Mr Ricky

Mr Ricky


I first met Mr Ricky in Sept 1998 when I moved down to Florida from Pennsylvania.  He was a gift to my brother and was living at my aunt's home.  I instantly fell in love with him.  He has that face that  made him look  like he was always mad.  But that was only a cover.  I tried to pet him and he was so timid and ran every time I got near.  I told my aunt that one day I would turn him into a lap cat.  When I first tried to pick him up, he would meow in a way that it sounded like he was saying "Nooooo!" 

For starters, I was the first one that got him to play. He was such a dignified looking cat and yet when he played he had a dumb animated look on his face!  His first toy was a shoelace that conveniently was still attached to my shoes.   If I can think of one word that describes him,  I would say "regal".  He always sat in a stance with his tail curled around his feet and when he layed on the floor  he would always extend one paw in front of him. 

Some of his favorite foods were chicken, turkey, ham, and tuna.  Oh and cant forget the milk.  I tried to give him crab and lobster and he just looked up at me as if to say "what is this!?". 

Whenever anyone ate chicken (especially rotisserie), he would sit there and tap his little paw on your shoulder.  We wondered how much he ate versus how much we got.   Anytime you made a sandwich, he could hear the package and would run to the kitchen looking to get a bite.  Getting a saucer out of the cupboard would trigger him too because I would always give him some milk.  It would be all over his face, thus giving him the nickname "wet chin"

He was a very good napper and could sleep pretty much anywhere.  He absolutely loved the waterbed though.  Curled up in a ball or he would burrow under a blanket. I have so many great pictures of him like that. 

Mr Ricky was one of the few cats that hated his long hair!  Roughly 2 times a year I would take him to the groomers and have him shaved. He would get the traditional "lion cut" which would leave everything short, the face rounded out, and a small tuft on the top of his tail. He loved it!   After that, he would constantly rub up against you to pet him because he could actually feel it now! 

He took mostly to women but there were a few guys that he did like. One was Albert who i would consider his daddy.  Albert was alongside me for several years and took care of him as if he was his own.  Taking him to the groomers, feedings, and just being there for him. We had many funny memories. 

My mom to Mr Ricky was Grandma.  If I was on the phone, all I had to say was its Grandma  and he would walk over, rub against the phone and meow.  He touched alot of lives. My aunts, brother, etc. 

Mr Ricky's housemate was a 10 yr old black short haired domestic named Sammybear.  Everytime I looked at them together I would call them the furry "Odd Couple".  They were like night and day and always played together. Sam was the more aggressive one when playing but Mr Ricky always managed to get in a few good shots in before he ran off.  lol 

He was a wonderful cat that always was there if I needed cheering up.  I loved the sound of his meow and how he would nudge his head on my arm or tap me when he wanted attention. In the end, I did indeed make him my lap kitty. 

I will miss you so.   You have touched my life and I will never forget that. 

Love you always,
Mommy

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