Ishmael Alfar

Born April 25th 1996. Ishmael picked us, or atleast he picked Kevin, probably because he liked the way Kevin smelled (he worked in a restaurant). He came right up to us. The woman selling the kittens told us he was one of the "ring leaders" along with his sister, they would lead the other kittens into mischief. I knew right away that he was the one for me. He was a such a crazy, active kitten I wondered if he would ever settle down and sit in my lap long enough for me to pet him. He did though, he actually became a bit of a nusance after Solomon was born. He was so starved for some attention and affection from me, he would practically maul me after Solomon went to bed. She had named him "Alfar" with an accent on the "a" and the "f" pronounced like a "v", I guess it means "elf". We changed his name to Ishmael; Kevin was reading Moby Dick at the time and we decided to "call him Ishmael". He had many nick names, Ishy O'meow or Ishy were my favorites. After he turned 10 I started calling him Old Man, jokingly of course. Even though the vet now called him a "senior" I thought I knew better. He seemed just as healthy and young as he did as a young adult cat, he was going to live to be 20+, or so I thought.
I was broken hearted after my beloved cat Morrissey had to be put to sleep. It's funny the bond you have with certain animals. Morrissey and I were so close- he once lost his colar for like the 3rd time in a month and I yelled at him and told him to show me where it was. We marched off down the street, me following him and he lead me right to some barbed wire, where the bell was stuck. Colar retrived! I didn't think much of it at the time but now I realize how connected we were.
Ishmael and I shared a similar bond. When he was a kitten he never meowed, he sort of grumbled and tried to talk. I counted up the moves we made together: seven, can you believe that! Seven moves, a husband and two kids later. He scared the midwife at Solomon's birth, he came out right after Solomon did to see what was going on, we have him in the birth video giving Sol a sniff. Unfortunately Solomon has not been so kind to Ishy, even before he could walk he would sort of scream at him and try to chase him. As much as I tried, Solomon could never really help himself and Ishmael has never cared much for him (who could blame him). So he and Zilpah started hiding during the day and waiting for the kids to nap or go to sleep for the night, so they could come out. Not much of a life. My poor old man, sorry I didn't give you the love and attention you deserved in your last years.
I love you, I miss you, I will miss you, my beautiful cat.