Left to right: Maine Coon cat, Edd “Kookie” Byrnes, tiger-striped Tabby
My Real Memoir: Cats I Have Known and Loved
I’m not a died-in-the-fur “cat person.” That implies a species-specific specialization (say that five times fast and you win a kitten); I’m an all-round animal lover. I love otters (who doesn’t?), sparrows, mice, marmosets, and mongooses (mongeese?), even critters of the slithery persuasion (apart from the one who deceived Eve). But among the animals I’ve called family…most have been cats.
It began when I captured a couple of feral kittens. Being more pantherae than felis cati, they soon escaped into the suburban grasslands. But the rest of our cats captured us.
Right after we’d moved to our semi-planned community, I rescued Zipper from a truly evil man. He was my bestie, and I was his hero.
A short time later, Mom acquired a bestie as well. She’d found him curled up against the milk bottles outside our kitchen door. Unlike short-haired Zipper, he was a lush little bundle who loved to nibble buttons. And so, along with Zipper, we now had another garment closure-themed cat named “Buttons.”
Whose name quickly became a misnomer.
The Field across the street from our house was a vast, untamed veldt. So Buttons began hunting, and hunting, and hunting. Consequently, he morphed into the largest, catliest cat anyone had ever seen. Being at least part Maine Coon (or possibly lion), Buttons soon became “Mr. B,” a feline Sean Connery who liked his mice shaken, not stirred. He was feared by every tom, and adored by every molly. And the scars he acquired (“you should have seen the other cat”) only made him more magnificent!
Mr. B feared nothing, including the notorious Vacuum Cleaner. He hit it, bit it, clawed it, and stood his ground. Mom found this endlessly amusing, and taunted him with it, mercilessly. After which, he would come and find me, wherever I was, and bite me in retaliation–but never Mom. Mr. B’s sun rose and set on her. If he could, he would have had a heart with “Mom” tattooed on his bicep (catcep?).
Zipper, on the other hand, was a lover, not a fighter. And among those he loved was flirty little Missy next door. In the heat of passion, Zipper and Missy failed to use protection, and voila: two tiny Missys and one mini-Zipper arrived. Missy’s human mom Julie (who soon became my mom’s best friend) insisted we “do the right thing” and adopt Zipper Jr.
Zipper Jr. officially became “Ginchy,” the beatnik term for a “cool cat” (popularized by Edd “Kookie” Byrnes on Mom’s favorite TV series, 77 Sunset Strip). Ginchy’s full name on his veterinarian’s office birth certificate was Ginchell Russell Teemley (Mom’s play on my name, Mitchell Russell Teemley), indicating that we were brothers.
He was aptly named. You didn’t tease Ginchy. He teased you. He was the shrewdest cat I’ve ever known. When we played hide-and-seek, he’d almost immediately figure out where I was. But when he hid, I was completely mystified. If he was a chess player, he’d have beaten Bobby Fischer. I always felt he was smarter than me. But I didn’t mind because, well, we grew up together and…
He was my brother.
To read My Real Memoir from the start, click here. To read the next episode, click here.
As a cat lover, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I have to admit, I can’t imagine having a cat who’s not afraid of an active vacuum cleaner. Your cats charmed me.
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Awe. I just loved this post having one quite a few cats over the years. But like Belinda had mentioned, I have never known a cat to like a vacuum cleaner. Whether the vacuum cleaner is switched on or not. As soon as I would bring in the vacuum cleaner, the cats I had would disappear.
Not surprising, Liz. Mr. B was the only cat I ever saw face down the giant sucking machine!
You touched a chord in me…we had four over time, all rescued. Frank the bad cat, maxwell, , zeus, and the one who appeared at the church in January asking me to take him home, milo. I too am an animal person but have extra good memories with my kitty friends.
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You were such a lucky kid. When I was a kid I would have given anything (including all three of my brothers) for a cat, but I couldn’t have one because my father didn’t like them. I moved out of my parents’ house fifty years ago and have not been without a cat since.
Sweet revenge! 😸
Isn’t it so funny (and awesome) how our pets have their own distinct personalities? Fun post!
Thanks, Rhonda. And, yes, they certainly do!
This was so enjoyable. I was impressed with Mr. B!!
Thank you, Lisa. 🧡 He was an impressive fellow!
The dog, “Mango” and the cat “Candy” ( and a few others) belonged to my daughters. They only belonged to me when it came to food or pets, When my daughter moved to England, I took over a guardian of Manguito, until finally I took him in an epic journey to London. See post – https://geoffbrown250533044.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/manguito/
Epic indeed, Geoff!
I love Mango’s ears!
Wonderful feline reflections, Mitch.
Thanks, Nancy❣
I am famously a dog person, but my love for animals also spans species. I have shared my home with cats over the years, and we were cool. You know I want to ask Kookie to lend me a comb.
;>)
Meow! This is fun to read. I enjoy the progress of the kittens into cats and how your family grew–well, adapted–too. How everyone evolved (too Darwinian?)?
;>)
I’m highly allergic to cats. But wish I could have one as I found a cockroach sitting in my bathroom a foot away from Tango. He did nothing about it.
;>)
That’s a good one! 😂
I could read a book of your cat stories Mitch 😻
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Actually, there is something wonderful about looking back and realizing that the animals we thought we were rescuing were quietly rescuing something in us too, Mitch.
Absolutely, Rakesh. 🧡
Me encantan tus gatos y me parto de risa con tus amigos!!
Gracias, Ana! 🧡
Wonderful treasured cat memories.
The names are wonderful especially Zippy Jr.
I loved my kitty Benny who recently passed Sep 10th. He was my companion for over 17 years😢.
So sorry about your loss, Robert. 🧡
I’m so sorry about Benny. 😢
That is such an adorable, enjoyable read! All your characters steal the show, What an engaging bunch of furbabies!! Beautifully told!
Aww, thank you, Fleur. 🧡
You’re most welcome, its all in your telling of the story.
Im a cat lover, I come from a family of cat lovers, and every cat has its own devinely, purrfectly awesome ‘tail’ to tell. Your post brings loads of chuckles, grinning over cat antics, and loads of warm fuzzies!
Aren’t cats wonderful?
Yes!
I’m not a cat lover, although my little family has had cats for many years and my daughter still does. I have good memories though, but I haven’t been a pet person since my dog died when I was 12, I just find it hard to disconnect when a pet dies, so I avoided connecting with them since then.
God made them for us, enjoy them, love them, protect them.
Blessings
Always miss Hiphop, our litle Manx cat. Thanks as always for sharing.
I’m glad to listen anytime you’d like to tell a story about Hiphop. 🐾
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