In Memoriam: Animals We No Longer Live With
Big Boy
Mr. P
Perky Tuck
Big Boy, a plus-size mackerel tabby with crossed eyes, was one of Leslie's young kitties when she and I met in 1991. Although he had health problems in his later years - like diabetes which required insulin shots twice a day - we remember him as an independent thinker with a taste for fine food. Or just for food.
When we moved to our new home in 1996 we discovered a peacock living there already. We enjoyed having him around despite the noise and mess. It was quite a surprise to see a large bird-eye watching you through the upstairs bathroom window. He slept in a tall pine tree near the house.
About 10 months later Mr. P decided to seek another home down the block and soon he disappeared from the neighborhood entirely. We suspect he was hit by a car.
Perky Tuck (Perky for short) was a scrawny outdoor Tuxedo cat with bad skin. At first we left food for him on the patio which he shared with the raccoons and possums. Eventually Perk realized he was better off inside. We explained to him that once an indoor cat, always an indoor cat - at least at our house. And he took the deal. He became a fat cat with a luxurious coat and an "I'm in charge" attitude.