| My Inspiration | |||
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Many years ago when I started this website, I vowed that there would never be any pictures of people, only cats. The website was about the cats. My only objective was to enhance the health, beauty and continued well being of cats, particularly Maine Coons. Now I have changed my mind about people pictures. I’ll tell you why. |
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My Mother loved cats. She had them all of her life and so I grew up with little furry siblings. My Mother explained to me what wondrous creatures they were. They could see in the dark, hear sounds we could never hear, balance better than any dancer and fall; long free-falls landing lightly on their feet, they would walk away unfazed. I witnessed these miracles over the years and my admiration grew with it. | ||
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My son brought the first of many Maine Coons into my life. He staggered into the house with a huge silver mackerel striped tomcat draped over both arms. His big hazel eyes gazed over all that fur. "Can we keep him, Ma? He’s a good cat. The guy that bought him has to move. He’s afraid of the neighbor’s dogs and they have wood floors. They don’t want him either. His name is Stud Muffin." After a family meeting, Stud Muffin became Maurice L. Rothchild, the dude in the silver striped suit. There weren’t going to be any tomcats named Muffin in our house. The kids called him the "Clint Eastwood of Claws." |
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Maurice L. Rothchild was still
alive when my daughter moved away to college and my Mother moved in.
Mom was a widow. The years of worry had taken their toll. She suffered a
stroke at 62, a heart attack at 64. My son moved in with her for a few years
to help lighten her burden but when it was time for him to marry, Mom sold
her house and came to live with me. Mom had begun to age backwards, her
health improved as years of stress melted away. She babysat during the day.
Everyone adored her. It was like leaving the kids with Mrs. Doubtfire.
Eventually babysitting became too much for her. When she landed in the hospital for the third time I insisted she stop. She hated being home alone while I was at work. She said there was nothing to "take care of." Maurice had died the year before and the house seemed empty. I struck a deal with her. We would breed cats. |
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We thought about all the different breeds we might like. Maurice had lived to be 20-years-old. We decided Maine Coon Cats were special, a tough all American breed. And so we embarked together on our adventure as Maine Coon Cat breeders. The year was 1998. |
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And so it came to be, the two of us delivering and nurturing kittens. Loving our cats like family. When my Mom had the stroke that led to her death, Terra was in her lap keeping her company. Mom was over 90-years-old when she left us on October 6, 2006. Some people become sour in their old age but my mother aged like a fine wine; sweet and mellow. I can’t thank her enough for all the gifts of life she gave to me, especially her love for cats. | ||
