Allow me to formally introduce our cat Shaddo, and our other cat, Shaddo’s Brother. Ok, his name is Jiggs. It’s the younger brother syndrome. We refer to them as “the boys”. Shaddo came into our lives soon after we lost our beautiful long hair black beauty Smokie in 1991. She was only 1 1/2 years old when she got into something toxic. Then hubby’s Dad died suddenly. In the middle of this, my niece mentioned kittens she knew of. Shaddo made it clear that he wanted to adopt us. He’s part Siamese, and has the markings of a domestic short hair. We believe he inherited 8 of Smokie’s lives (think he’s used about 25 by now). A year later, an ad was in the paper for Maine Coon kittens, no papers. We rescued Jiggs from a tatoo place full of kittens. Jiggs has classic brown tabby Maine Coon markings.
Shaddo didn’t approve of this little brown fluff-ball. Eventually, he figured this thing would be around, so he put up with him, but made sure the brown thing knew who was there first. In their younger days, they would sleep together; now they have their own places. The only time they’re close together is at feeding time. I place their plates as close together as possible – just because!
Shaddo is hyperthyroid, and gets transdermal methamazole twice a day and both boys get vitamins twice a day. Jiggs gets 1/2 Pepcid AC for a suspected ulcer. Jiggs always lets me know when it’s time to eat.
Anyone who remembers classic Buggs Bunny cartoons may know of the one where Buggs takes on a wrestler. This brings me to “round 73”. We substitute Buggs and the wrestler with Shaddo and Jiggs. Shaddo is at one end of the yard aiming himself at Jiggs as the arrow in a bow. Jiggs is at the other end of the yard getting ready to shoot himself out of a cannon. That’s the visual. They would run at each other at top speed and clash in the middle of the back yard. The boys were trained at an early age to stay close when they go out. They also must check in when mamma calls. They don’t go out quite as often these days, except when it’s nice out. No more going out at 4am, in the rain or snow.
The boys don’t play anymore. They sleep, eat, look out the window, get under my feet, and mooch for whatever we’re eating. Shaddo tends to run around a lot after meals. We have “steps” for them to get to where they want to go. From the floor to the chair to the ledge to the counter where there’s a water bowl by the kitchen sink. Never mind that there’s one by the food. Then back down. The cycle repeats over and over. Probably explains the occasional upchucking.
At 15 and 16 years old, there are so many stories that I could share, ranging from Shaddo nipping at Mom’s ankle, to Shaddo getting trapped in my truck, to Shaddo stealing a hamburger, to Shaddo on the roof, to Shaddo trapping a chipmunk in the house for me, to the tag-team effort of getting a mouse out of the attic. It’s usually all about Shaddo!
As for Jiggs, he’s my lovebug. Sleeps at my feet and stays with me when I’m sick. He’s lost weight and his fur isn’t as wooly-bully as it used to be, but he’s still a beautiful cat.
So that’s that. Shaddo: Shaddoobie, The Shaddomeister, Shaddorama, Schnobben, Sluggo, Hey Grey Cat. Jiggs: Jiggzie, The Wookie, The Brown Cat, Mr. Mooch, Messy Marvin, The Big Brown Fuzzy Thing. Love them both sooooo much!