Part 2
TAFFY
After Kyat crossed the Rainbow Bridge it was several months before I could think about another cat. The breeder Kyat had been staying with when he got sick rang me one day to say she had some Burmese kittens and also some Abyssinian kittens and asked if I was interested. I said I would never have another Burmese, it would be too hard. She then suggested I come and have a look at the Abys as they were such beautiful kittens and I had not seen them before. I agreed and went to look and of course, fell in love with them. She felt guilty about Kyat getting sick under her care, so gave me a really good deal for the Aby kitten I chose. He was too young at that point so I had to wait to get him, but he was certainly worth it.
His full name was Sanderlea Aby Taffari, Sanderlea being the breeder’s registered name and Aby the breed. The Taffari came via a roundabout method. At the time I acquired Taffy, Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) was ruled by an Emperor by the name of Haile Selassie, whose real name was Ras Taffari Makonnen, hence Taffari, hence Taffy.
He fast became a family favourite and was very protective of all the babies that came into the family.
One day when my eldest grandson was only a toddler and sitting in his pusher with a chevachi in his hand, Taffy casually strolled past him and as he passed he grabbed the chevachi from him then bolted out the cat door.
My next door neighbour thought it was funny watching Taffy slide the windows open to get inside. Not so funny for me when he left the screen open so flies and mosquitoes could get in. She didn’t think it so funny after he used the same trick to get into her house and steal a steak she had out defrosting.
If ever I was upset, he always knew and wherever he was he would come home and snuggle with me. No matter where he was, he also always came when I whistled.
Although he was desexed, like a lot of male cats, he developed blockages in his urinary tract and had to have a sex change to fix the problem and prevent it happening again.
Taffy loved roast chicken and would sneak it if possible unless I shut it away where he couldn’t get at it. Another love was toast and Vegemite. When I made breakfast I always had to make him a slice of toast and Vegemite or I didn’t get any peace. If anyone in the family was eating cheezels, they had to throw one as far as they could and eat up quickly while he ran to grab it, before he was back for more.
When this beautiful boy was 15 years old he became painfully thin. The vet said he had a tumour which was inoperable. He wasn’t in pain or suffering, so stayed at home with me for the little time he had left. One night, a few short weeks later, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I was devastated as he had been with me through so much; my marriage breakup, a further long-term relationship breakup, children growing up and leaving home. He had been a great comfort to me. I had another cat as well as Taffy but we didn’t have the same relationship. I buried him in the garden and the hardest thing I had to do was leave him there when I moved. I missed him so much.
R.I.P. Taffy
