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05/10/2005 06:02:37 PM · #1 |
Tonight at 7:30 Eastern my cat Choo Choo Hot Fish is going to get on a plane with my mom and go back to San Diego. I'm sad.
I found Choo 11 years ago as a tiny kitten, dying of mange and malnurition in a flower pot on my mom's front porch in San Diego. I was 20. I took him home and cleaned him up, got him to the vet and got the mange treated- not to mention the projectile bright orange diarrhea. It was a fun first week :) He was the first and only pet I ever got and cared for on my own.
I'm a big fan of the band the Stray Cats. I was a fan back when I found this kitten, too. At the time my favorite Stray Cats record was "Choo Choo Hot Fish", which was apparently named after a cafe in Japan. He's a Stray Cat, I loved the Stray Cats, and thus he was named. Most of the time we just call him Choo Choo or Choo. But depending on the day, his name might morph into Choo-bacca, Choo Choo Ch'Boogie, Chooch, Chooey, Chee Chee, or any number of other equally silly names.
In the last 11 years Choo's been my constant companion, he's lived in 5 different houses in 2 different cities with me. For a couple years he and my dachschund were a constant source of amusement- watching the cat (who was as big as the dog) chase the dog while the dog was trying to play fetch was the height in entertainment. The Doxie passed away in November, at the ripe old age of 17.
Choo Choo was sedated and packed as carry on luggage to move from San Diego to Atlanta, where he's adjusted to living quite nicely for the last 3 years. I wouldn't have considered not bringing him with me.
But now, my husband and I are about to move to south Texas for a couple months, en route to Australia for the rest of our lives. If I took Choo Choo to Australia with me he'd have to endure a 12 to 20 hour travel day in the cargo hold of a plane, followed by at least 30 days in quarantine. I just can't put the boy through that. So since Mom was coming to ATL from San Diego for Mother's Day weekend, we all thought it would be best if he make the trip back to SD with her tonight, and become her cat. I'm really gonna miss having him around.
I'll get to see him again when we go to SD for 4th of July weekend (my last 4th of July for the forseeable future), and then again when we spend a few weeks in CA before moving to Australia. I'll always be glad for my time with my favorite cat, Choo Choo Hot Fish.
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05/10/2005 06:12:46 PM · #2 |
Oh, and to make matters worse, I don't even get to be there when he leaves- I'm at work right now! So I had to say my goodbyes before I left the house, my husband will be taking mom and the cat to the airport. Sigh.
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05/10/2005 06:19:52 PM · #3 |
Awww, thanks for sharing your story Andi. Being a big cat person myself, I can very much relate to how you're feeling. :-( At least you know he's going to a good home and you'll be able to visit with him. I'm glad you have that, if you didn't I'd offer to be his adopted mom. :-) Seems we have some things in common. I'm from San Diego (grew up there), been here in Atlanta for about 5 years now, Love cats, about the same age and am totally into music and worked in the business for a short time and you work in radio. Something I intended to do back in my college days but never followed through on. It sounds like you've got alot of great adventures coming up in the near future and I'm sure Choo choo greatly appreciates all you've done for him. Have a great time in OZ. :-)
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05/10/2005 06:24:46 PM · #4 |
Thank you for that. I just felt I needed to vent, I guess, and I'm glad someone can relate :)
That's weird about how much we have in common.... too bad we didn't get to know each other *before* I started getting ready to leave the country!
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05/10/2005 06:48:32 PM · #5 |
| I know how you feel. When I left the UK to move to the US I had to leave behind my dog of 10 years. It was really tough. Thankfully my parents were able to take pictures for me. I'm sure Choo Choo will have fun at your mom's. And what a great name! |
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05/10/2005 06:50:05 PM · #6 |
Ooh Australia, whereabouts? You'll love Australia!
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05/10/2005 06:53:52 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by moodville:
And what a great name! |
Thanks, I think you're the first person to EVER say that - most people assume I'm insane ;)
Originally posted by doctornick:
Ooh Australia, whereabouts? You'll love Australia! |
Queensland, most likely somewhere between Brisbane and Bundaberg, where my husband is from and all his family lives. I already love it, I just want to get there already :)
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05/11/2005 09:54:05 AM · #8 |
Waking up this morning catless was really weird... this is the first time in my life that I've ever been without a pet. Oh well, I don't have to worry about scaring him with the vacuum anymore.
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05/11/2005 10:06:51 AM · #9 |
awww....he has such a cute nose marking....
((((((HUGS)))))))
A very hard thing to do.... *comfort* |
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05/11/2005 01:07:19 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by theSaj:
awww....he has such a cute nose marking....
((((((HUGS)))))))
A very hard thing to do.... *comfort* |
Thank you. I just got word from Mom this morning that he's doing fine, the flight to SD went well, and he's in a bedroom by himself till he has a chance to get acclimated.... sometime later today he's going to be introduced to Mom's other cat. He's never been around another cat, so that could be interesting ;)
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05/11/2005 01:14:13 PM · #11 |
| Being a total cat lover myself, I can imagine how hard this must be! Perhaps you can be comforted by knowing that your cat is safe at home with your mom and not in a stranger's house. Will you be getting a long distance sibling in Australia? |
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05/11/2005 01:32:09 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by mk:
Will you be getting a long distance sibling in Australia? |
Depends on what you consider a sibling ;) We'll be starting a farm in Australia, so we'll have chickens, possibly a few goats, later down the line a cow, and we'll likely end up with a dog or two. Somehow I think Choo will be happier in San Diego :D
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05/12/2005 04:30:38 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by ahaze:
Originally posted by moodville:
And what a great name! |
Thanks, I think you're the first person to EVER say that - most people assume I'm insane ;) |
Nope! I'm with Moodville - fantastic name!
But then, I have a (toy) sheep I named Booroola Twinkle-toes so hey!
I'm sorry you're feeling bad about missing Choo, and I can certainly understand why. Good that someone you trust so much will be the one taking him on instead, though.
Best of luck with the move!
Message edited by author 2005-05-12 04:30:58.
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05/12/2005 04:46:33 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by ahaze:
Originally posted by mk:
Will you be getting a long distance sibling in Australia? |
Depends on what you consider a sibling ;) We'll be starting a farm in Australia, so we'll have chickens, possibly a few goats, later down the line a cow, and we'll likely end up with a dog or two. Somehow I think Choo will be happier in San Diego :D |
A FARM???? What's a farm without a cat? I'm sure no cat will replace Chooch, but this is the absolute perfect opportunity to visit the local SPCA (or what ever they call it, Down Under) and save the life of another "stray cat". Good luck to you in your ventures! Keep in touch with us all through your photographs and words. Keep Smilin'!
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05/12/2005 03:28:19 PM · #15 |
Thanks all ;) Nice to have folks around who understand. Choo practically lived in my closet, so it was really weird to go in there this morning to get clothes and say "hey Choo" to the floor. :)
Mom says he's doing just fine though in his new home, so I couldn't be happier with my decision. I guess he's done some yowling and posturing with Mom's other cat, but they'll surely get over that before long.
And yeah, I suppose a farm cat would be a good idea :)
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