Manny (April 1995 - June 1, 2010) by myrrhluz
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Description
This is a drawing I did of Manny. He was vaccinated against feline leukemia and was one of the 15% or so that get it anyway. Last Tuesday he was put to sleep. For all you cat lovers out there, I'll tell you of a very remarkable cat who I miss very much.
Fifteen years ago, my husband, bought Manny at the flea market, for $3.00 (with a full set of fleas.) I walked into the house and was told to look under the lazy boy chair. I did and staring back at me were two, large round eyes. They did not look happy. Manny (unnamed at this point) had not been happy about the itching fleas, but was even less happy about the bath. I carefully drew him out and inspected my new acquisition. He was largely of the common tan and black with bits of white tabby variety, but when you turned him over and looked at his belly (not with his cooperation) it was apricot with black spots. It was so cute and required regular observance. In time it turned to a foxy orange and we didn't flip him over quite as much. It took a little while for him to tell us his name. Once he got used to us, he liked to come flying out and latch on to any ankle that was moving. Since we sometimes move fairly fast, he might be projected halfway across the room, before we knew we had been attacked. There is a character in a fantasy by David Eddings named Mandorallen. He is very courageous, loves to fight and is not overly bright. We had a name for our little kamikaze. It was soon shortened to Manny.
As he matured, he grew into the kind of cat I really like. Long, lean, muscular and short haired. He was a terrific climber and leaper. Manny was neutered at the allotted time. This altered his passion, but did not diminish it. He loved soft furry blankets. I mean he LOVED soft furry blankets. He was quite happy to display his ardor regardless of where they were. One day, I was at my parents' home after my dad's stroke, and ladies from their church were visiting him. In comes Manny from one of the bedrooms, dragging a blanket he had stripped off the bed. "Oh! Look at the cute kitty with his blanket!" "Yes" I thought, "And I'm going to scoop up the cute kitty, before he does what he is intending, to his blanket."
He was a terror at the vets. One day it took 4 vets to hold him down so another could take blood from him. It sounded like a cat fight was going on. When I walked out to the waiting room with him back in his carrier, every pair of eyes there were following my progress and trying to see what kind of monster I was carrying. The vet gave me a little bottle of pills, "Give him one of these one half hour before bringing him in next time." The pills had an unfortunate side effect. When he started coming down off of them his libido was greatly increased. This was not a cat that needed an increase in libido. I was sitting in a lazy boy, in a fuzzy robe when my right arm was accosted. What was my son's reaction? "Don't move him! Let me get my phone!" My son's phone had a camera in it. Somewhere, if he still has it, is a picture of my arm being molested by my crazy, lust filled cat.
Manny was very affectionate. He was one of those cats who didn't want to be petted by one hand if two were available. He loved other cats and loved to bath them. One of my favorite auditory memories is of Manny bathing our new kitten Pepper. Pepper likes to suckle and had latched on to the fur of Manny's chest as Manny licked him. Manny wasn't at all sure that he liked this, but he didn't want to stop licking Pepper. I heard Pepper's trilling kitten purr and loud suckling and Manny trying to lick and growl at the same time. I couldn't stop laughing. Manny gave me a lot of laughter. He was a beautiful, demanding sweetheart of a cat. I miss him.
Comments (40)
elianeck
so sorry..........
Madbat
Aww....now that really sucks. Ah, yes, tummy time. I do that to poor Billford, Must do regular soft white tummy inspections. He is never very thrilled. His Lordship, Billford Dum-Dum I, a.k.a, Senior Fluffy Pants. it's really not a good idea to rename your sister in laws cat Seniorita Fluffy-Pants* and reinforce this new name with much petting and cuddles. ***Seniorita Fluffy-Pants had orange-pink fur.
BessieB
A lovely drawing, so very sad.
jayfar
Very sad that he is gone but what a magnificent drawing you have created.
magicmoondesigns
I'm so sorry that you have lost your wonderful Manny, but that's a beautiful drawing and wonderful story to cherish.
durleybeachbum
A superb drawing, Lucinda..I (I wish I could draw like that, but I can't), and a terrific read. You have created a wonderful memory of your friend.
rainbows
I am so sorry you lost your beautiful Manny, this is a beautiful drawing of him. Hugs gentle, Diane. xx
mariogiannecchini
I'm sorry for your cat, I realized how good you want your pet. This very nice summary of some moments of his life! Very beautiful drawing you did!
helanker
AWWWW!!! YOU have been the happy owner of a wonderful cat Lucinda. So beautiful to have in your memories. But I am sorry you lost him. And this Drawing it SO wonderfully done. I just LUV it. You did a PERFECT job. No Doubt.
dochtersions
So sorry, Lucinda, the lost of your Manny. I can understand this a lot. We have the same experience. Your drawing is extremely fine. You can see, how relaxed he is. Many compliments about your talent <3
jmb007
desole!!mais que de beaux souvenirs!! le dessin est magnifique!!
magnus073
Lucinda, this one was so moving for me as having talked to you before his passing and knowing what was going on. I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved kitty, to say he will be missed would be a understatement. His story really caused me to stop many times as I kept getting choked up and it almost seemed that it was his destiny to be with you. That is the thing about our beloved pets, that they give so much to us and ask so little.
JaneEden
Lucinda I was about to type a message to you about your loyalty to my gallery, and how wonderful you make me feel as you keep popping back in, so thanks so much my friend. Oh I was horrified to see as I looked at your gallery that you had lost Manny, and my heart does go out to you so much. You have written a wonderful tribute to such a remarkable cat, who so obviously was loved by you so very much. It was so good to read that you remember so many amazing times with your beloved cat, so he is already proving that he is forever imprinted in your thoughts and your heart, and those memories were so selflessly shared with us, God bless you and take care, hugs Jane xx
flavia49
I'm so sorry for Manny's loss. I had similar experiences! Your Manny was special, all cats are special. fabulous drawing and tribute.
annie5
So sorry, Lucinda..Perfectly done! :)
GailB
My favorite memory is of Charles holding some treat up well off the ground and Manny, the great high-jumper that he was, leaping up to get it, sometimes wrapping around Charles's arm. He was a special cat. It is also a special drawing and very cat in attitude. I'll have to try to get the drawing you did of Kate and Tess scanned and post that, with your permission.
wjames
WOW what a fabulous picture and such an inspireing story!!
Claywoman
beautiful drawing, I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved Manny. Please share the love with another feline friend
JSGraphics
Awesome drawing, but I feel for your loss. I have two cats myself I know its going to hurt when I lose them.
jendellas
A beautiful drawing of a wonderful friend. We do our best looking after our friends & even then something happens. So sorry. xxxx
unstart
So sad..a beautiful tribute and delightful memories!!
MagikUnicorn
LOVELY TOO CUTE
drifterlee
Wonderful story and image! I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my 17 year old Oreo last Christmas and still miss him.
sandra46
wonderful tribute for a friend, hugs, Sandra
misskitty
I am so sorry for the loss of such a wonderful furry friend. I have experienced the same and my heart truely goes out to you. You have paid him a wonderful tribute with your drawing of him and the story. He was no doubt loved a lot and loved you as well. Hold on to those memories! Excellent tribute, my friend!
goodoleboy
Good photo and extensive narrative, otherwise I can't add much to what's already been said above, Lucinda.
npauling
I am so sorry to hear about your beautiful cat Manny, he sounds as though he was such a cherished part of your family. I loved reading about his escapades and how he wormed his way into your affection. They seem to have a knack of doing that don't they. I know you will miss him a lot but you have a lot of wonderful memories of him. I love this wonderful drawing you have done of him he looks soooo.... happy.
jocko500
sorry to hear the lost... but time will heal and most likely another cat will come into your life. diff in charator but loveing the same
anahata.c
Lucinda, as you know I haven't been online in a long time; and in that time, I see that I missed your birthday as well as your wonderful gallery...so Happy birthday first and foremost, and I wish you many more; you're such a positive & loving force here, and your gallery and wonderful comments all over never ceases to fill me with a love for life. I'm doing one image per gallery today, simply for lack of time, but I hope to be back this week or soon after; but lord, when I came to your gallery and saw this, my jaw dropped. Not only because I know what pet owners go through when their pets become ill (and putting them to sleep can be very difficult), but because I know that losing a pet is like losing a small sibling, they are family as your wonderful text shows. But also because your drawing is marvelous, and shows once again in your gallery of wonderful photography, wonderful feelings, and pieces of your life as well, what a joy your 2D art is on top of it all. You really got the sense of a cat's "sprawl," the way cats can, at a moment's notice, let go of all muscular attention and just spread out like floppy shawls, sleeping as if they become one with the space they're in. Your line work is beautiful, precise & articulate, but you still captured the overall, the flow of the whole body and its soft & resting feel. Plus great feline eyes! Shut to where they almost fade into the patterns of the fur.(Few animals make sleep look as utterly divine as cats.) And you drew the chair/couch lightly so the whole image is about Manny, the King, owning that piece of furniture while he blends into it at the same time. Your words about him are terrific, fun, very true to pets with heavy-duty personalities, and reminding everyone what forces of nature pets can be. And I think it's great that your husband got him at a flea market, because he was rescued, ie, another living creature was given a new lease on life. Great choice of stories (I know it's not always easy to choose when there are probably so many instances you could've related), and as always written with your wholly natural and loving tone. An upload any animal lover will appreciate, and a 'truthful' and beautiful drawing. So nice to come back to this, I hope I will be here again soon. Happy Birthday & many more, and I hope Pepper gives you all as much joy as Manny did. Great upload, Lucinda.
psyoshida
Oh no, I'm so sorry about Manny. Your sketch is really outstanding, it captures the blissful face of a contented cat. I love the memories of your friend you have shared with us and I feel as if I knew him. He was loved.