to settle in, she soon began to enjoy her new home and all the little treats that came her way, a special basket, lots of new toys for her to play with and the very best food to suit her "increasingly cultured tastes" - prawns and chicken being her particular favourites.
The question of a name was soon resolved, my wife Frances at the time being a huge George Michael fan and although not a truly feminine name, George it was destined she was going to be.
George was never really what you would call a "lap cat" but she would show affection on her own terms and when she wanted. Very independent, it was only in her latter years that she became outgoing and friendly and it has to be said that she was very much "my cat" following me all over the house just to be near me, often sitting on the arm of my chair with me stroking her or letting me put my arm around her while she softly and gently purred to herself, thoroughly enjoying the love and affection she was being shown. It is fair to say that she was never really greatly enamoured with other cats and when we added Chalky to our house two years after her and Steffi and Ted in 1992, she kept her distance and always remained aloof from them, showing great distain if any of the other cats even came anywhere near her, indeed George was a cat that lived life on her terms in almost every way.
It was in November 2001 that we started to notice that George's health had taken a turn for the worse and after an examination at the vets, we were given the devastating news that she had a large cancerous tumour in her stomach. I took the decision to let the vet operate to see if the tumour could be removed but it was only when they started the operation that they found that the cancer had spread and after discussion and there being no hope of a recovery for George, she was put to sleep on 16th November 2001. She was cremated and her ashes brought home which is where they are today.
George was a beautiful little cat who brought much fun and pleasure into our lives and she in turn had a long and happy life with us. Quirky in her own way but very loveable nonetheless, she is much missed indeed and will never be forgotten.
In loving memory of my cat George, who died aged 13 years old on 16th November 2001 in Basildon, England.
Having had cats all my life, it was not long after moving into our new house in 1987 that we contacted the local Cats Protection League to arrange a visit to a local lady who had several kittens for rehoming. George was about 8 weeks old when we first saw her, a timid little thing that had taken to burrowing her way under the arm of the couch for warmth and as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was the kitten I wanted.
It turned out that she had been homed before, to a family that had dogs and several children and she had been kept in an enclosed box for most of the time she had been there before being returned to the CPL. Small and very frightened, we took her home and although it took her some time to settle in, she soon began to enjoy her new home and all the little treats that came her way, a special basket, lots of new toys for her to play with and the very best food to suit her "increasingly cultured tastes" - prawns and chicken being her particular favourites.
The question of a name was soon resolved, my wife Frances at the time being a huge George Michael fan and although not a truly feminine name, George it was destined she was going to be.
George was never really what you would call a "lap cat" but she would show affection on her own terms and when she wanted. Very independent, it was only in her latter years that she became outgoing and friendly and it has to be said that she was very much "my cat" following me all over the house just to be near me, often sitting on the arm of my chair with me stroking her or letting me put my arm around her while she softly and gently purred to herself, thoroughly enjoying the love and affection she was being shown. It is fair to say that she was never really greatly enamoured with other cats and when we added Chalky to our house two years after her and Steffi and Ted in 1992, she kept her distance and always remained aloof from them, showing great distain if any of the other cats even came anywhere near her, indeed George was a cat that lived life on her terms in almost every way.
It was in November 2001 that we started to notice that George's health had taken a turn for the worse and after an examination at the vets, we were given the devastating news that she had a large cancerous tumour in her stomach. I took the decision to let the vet operate to see if the tumour could be removed but it was only when they started the operation that they found that the cancer had spread and after discussion and there being no hope of a recovery for George, she was put to sleep on 16th November 2001. She was cremated and her ashes brought home which is where they are today.
George was a beautiful little cat who brought much fun and pleasure into our lives and she in turn had a long and happy life with us. Quirky in her own way but very loveable nonetheless, she is much missed indeed and will never be forgotten.
Having had cats all my life, it was not long after moving into our new house in 1987 that we contacted the local Cats Protection League to arrange a visit to a local lady who had several kittens for rehoming. George was about 8 weeks old when we first saw her, a timid little thing that had taken to burrowing her way under the arm of the couch for warmth and as soon as I saw her, I knew that she was the kitten I wanted.
It turned out that she had been homed before, to a family that had dogs and several children and she had been kept in an enclosed box for most of the time she had been there before being returned to the CPL. Small and very frightened, we took her home and although it took her some time to settle in, she soon began to enjoy her new home and all the little treats that came her way, a special basket, lots of new toys for her to play with and the very best food to suit her "increasingly cultured tastes" - prawns and chicken being her particular favourites.
The question of a name was soon resolved, my wife Frances at the time being a huge George Michael fan and although not a truly feminine name, George it was destined she was going to be.
George was never really what you would call a "lap cat" but she would show affection on her own terms and when she wanted. Very independent, it was only in her latter years that she became outgoing and friendly and it has to be said that she was very much "my cat" following me all over the house just to be near me, often sitting on the arm of my chair with me stroking her or letting me put my arm around her while she softly and gently purred to herself, thoroughly enjoying the love and affection she was being shown. It is fair to say that she was never really greatly enamoured with other cats and when we added Chalky to our house two years after her and Steffi and Ted in 1992, she kept her distance and always remained aloof from them, showing great distain if any of the other cats even came anywhere near her, indeed George was a cat that lived life on her terms in almost every way.
It was in November 2001 that we started to notice that George's health had taken a turn for the worse and after an examination at the vets, we were given the devastating news that she had a large cancerous tumour in her stomach. I took the decision to let the vet operate to see if the tumour could be removed but it was only when they started the operation that they found that the cancer had spread and after discussion and there being no hope of a recovery for George, she was put to sleep on 16th November 2001. She was cremated and her ashes brought home which is where they are today.
George was a beautiful little cat who brought much fun and pleasure into our lives and she in turn had a long and happy life with us. Quirky in her own way but very loveable nonetheless, she is much missed indeed and will never be forgotten.
