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| Name: |
Obélix
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Age: |
Five years old
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| Gender: |
Male
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Kind: |
Mackerel Tabby
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| Home: |
Montréal, Québec
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Meet
Obélix, a five-year-old domestic cat living in Montréal,
Québec. He came to live with me and Milo in the Fall of 2010, at age
three. Originally called Cutie, he spent the first eighteen months of his life
with a doting owner who unfortunately died. The next year, while the estate
was being sorted out, he continued to live in a city condo, pretty much by
himself, with a caregiver visiting him every couple of days to feed him and
to clean the litterbox. He found a proper home with an older couple who
renamed him Mutie, no doubt feeling he had outgrown his given name. The
lady had heard of the cat's situation and thought he would make an ideal
companion for her cat-adoring husband who was going through an illness.
Unfortunately, her husband died five months later. In the aftermath, the lady
did not want to keep Mutie because he constantly reminded her of her late
husband. So she put the word out that she was looking for a long term home
for him; that's when I heard about him from an office mate who happened to
be her son-in-law.
My own Milo was growing lonely after his young companion Picolo passed away
after getting hit by a car a month earlier. I decided to give Mutie a try
even though I had concerns that he might not be properly socialized.
Everything turned out all right.
I don't generally change pets' names (Milo kept his pre-SPCA name), but I
felt that "Mutie" didn't reflect this tabby's personality at all. So he
became Obélix. Like the cartoon character, Obélix the cat.
- Wears stripes: A classic mackerel tabby he is.
- Is large and powerful: Although he has lost two pounds due to caloric restrictions and a more active lifestyle, he remains a big boned tabby who is very strong though he is not much aware of it.
- Is very loving and loyal: He needs lap time every day and begs for it; during the weekend, he will request it repeatedly.
- Is not particularly bright: Not a problem solver this one.
- Has a big appetite: He will sit so close to me when I eat that he becomes a nuisance, trying to stuff his nose in my plate, no matter what I eat (he even likes fresh grapefruit juice).
Although not very athletic, Obélix is a powerful jumper who likes
heights; he is often found on top of the kitchen cabinets. He is allowed to
go outside and tries to make friends, but he often has run ins with the
local -smaller- dominant cat and he always looses his fights.
At first, Milo was not too pleased by this socially awkward (and needy)
invader, but he eventually warmed up to Obélix. Although I wouldn't
call them the best of friends (no snuggling), Milo accepts being groomed
daily by Obélix. As for me, each day, I get to have a beautiful and
sweet sixteen-pound purring tabby on my lap or chest if I'm lying down. It's heavenly.
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