Max “The Cat”

Today we lost a long time friend and companion. Max “the Cat”. He was 18 years old. To remember Max I would like to share some one my favorite stories about Max. And the above is my favorite photo of Max.

Max came into our lives in May 1996. At that time we had only 1 cat, Cio Cio San. And we were not really looking for another cat. But one day at work we had a student who sent an e-mail to everyone at work. That student was selling, a computer, a car and a cat. I asked Susan if she was interested, and to my surprise she said yes we could take a look. Little did she know I meant the computer.

When we took a look we immediately fell in love with him. He was big and very playful. He loved playing with a rope, which we still have. It was amazing how fast he could move around. So we took him home. His original name was Ares, but he did not look like an Ares the Greek God of War. Max was more of a gentle giant.

On the way home he cried all the way. I felt really bad and thought I made a mistake taking him. We arrived home and all he did was hide under the bed in our guest room. And the next day Susan had to go into the Hospital for tests (not related to getting Max). So I was home alone with him. I remember I was trying everything to get him to come out. Finally I pulled out a hair brush and he came out and let me brush him a little. Then a little more, and more and more. Well 2 hours later I was still brushing him.

Susan called me from the Hospital and asked how he was doing. I told her he made me brush him. I remember Susan saying how can a cat make you brush him? I said wait and see. Turns out he loved being brushed!

Max is named after my Parents dog that was named after a Cat named Max. And he loved the name Max.

A year later we decided to adopt another Cat. Well that turned out to be 2 kittens, Maggie and Pete.

Max loved Maggie like a little sister. He watched out for her. He chased Pete away when he got to rough with her. He protected her. One day we bought a small kitchen appliance. And we put the box the on the floor. Well Maggie loved the box. She would sleep in the box, chew on the box and play all around the box. We called it Maggie’s box. And we could never through it away.

Once day Maggie was playing in her box and while she was not paying attention, Max stepped into the box and laid down. When Maggie saw that and if she could have talked she would have said “What are you doing in my Box!”. She swatted at him to get him to leave her box. Maggie finally had to whack Max in the butt to make him move. One thing about Max you could tell he was playful when he got all fluffed up! And was very fluffed up that day.

5 years ago Max became diabetic. He required daily insulin shots. When first got the prescription for Max they made it out to Max “the Cat” Wardzala. We went to the local Pharmacy to get it filled. We waited for the prescription to be filled and they would call on the intercom when it was ready. When it was ready they announced “Prescription for Max “THE Cat”. I told Susan it sound like a Mafia hit man name. Max never considered himself a cat. Being a Maine Coon mix, you never call them cats. You call them Maine Coons.

Max had a  way of giving hugs. He would head butt you with his forehead. Susan would stop whatever she was doing when Max came by and gave her a head butt. Recently, when Max was really sick we had to rush him to the emergency room. He was in insulin shock. They had to keep him over night. When we picked him up the next day he could not stand up. But when he we were about to leave he stood up, turned around and gave his nurse a head butt. It was his way of saying thank you.

We say farewell to Max and he joins his sisters; Cio Cio San and Maggie. We will miss you.

Joe