Once a Meezer, Always a Meezer

by Marlin
(Columbus, Ohio)

Growing up in the 60s we always had Siamese cats, seals as I recall; the earliest was Ming Soo and we had her for a good number of years, with at least one litter of kittens.

She was the classic type, and my favorite kitten of hers was a girl I called Kitty (yes, how original, but I was only six or seven then!) Anyway, I never had to call her by name as she would come running when I whistled for her, just as we did for the dog.

About twenty-five years later, I moved into Columbus from the country and a neighbor told me about a Siamese he couldn't take in due to having two cats and a dog already. Since it was October, I took the cat - a lilac point, covered in oil, skeletally thin and scared of loud noises.

According to the vet he was six or seven years old, and I had him for another fifteen years until he died of kidney failure. By that time Kublai was going deaf, was blind and beginning to show signs of senility as he'd walk in circles until being picked up, then he would be okay again.

My sister gave me Genghis, a seal point kitten whose mother had been tossed out at her farm. At three months, he needed ear mite meds, eye drops and sinus medication, but in a short time he became healthy and loving.

When Genghis was about eight months old my sister brought me his sister, Bortai, as the remaining kitten of the litter had been killed.

Bortai was a seal-tortie point. It was tough sleeping with both of them, as one would lay on either side of my pillow, their heads cupped in my hands and their tails facing my head!

Genghis would adjust his head to suit my position, but Bortai placed my hand where she wanted it by indicating with her paws - a habit she still has to this day!

Alas, Genghis was stolen six years ago late one August evening. He was a robust, expensive looking boy at twelve pounds, as Bortai is for a girl weighing in at ten pounds.

My sister then found me another kitten to help keep Bortai company - Chula, a classic seal point weighing about seven pounds, with a thin but not elongated body and a slightly more pointed muzzle than my other cats had.

In all these years, since moving into Columbus, my Siamese have all been lovable, friendly and playful, but not overly vocal.

I remember growing up to loud Siamese voices, but all I get 99% of the time from Bortai and Chula are purrs. I guess I'm doing things right!

Reply from Caroline:

Thanks so much for your story, Marlin! My aunt once had a cat called Chula. What lovely names you had for all your cats - yes, even Kitty!

I was so sorry to hear that Genghis was stolen though - it's heart-breaking when something like that happens, both for the humans and I think for the other cats, and it's great that you were able to get another Siamese cat to keep Bortai company.

She and Chula sound very happy together and I hope they're with you for a long time yet.

Read more about the different types of Siamese cats:

• Old-fashioned Siamese
• Modern, show-style Siamese