09-08-2006 to 12-24-2023
I was not even into cats, I thought they were boring. Then again, I am so human hence so flawed, and things I am ignorant about I form so dumb opinions of them.
In Feb 2007, I was online browsing shelter websites looking for a dog. By chance I stumbled across Forget Me Not Animal Shelter in Republic, Washington – that was like 5 hours from Seattle! I saw Mozart’s photo (he was Clyde at the time), his 5-month-old self already exulting this confident and regal aura. I was smitten instantly and decided right and then that I had to have that cat. As of March 2007, Clyde became Mozart, I became a 1st time feline mom, and my life forever changed.
I hit the jackpot in rescue-cat adoption! Boy was I wrong about cats being boring as Mozart had a massive personality! He was so remarkably intelligent that it was like a mini human brain inside that little head of his. He had so many facial expressions, different vocalizations, different body languages, to communicate how he felt and what he was thinking. So many times when I reprimanded him, he’d start by staring intently at me, then turn sideway with his chin slightly tilted upward and gave me a side-eye. Whenever he did that, I always imagined a defiant teenager rolling his eyes and thinking “what a nag!” Mozart learned super-fast and highly trainable. One of the many examples was when I first brought him home, he’d follow me into the bedroom when I went to sleep, and would jump into my bed assuming it was ok with me. I sprayed water on him and he would jump off. After only 3 or 4 times, he would follow me into the bedroom, looked at me, and curled up in a corner on the floor. As most would guess it, I got out of the bed, scooped him up, and brought him to my bed to sleep next to me. After that, he knew he had succeeded in training me to recognize him as my master.
In May 2007, I adopted a 9-week old cat Casper to give Mozart a companion. Mozart loved being a big brother to Casper and played his role masterfully, was always looking after Casper and led the way. They became each other’s best friend within a few days and were simply inseparable ever since.
When Casper fell sick in September 2023 and eventually passed away on 12/7, Mozart was devastated. The first couple of days, he was confused, did not understand why the bed next to him was empty and Casper was nowhere to be seen. The following 2, 3 days, whenever I was on the couch, he would jump up, leaned to look straight into my eyes, and meowed in a demanding way, as he was asking, “Where is Casper?” I would say to him, “I am sorry Mozart, I miss your brother too.” After that, he shut down, did not want to eat, did not care to get out of bed. He was in ER, then in hospital on IV for 3 days but with little improvement. His CKD continue to deteriorate in a rapid speed to a point that he could barely walk and would fall on his urine when he did not have the strength to stand up after peeing. On 12/24/2023, at 17 years, 3 months and 16 days, Mozart went to be with his beloved brother Casper at the Rainbow Bridge.
My heart has not stopped aching since his passing, and I have not stopped the daily tears. I loved my lovebug Casper dearly & deeply, but my intense attachment to Mozart reflects the remarkable cat that he was – intelligent, adventurous, independent, daring, expressive, protective, and much more. I am the lucky and the blessed one for having had Mozart in my life, a cat who completely changed my life, who made me whole and showed me supreme happiness that no human can. I miss you Mozart, desperately and every single day…
To honor Mozart’s memory, I pledged $12,421 to Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) to establish a memorial fund for CKD cats of low/lower income feline parents – Mozart Memorial Fund for CKD Cats. 12,421 is combined days Mozart & Casper lived.
