My Fizzy

Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late
fall 2000. He had grown up on the streets of DC, in a not-so-nice
neighborhood. I went into the shelter looking for a black and white
girl cat, but there was something about him that made me look twice. I
was smitten when he let me hold him for about 45 minutes without
squirming or wanting to get away (he was only 5 months old!). Fizz is
the only one of our cats that I selected without any input from DH, and
I think Fizz knew it.

He was named Fizzgig after a character in the Jim Henson movie "Dark
Crystal", a little critter that looks cute and cuddly but has an
enormous mouth and fierce disposition if his mistress was threatened.
He started out as "Merlin", but we changed his name when he bit DH on
the nose at an early meeting.

After some days of acclimating, we let him get to know Pip and Mithu,
and he was not impressed. They got along alright, eventually, but they
were never best buddies. Fizz established himself as a lap cat early
on, not just curled up on a lap-as-furniture, but seated on a lap, with
paws up on chest, head resting on shoulder. Sometimes he gave hugs. He
also came to wake me up in the mornings, usually by trying to lie down
on me, regardless of what position I was sleeping in. As he got bigger,
this could be quite painful, but we usually worked out a compromise, or
he would lie right next to me. He is the only cat I have ever known who
liked being squeezed and squashed by hugs. He was like a warm purring
teddy bear.

Fizz loved to play in his way. Bags of any kind, to pounce into, or sit
on. He loved twist ties. He was an incorrigible plastic and adhesive
licker. Stick-on gift bows were never safe around him. He and Mithu
enjoyed a good morning wrestle.

He did develop urinary crystals several years ago. He was clever enough
to get help by waiting until I could see him straining in the litter
box, or trying to pee in a sink where I'd be sure to see. We got it
straightened out with diet for the most part, but he was always a food
mooch.

His occasional discomfort made him lash out at Pippin, for some reason.
A problem that never really went away. The bullying got so bad that
Pippin started peeing in the house, and we were at the point of trying
to rehome Fizz. We started letting Pippin go outside, and that helped a
great deal. The one bright spot out of all of this is knowing that
Pippin won't be bullied again, and can hopefully settle back into
comfort in his own home.

Fizz always had to be a part of the action. Inspecting open gifts,
sitting in or on baby toys, claiming a seat on the sofa when friends
visited. At my baby shower a few years ago, a friend had gotten up to
refill her drink and Fizz claimed her seat. When she came back and
tried to shoo him off, he hissed at her. (I've got some great pics of
him playing with a balloon string pre-shower that my sister took.)

He loved visitors, and had to hip-check everyone. You know, when cats
bunch all up in the middle, then swing their back hip into your leg with
their tail curled up and over. He loved repair men, and once had to be
removed from an electrician's bag.

He had a supremely tempting tummy trap, and it had a hair trigger. He
would also occasionally lie on his tummy with his legs stretched out in
both directions. We called it the cat skin rug.

His tail was always too skinny for the rest of him. The only time it
looked right was when it was fluffed out. He was a tall kitty, and
long. He could reach the top of the counter when standing up. He was
always there for scraps of deli meat at lunch time.

He approached the unknown with a great deal of caution. A suspicious
sock on the bathroom floor would merit a long extended paw for a quick tap.

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in the
powder room with his meal for too long.
---------------
I'll post more as I think of it.

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

-Caroline S.

What a loving story.
Lily & her mama
Jazz, RB

--

Irulan
from the stars we come
to the stars we return
from now until the end of time
"Caroline S." wrote in message
news:Uy5gf.12553$ih5.11286@dukeread11...
Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late fall
2000. He had grown up on the streets of DC, in a not-so-nice
neighborhood. I went into the shelter looking for a black and white girl
cat, but there was something about him that made me look twice. I was
smitten when he let me hold him for about 45 minutes without squirming or
wanting to get away (he was only 5 months old!). Fizz is the only one of
our cats that I selected without any input from DH, and I think Fizz knew
it.

He was named Fizzgig after a character in the Jim Henson movie "Dark
Crystal", a little critter that looks cute and cuddly but has an enormous
mouth and fierce disposition if his mistress was threatened. He started
out as "Merlin", but we changed his name when he bit DH on the nose at an
early meeting.

After some days of acclimating, we let him get to know Pip and Mithu, and
he was not impressed. They got along alright, eventually, but they were
never best buddies. Fizz established himself as a lap cat early on, not
just curled up on a lap-as-furniture, but seated on a lap, with paws up on
chest, head resting on shoulder. Sometimes he gave hugs. He also came to
wake me up in the mornings, usually by trying to lie down on me,
regardless of what position I was sleeping in. As he got bigger, this
could be quite painful, but we usually worked out a compromise, or he
would lie right next to me. He is the only cat I have ever known who
liked being squeezed and squashed by hugs. He was like a warm purring
teddy bear.

Fizz loved to play in his way. Bags of any kind, to pounce into, or sit
on. He loved twist ties. He was an incorrigible plastic and adhesive
licker. Stick-on gift bows were never safe around him. He and Mithu
enjoyed a good morning wrestle.

He did develop urinary crystals several years ago. He was clever enough
to get help by waiting until I could see him straining in the litter box,
or trying to pee in a sink where I'd be sure to see. We got it
straightened out with diet for the most part, but he was always a food
mooch.

His occasional discomfort made him lash out at Pippin, for some reason. A
problem that never really went away. The bullying got so bad that Pippin
started peeing in the house, and we were at the point of trying to rehome
Fizz. We started letting Pippin go outside, and that helped a great deal.
The one bright spot out of all of this is knowing that Pippin won't be
bullied again, and can hopefully settle back into comfort in his own home.

Fizz always had to be a part of the action. Inspecting open gifts,
sitting in or on baby toys, claiming a seat on the sofa when friends
visited. At my baby shower a few years ago, a friend had gotten up to
refill her drink and Fizz claimed her seat. When she came back and tried
to shoo him off, he hissed at her. (I've got some great pics of him
playing with a balloon string pre-shower that my sister took.)

He loved visitors, and had to hip-check everyone. You know, when cats
bunch all up in the middle, then swing their back hip into your leg with
their tail curled up and over. He loved repair men, and once had to be
removed from an electrician's bag.

He had a supremely tempting tummy trap, and it had a hair trigger. He
would also occasionally lie on his tummy with his legs stretched out in
both directions. We called it the cat skin rug.

His tail was always too skinny for the rest of him. The only time it
looked right was when it was fluffed out. He was a tall kitty, and long.
He could reach the top of the counter when standing up. He was always
there for scraps of deli meat at lunch time.

He approached the unknown with a great deal of caution. A suspicious sock
on the bathroom floor would merit a long extended paw for a quick tap.

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in the
powder room with his meal for too long.
---------------
I'll post more as I think of it.

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

-Caroline S.

"Caroline S." wrote in message
news:Uy5gf.12553$ih5.11286@dukeread11...
Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late
fall 2000. [...]

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in the
powder room with his meal for too long.
---------------
I'll post more as I think of it.

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.


He sounds just wonderful. A one-in-a-million cat.

He was so loved from the day he first met you. What a very special kitty!
Purrs and hugs,
Polonca and Soncek

Caroline S. wrote:

Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late
fall 2000. He had grown up on the streets of DC, in a not-so-nice
neighborhood. I went into the shelter looking for a black and white
girl cat, but there was something about him that made me look twice. I
was smitten when he let me hold him for about 45 minutes without
squirming or wanting to get away (he was only 5 months old!). Fizz is
the only one of our cats that I selected without any input from DH, and
I think Fizz knew it.
snip

That's a lovely remembrance. Fizz was a wonderful, quirky,
affectionate little boy. You were lucky to have him, and it's not
fair that his life was so short.

I'm glad Pippin will have a more peaceful life now - that's one
thing to be thankful for.

Purrs for you and your family.

Joyce

Caroline S. wrote:
snip all the good stuff

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

Such a lovely tribute of a loving cat.

--
Marina, Frank, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Nikki.
marina (dot) kurten (at) iki (dot) fi
Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/
and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki

"Caroline S." wrote in message
news:Uy5gf.12553$ih5.11286@dukeread11...
snip lovely stories

He approached the unknown with a great deal of caution. A suspicious sock
on the bathroom floor would merit a long extended paw for a quick tap.

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in the
powder room with his meal for too long.

{{{{{Caroline}}}}} thanks for the lovely stories of Fizz - what a character!
I'm so sorry that he had to leave you so soon.

Susan M
Otis and Chester

Caroline S. wrote:
Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late
fall 2000. He had grown up on the streets of DC, in a not-so-nice
neighborhood. I went into the shelter looking for a black and white
girl cat, but there was something about him that made me look twice.
I was smitten when he let me hold him for about 45 minutes without
squirming or wanting to get away (he was only 5 months old!). Fizz is
the only one of our cats that I selected without any input from DH,
and
I think Fizz knew it.

He was named Fizzgig after a character in the Jim Henson movie "Dark
Crystal", a little critter that looks cute and cuddly but has an
enormous mouth and fierce disposition if his mistress was threatened.
He started out as "Merlin", but we changed his name when he bit DH on
the nose at an early meeting.

After some days of acclimating, we let him get to know Pip and Mithu,
and he was not impressed. They got along alright, eventually, but
they were never best buddies. Fizz established himself as a lap cat
early
on, not just curled up on a lap-as-furniture, but seated on a lap,
with paws up on chest, head resting on shoulder. Sometimes he gave
hugs. He also came to wake me up in the mornings, usually by trying
to lie down
on me, regardless of what position I was sleeping in. As he got
bigger, this could be quite painful, but we usually worked out a
compromise, or
he would lie right next to me. He is the only cat I have ever known
who liked being squeezed and squashed by hugs. He was like a warm
purring teddy bear.

Fizz loved to play in his way. Bags of any kind, to pounce into, or
sit on. He loved twist ties. He was an incorrigible plastic and
adhesive licker. Stick-on gift bows were never safe around him. He
and Mithu enjoyed a good morning wrestle.

He did develop urinary crystals several years ago. He was clever
enough to get help by waiting until I could see him straining in the
litter
box, or trying to pee in a sink where I'd be sure to see. We got it
straightened out with diet for the most part, but he was always a food
mooch.

His occasional discomfort made him lash out at Pippin, for some
reason.
A problem that never really went away. The bullying got so bad that
Pippin started peeing in the house, and we were at the point of trying
to rehome Fizz. We started letting Pippin go outside, and that
helped a great deal. The one bright spot out of all of this is
knowing that
Pippin won't be bullied again, and can hopefully settle back into
comfort in his own home.

Fizz always had to be a part of the action. Inspecting open gifts,
sitting in or on baby toys, claiming a seat on the sofa when friends
visited. At my baby shower a few years ago, a friend had gotten up to
refill her drink and Fizz claimed her seat. When she came back and
tried to shoo him off, he hissed at her. (I've got some great pics of
him playing with a balloon string pre-shower that my sister took.)

He loved visitors, and had to hip-check everyone. You know, when cats
bunch all up in the middle, then swing their back hip into your leg
with their tail curled up and over. He loved repair men, and once had
to be removed from an electrician's bag.

He had a supremely tempting tummy trap, and it had a hair trigger. He
would also occasionally lie on his tummy with his legs stretched out
in both directions. We called it the cat skin rug.

His tail was always too skinny for the rest of him. The only time it
looked right was when it was fluffed out. He was a tall kitty, and
long. He could reach the top of the counter when standing up. He was
always there for scraps of deli meat at lunch time.

He approached the unknown with a great deal of caution. A suspicious
sock on the bathroom floor would merit a long extended paw for a
quick tap.

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in
the powder room with his meal for too long.
---------------
I'll post more as I think of it.

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

-Caroline S.

A beautiful tribute to a special cat. I hope it helps ease the pain of
losing him.
--
Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
A House is not a home, without a cat.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

Caroline S. wrote:
Fizz came into my life from the Washington DC animal shelter in late
fall 2000. He had grown up on the streets of DC, in a not-so-nice
neighborhood. I went into the shelter looking for a black and white
girl cat, but there was something about him that made me look twice.
I was smitten when he let me hold him for about 45 minutes without
squirming or wanting to get away (he was only 5 months old!). Fizz is
the only one of our cats that I selected without any input from DH,
and
I think Fizz knew it.

He was named Fizzgig after a character in the Jim Henson movie "Dark
Crystal", a little critter that looks cute and cuddly but has an
enormous mouth and fierce disposition if his mistress was threatened.
He started out as "Merlin", but we changed his name when he bit DH on
the nose at an early meeting.

After some days of acclimating, we let him get to know Pip and Mithu,
and he was not impressed. They got along alright, eventually, but
they were never best buddies. Fizz established himself as a lap cat
early
on, not just curled up on a lap-as-furniture, but seated on a lap,
with paws up on chest, head resting on shoulder. Sometimes he gave
hugs. He also came to wake me up in the mornings, usually by trying
to lie down
on me, regardless of what position I was sleeping in. As he got
bigger, this could be quite painful, but we usually worked out a
compromise, or
he would lie right next to me. He is the only cat I have ever known
who liked being squeezed and squashed by hugs. He was like a warm
purring teddy bear.

Fizz loved to play in his way. Bags of any kind, to pounce into, or
sit on. He loved twist ties. He was an incorrigible plastic and
adhesive licker. Stick-on gift bows were never safe around him. He
and Mithu enjoyed a good morning wrestle.

He did develop urinary crystals several years ago. He was clever
enough to get help by waiting until I could see him straining in the
litter
box, or trying to pee in a sink where I'd be sure to see. We got it
straightened out with diet for the most part, but he was always a food
mooch.

His occasional discomfort made him lash out at Pippin, for some
reason.
A problem that never really went away. The bullying got so bad that
Pippin started peeing in the house, and we were at the point of trying
to rehome Fizz. We started letting Pippin go outside, and that
helped a great deal. The one bright spot out of all of this is
knowing that
Pippin won't be bullied again, and can hopefully settle back into
comfort in his own home.

Fizz always had to be a part of the action. Inspecting open gifts,
sitting in or on baby toys, claiming a seat on the sofa when friends
visited. At my baby shower a few years ago, a friend had gotten up to
refill her drink and Fizz claimed her seat. When she came back and
tried to shoo him off, he hissed at her. (I've got some great pics of
him playing with a balloon string pre-shower that my sister took.)

He loved visitors, and had to hip-check everyone. You know, when cats
bunch all up in the middle, then swing their back hip into your leg
with their tail curled up and over. He loved repair men, and once had
to be removed from an electrician's bag.

He had a supremely tempting tummy trap, and it had a hair trigger. He
would also occasionally lie on his tummy with his legs stretched out
in both directions. We called it the cat skin rug.

His tail was always too skinny for the rest of him. The only time it
looked right was when it was fluffed out. He was a tall kitty, and
long. He could reach the top of the counter when standing up. He was
always there for scraps of deli meat at lunch time.

He approached the unknown with a great deal of caution. A suspicious
sock on the bathroom floor would merit a long extended paw for a
quick tap.

He had a quiet meow, and reserved its use for when we had left in in
the powder room with his meal for too long.
---------------
I'll post more as I think of it.

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

-Caroline S.

What a sweet and loving tribute. Fizz was surely happy to be loved and
homed with you.

Jill

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005 06:21:04 +0200, Marina
yodeled:

Caroline S. wrote:
snip all the good stuff

RIP my Fizzy buddy. I love you.

Such a lovely tribute of a loving cat.


Our hearts go out to you. This seems like such a sad time, so many
furry friends are sick or gone to RB.


Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh
My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com

Make Levees, Not War