In memory of my cat Chalky who died aged 13 in Basildon, England on 13th May 2003.
Chalky had been found abandoned in a field as a kitten and fate decreed that about an hour after he was rescued it was my good fortune to be visiting the pet shop he had been taken to (I had never been there before and actually never went there again thereafter) and as soon as I walked in and saw this bedraggled and forlorn looking little white kitten sitting in his makeshift rabbit hutch pen, I knew I had to buy him and take him home with me. It was a decision I never once regretted and I always said thereafter that he was "the best £3 that I ever spent". When I got him home I realized that he was in very poor condition - infested with fleas that had bitten him so badly that when you stroked his fur, his blood would be on your hands. My wife Frances spent two days picking fleas out of him (well over a hundred) and he was in generally poor condition overall. Careful nursing and visits to the vet paid dividends and he certainly appreciated his "second chance" by more than repaying my family and myself with so much boundless love and affection although his initial "bad start" certainly affected his health - poor eyesight, thyroid problems and the removal of fifteen teeth over the years did not stop him from leading a long and happy life along with our other three cats, George, Steffi and Ted.
Chalky was a cat that loved the simple life, showing great distain for the "great outdoors" in favour of his home comforts. Sleeping and especially eating being the favoured ways to spend his time. He loved to eat and food was something to be savoured always. Come Summer time and the neighbours barbecues he would take one of his rare ventures into the garden in the hope of returning with some tasty treat and it still makes me smile now to think of him strolling back one day carrying a sausage in his mouth (looking to all the world as if he was smoking a huge cigar!!!) and purring to himself as he proceeded to eat it.
Sadly in May 2003, Chalky's health deteriorated rapidly and a visit to the vet's confirmed our worst fears, he had cancer of the kidneys and with no hope of a recovery he was put to sleep on 13th May 2003. Chalky - "The Old Star" or "The Star of the Show" as he was known was cremated and his ashes brought back home, which is where they are today. He was a great cat with a huge personality who left a mark on all our lives and I know how much my family and myself would have missed out on if I had not made a chance visit to that little pet shop (long demolished now) all those years ago. I am very glad I did.
Rest in peace Old Chalk - great memories always, we love you and will never forget you.
Chalky had been found abandoned in a field as a kitten and fate decreed that about an hour after he was rescued it was my good fortune to be visiting the pet shop he had been taken to (I had never been there before and actually never went there again thereafter) and as soon as I walked in and saw this bedraggled and forlorn looking little white kitten sitting in his makeshift rabbit hutch pen, I knew I had to buy him and take him home with me. It was a decision I never once regretted and I always said thereafter that he was "the best £3 that I ever spent". When I got him home I realized that he was in very poor condition - infested with fleas that had bitten him so badly that when you stroked his fur, his blood would be on your hands. My wife Frances spent two days picking fleas out of him (well over a hundred) and he was in generally poor condition overall. Careful nursing and visits to the vet paid dividends and he certainly appreciated his "second chance" by more than repaying my family and myself with so much boundless love and affection although his initial "bad start" certainly affected his health - poor eyesight, thyroid problems and the removal of fifteen teeth over the years did not stop him from leading a long and happy life along with our other three cats, George, Steffi and Ted.
Chalky was a cat that loved the simple life, showing great distain for the "great outdoors" in favour of his home comforts. Sleeping and especially eating being the favoured ways to spend his time. He loved to eat and food was something to be savoured always. Come Summer time and the neighbours barbecues he would take one of his rare ventures into the garden in the hope of returning with some tasty treat and it still makes me smile now to think of him strolling back one day carrying a sausage in his mouth (looking to all the world as if he was smoking a huge cigar!!!) and purring to himself as he proceeded to eat it.
Sadly in May 2003, Chalky's health deteriorated rapidly and a visit to the vet's confirmed our worst fears, he had cancer of the kidneys and with no hope of a recovery he was put to sleep on 13th May 2003. Chalky - "The Old Star" or "The Star of the Show" as he was known was cremated and his ashes brought back home, which is where they are today. He was a great cat with a huge personality who left a mark on all our lives and I know how much my family and myself would have missed out on if I had not made a chance visit to that little pet shop (long demolished now) all those years ago. I am very glad I did.
Rest in peace Old Chalk - great memories always, we love you and will never forget you.
In memory of my cat Chalky who died aged 13 in Basildon, England on 13th May 2003.
Chalky had been found abandoned in a field as a kitten and fate decreed that about an hour after he was rescued it was my good fortune to be visiting the pet shop he had been taken to (I had never been there before and actually never went there again thereafter) and as soon as I walked in and saw this bedraggled and forlorn looking little white kitten sitting in his makeshift rabbit hutch pen, I knew I had to buy him and take him home with me. It was a decision I never once regretted and I always said thereafter that he was "the best £3 that I ever spent". When I got him home I realized that he was in very poor condition - infested with fleas that had bitten him so badly that when you stroked his fur, his blood would be on your hands. My wife Frances spent two days picking fleas out of him (well over a hundred) and he was in generally poor condition overall. Careful nursing and visits to the vet paid dividends and he certainly appreciated his "second chance" by more than repaying my family and myself with so much boundless love and affection although his initial "bad start" certainly affected his health - poor eyesight, thyroid problems and the removal of fifteen teeth over the years did not stop him from leading a long and happy life along with our other three cats, George, Steffi and Ted.
Chalky was a cat that loved the simple life, showing great distain for the "great outdoors" in favour of his home comforts. Sleeping and especially eating being the favoured ways to spend his time. He loved to eat and food was something to be savoured always. Come Summer time and the neighbours barbecues he would take one of his rare ventures into the garden in the hope of returning with some tasty treat and it still makes me smile now to think of him strolling back one day carrying a sausage in his mouth (looking to all the world as if he was smoking a huge cigar!!!) and purring to himself as he proceeded to eat it.
Sadly in May 2003, Chalky's health deteriorated rapidly and a visit to the vet's confirmed our worst fears, he had cancer of the kidneys and with no hope of a recovery he was put to sleep on 13th May 2003. Chalky - "The Old Star" or "The Star of the Show" as he was known was cremated and his ashes brought back home, which is where they are today. He was a great cat with a huge personality who left a mark on all our lives and I know how much my family and myself would have missed out on if I had not made a chance visit to that little pet shop (long demolished now) all those years ago. I am very glad I did.
Rest in peace Old Chalk - great memories always, we love you and will never forget you.
Chalky had been found abandoned in a field as a kitten and fate decreed that about an hour after he was rescued it was my good fortune to be visiting the pet shop he had been taken to (I had never been there before and actually never went there again thereafter) and as soon as I walked in and saw this bedraggled and forlorn looking little white kitten sitting in his makeshift rabbit hutch pen, I knew I had to buy him and take him home with me. It was a decision I never once regretted and I always said thereafter that he was "the best £3 that I ever spent". When I got him home I realized that he was in very poor condition - infested with fleas that had bitten him so badly that when you stroked his fur, his blood would be on your hands. My wife Frances spent two days picking fleas out of him (well over a hundred) and he was in generally poor condition overall. Careful nursing and visits to the vet paid dividends and he certainly appreciated his "second chance" by more than repaying my family and myself with so much boundless love and affection although his initial "bad start" certainly affected his health - poor eyesight, thyroid problems and the removal of fifteen teeth over the years did not stop him from leading a long and happy life along with our other three cats, George, Steffi and Ted.
Chalky was a cat that loved the simple life, showing great distain for the "great outdoors" in favour of his home comforts. Sleeping and especially eating being the favoured ways to spend his time. He loved to eat and food was something to be savoured always. Come Summer time and the neighbours barbecues he would take one of his rare ventures into the garden in the hope of returning with some tasty treat and it still makes me smile now to think of him strolling back one day carrying a sausage in his mouth (looking to all the world as if he was smoking a huge cigar!!!) and purring to himself as he proceeded to eat it.
Sadly in May 2003, Chalky's health deteriorated rapidly and a visit to the vet's confirmed our worst fears, he had cancer of the kidneys and with no hope of a recovery he was put to sleep on 13th May 2003. Chalky - "The Old Star" or "The Star of the Show" as he was known was cremated and his ashes brought back home, which is where they are today. He was a great cat with a huge personality who left a mark on all our lives and I know how much my family and myself would have missed out on if I had not made a chance visit to that little pet shop (long demolished now) all those years ago. I am very glad I did.
Rest in peace Old Chalk - great memories always, we love you and will never forget you.
