Sammie's Story and Pictures

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Sammie's Story

Born Aug. 21st, 1999. His name is "Sammie". He is my 1st CH kitten. The youngest of my 7 cats. Sammie was one of 5 kittens in the litter, and the only kitten with CH. The others were placed with wonderful families, but Sammie became mine from the moment I suspected something wasn't quite right with him. At first I noticed a "crease" down the center of his nose. And he had the biggest round eyes that would melt your heart. He was about the sweetest little gray tiger stripe fur ball that I had ever seen. Then the weeble wobble stage, Sammie wasn't doing well at all with motor skills. His balance was impaired. He was eating and using the litter box almost as well as the others, but approached the food and water dishes slowly and took his time sitting just right before lapping or eating. He does the same when using the litter box. I do put newspapers around the litter box, as sometimes Sammie will have front feet in the box with rest of body still on the paper. Then he does his duty. My days began to revolve around Sammie's development. I watched him constantly, trying to pinpoint some of his difficulties and find some solutions to help him along. He always tried to keep up with his siblings, and he did a pretty good job of it. I began doing nightly therapy with him. His favorite toy was a terrycloth ball. I would get him belly up on the couch or in my lap and have him play with the ball. Kicking his hind legs like a rabbit would do. I was always trying to help improve his learning skills. Jumping on the coffee table was a challenge, which he finally conquered, but when he leaped up he kept on sliding 'til he went off the other side. So I put a towel across the table, and he really thought he was big kitty then. He didn't slide off the other side anymore. I did the same thing with a small step stool in the kitchen which he loves being on. His way of keeping a better eye on all that is going on in there. I wrapped the coffee table legs with foam padding so he wouldn't do a head butt as he was flying across the floor full speed, chasing who knows what. I did some of the silliest things just to Sammie proof the house. Since the chairs to my dinette were cloth, it was fairly easy for Sammie to snag hold of the cloth, dangle like Tarzan, and pull himself into a chair, eventually climbing to the table top. (I laid blankets on the floor around the table so if he did fall, there would be some cushioning for him.) Because of this, extreme measures had to be taken on my part. I gave the dinette set to the neighbor, and obtained a solid wood set with no cloth chairs. It worked for a few days. Then he conquered the art of leaping up to the top of the table. We repeatedly tell him NO, but Sammie doesn't listen. You see, although he loves jumping up there..he doesn't like jumping down, so he sits there and makes the most pathetic meow....knowing someone will lift him down. When we aren't going to be home, we leave a chair pulled out and he can get down that way. He carries his tail straight up in the air, I suspect to help with his balance. The last inch or so of his tail is pure white and it is so cute to see him coming and going. He is not as severely afflicted as a lot of kittens I have been told about. He weaves in and out when he walks. And once in a while he falls over. He sometimes flops off the couch or recliner instead of landing on all fours. Sammie loves to sit in my lap when I am on the computer. He chases the cursor and anything else that moves. He will sit with me for hours at a time. Sammie is a mischievous kitten. He loves to take things. He got my good gold watch and hid it for 2 mos. He has taken jewelry, pens, pencils, BIC lighters, keys, photos, etc. and hid them. And, sometimes he puts "presents" in my husbands shoes. We do not give Sammie access to any stairways or the bathroom. I sometimes think that all our other cats know Sammie is special - they are very gentle with him in play and they cuddle up to him when it's nap time. We love each and every one of our cats, but "Sammie" is our special little guy. He knows it too. He has taught me so much in the short time I have had him. My CH kitten is the bright spot in my life. He is going on 6 mos. old now and doing great. God willing, he will be with me for a very long time.

Judy
jmb456@aol.com

Pictures of Sammie

Here is a picture of Sammie at Christmas '99