The Captain (always "The" Captain, never just "Captain") moved into our lives in 1986. At first we saw him skulking around the garden, very skinny and with a permanently runny nose. We felt sorry for him but no amount of persuading would bring him close to us so we started just leaving food out for him. Gradually, by moving the food closer and closer to the house we got him to come closer and closer to us until one day he was only a few inches outside the door and we were able to scoop him up and bring him in. We took him to our vet, who told us he was a very elderly pure bred Siamese who, though now sickly and malnourished, had at one point obviously been a very fine (and probably expensive) pedigree cat. He estimated the as yet un-named feline to be around 15 years old (also my age at the time) and suffering from a sinus infection, a cold, a urinary tract infection and probable kidney disease.
With antibiotics, careful feeding and lots of TLC, The Captain (named after singer captain Sensible, who he slightly resembled, and also so named because he ruled the house from the moment he moved in) was much improved in health and quickly changed from a scared, skittish animal to a loving, devoted friend. It was impossible to sit down or even pause for a moment without finding The Captain on one's lap or entwined around one's ankles; when there really was nobody available, he would fall asleep on my step-dad's armchair with his head dangling over the side. His neck would get longer and longer and longer until his head almost touched the floor and we had to pick it up and tuck it back in with him before he got to a point where he couldn't breathe! Even with his advanced age and stiff joints, he would still enjoy batting at the odd piece of string or ball, though his favourite pastime was to sit on the back of the couch and issue his little "ik-ik-ik-ik" orders to the birds outside.
The Captain was silent for the first six months or so that he lived with us. One day there was an earth shattering shriek - anyone who has ever lived with Siamese will know what I mean. The Captain had found his voice! He howled for about four days straight then just when we were all about to go insane, he apparently got bored with the noise and stopped, never to miaow again.
About a month before he died, The Captain's old UTI problems returned and this time it was apparent that antibiotics were having no effect. He was diagnosed with severe renal failure and when it became obvious that his system was shutting down and he was in pain I had to make the decision that every animal lover dreads. He and I were both about 16 at the time. I will never forget that horrible day I had to say goodbye to my Captain, and I will never forget that wonderful year we got to spend with this lovable little clown. I think - I hope - we made him happy and brought some love into his final months on earth.
With antibiotics, careful feeding and lots of TLC, The Captain (named after singer captain Sensible, who he slightly resembled, and also so named because he ruled the house from the moment he moved in) was much improved in health and quickly changed from a scared, skittish animal to a loving, devoted friend. It was impossible to sit down or even pause for a moment without finding The Captain on one's lap or entwined around one's ankles; when there really was nobody available, he would fall asleep on my step-dad's armchair with his head dangling over the side. His neck would get longer and longer and longer until his head almost touched the floor and we had to pick it up and tuck it back in with him before he got to a point where he couldn't breathe! Even with his advanced age and stiff joints, he would still enjoy batting at the odd piece of string or ball, though his favourite pastime was to sit on the back of the couch and issue his little "ik-ik-ik-ik" orders to the birds outside.
The Captain was silent for the first six months or so that he lived with us. One day there was an earth shattering shriek - anyone who has ever lived with Siamese will know what I mean. The Captain had found his voice! He howled for about four days straight then just when we were all about to go insane, he apparently got bored with the noise and stopped, never to miaow again.
About a month before he died, The Captain's old UTI problems returned and this time it was apparent that antibiotics were having no effect. He was diagnosed with severe renal failure and when it became obvious that his system was shutting down and he was in pain I had to make the decision that every animal lover dreads. He and I were both about 16 at the time. I will never forget that horrible day I had to say goodbye to my Captain, and I will never forget that wonderful year we got to spend with this lovable little clown. I think - I hope - we made him happy and brought some love into his final months on earth.
The Captain (always "The" Captain, never just "Captain") moved into our lives in 1986. At first we saw him skulking around the garden, very skinny and with a permanently runny nose. We felt sorry for him but no amount of persuading would bring him close to us so we started just leaving food out for him. Gradually, by moving the food closer and closer to the house we got him to come closer and closer to us until one day he was only a few inches outside the door and we were able to scoop him up and bring him in. We took him to our vet, who told us he was a very elderly pure bred Siamese who, though now sickly and malnourished, had at one point obviously been a very fine (and probably expensive) pedigree cat. He estimated the as yet un-named feline to be around 15 years old (also my age at the time) and suffering from a sinus infection, a cold, a urinary tract infection and probable kidney disease.
With antibiotics, careful feeding and lots of TLC, The Captain (named after singer captain Sensible, who he slightly resembled, and also so named because he ruled the house from the moment he moved in) was much improved in health and quickly changed from a scared, skittish animal to a loving, devoted friend. It was impossible to sit down or even pause for a moment without finding The Captain on one's lap or entwined around one's ankles; when there really was nobody available, he would fall asleep on my step-dad's armchair with his head dangling over the side. His neck would get longer and longer and longer until his head almost touched the floor and we had to pick it up and tuck it back in with him before he got to a point where he couldn't breathe! Even with his advanced age and stiff joints, he would still enjoy batting at the odd piece of string or ball, though his favourite pastime was to sit on the back of the couch and issue his little "ik-ik-ik-ik" orders to the birds outside.
The Captain was silent for the first six months or so that he lived with us. One day there was an earth shattering shriek - anyone who has ever lived with Siamese will know what I mean. The Captain had found his voice! He howled for about four days straight then just when we were all about to go insane, he apparently got bored with the noise and stopped, never to miaow again.
About a month before he died, The Captain's old UTI problems returned and this time it was apparent that antibiotics were having no effect. He was diagnosed with severe renal failure and when it became obvious that his system was shutting down and he was in pain I had to make the decision that every animal lover dreads. He and I were both about 16 at the time. I will never forget that horrible day I had to say goodbye to my Captain, and I will never forget that wonderful year we got to spend with this lovable little clown. I think - I hope - we made him happy and brought some love into his final months on earth.
With antibiotics, careful feeding and lots of TLC, The Captain (named after singer captain Sensible, who he slightly resembled, and also so named because he ruled the house from the moment he moved in) was much improved in health and quickly changed from a scared, skittish animal to a loving, devoted friend. It was impossible to sit down or even pause for a moment without finding The Captain on one's lap or entwined around one's ankles; when there really was nobody available, he would fall asleep on my step-dad's armchair with his head dangling over the side. His neck would get longer and longer and longer until his head almost touched the floor and we had to pick it up and tuck it back in with him before he got to a point where he couldn't breathe! Even with his advanced age and stiff joints, he would still enjoy batting at the odd piece of string or ball, though his favourite pastime was to sit on the back of the couch and issue his little "ik-ik-ik-ik" orders to the birds outside.
The Captain was silent for the first six months or so that he lived with us. One day there was an earth shattering shriek - anyone who has ever lived with Siamese will know what I mean. The Captain had found his voice! He howled for about four days straight then just when we were all about to go insane, he apparently got bored with the noise and stopped, never to miaow again.
About a month before he died, The Captain's old UTI problems returned and this time it was apparent that antibiotics were having no effect. He was diagnosed with severe renal failure and when it became obvious that his system was shutting down and he was in pain I had to make the decision that every animal lover dreads. He and I were both about 16 at the time. I will never forget that horrible day I had to say goodbye to my Captain, and I will never forget that wonderful year we got to spend with this lovable little clown. I think - I hope - we made him happy and brought some love into his final months on earth.
