say hello to my little friend

Introducing:  Melvin

He’s 9 yrs old…very sweet, very talkative, very much a snuggle-butt

..and

what a character!

When I met him..he ran to me and I swooped him up..and we had a nose-kiss.  I knew he was mine

His former mama wanted a new home for him because she has a 14 mo toddler and she felt that Mr Mel wasn’t getting enough attention.  She loves him that much = enough to let him go to where he’ll get loads of attention…awww. (yes, we stay in touch!..this is an open adoption )

Once I got him home I told hubby that he’d need a few days to acclimate..but that I had met a kitty with a ton of personality..and loads of character

After I had a few days to observe him, I realized (in fact, hubby and I both did..and he’s not a ‘pet guy’)..  that Mel has diminished sight

His former owners had no idea.  They had never owned a cat previous to Mel and, most likely, they never noticed that his sight was failing, since they were with him each day ..  and Mr Mel was accustomed to his home and could maneuver it by habit and scent trails left by his feet.

*notice the photo = he’s not looking into the camera.  I took so many photos and most are like this.  He isn’t ‘looking at me’..  not into my eyes/camera lens, even though I was making kissy noises and talking to him..and he, to me.  He’s mid-meow there (and yes, he has a ‘freckle’ on his bottom lip)

I can’t use the photos with a flash, at all, for the fact that the refraction from his eyes is like two burning suns.  I’ve never seen anything like it..and I was a photo retoucher for more than 20 years.

His pupils are abnormally dilated..at times, his eyes are coal black.  He leaps over shadows on the floor..  stops abruptly at a wrinkle in a rug..or at a rug, period…as if it’s a deep pit in the floor.  He has a very hard time dealing with going up and down stairs…anything in dim light or with shadows  etc..etc

No matter! He plays like a kitten..

He is part Abyssinian..and, unfortunately, that breed carries a genetic abnormality that causes blindness at early age or middle age.  Mel has the middle age form..it’s called ‘Progressive Retinal Degeneration’.  Yes, he’ll be fully blind soon..poor guy

But!  for now he’s happy..very loved and spends a few hours each day harnessed to a long leash outdoors.  He totally loves it   He does get a few owwies from time to time = from chasing a bird or whatever..and running into the spruces or a tree trunk.     I joke about getting him safety goggles..but it’s not a bad idea.  Imagine how funny he’d look..hahhaaa   ..as if he doesn’t make me laugh as it is..he’s such a cornball

He squeeks his toes on the floor when playing, sounds like he’s playing basketball on the hardwood *ya know the ‘squeeks from their shoes  ..I gave him his first catnip, fresh from my yard..and omg!..  I think he did a cartwheel..so funny!

I call him ‘Maynard’ a lot!  ..or  ‘Buzz’ (the catnip!)  .. as well as ‘Mr Mel’

they fit his character and personality..  and now you probably feel that you know him too