Welcome to Magic's Rainbow Residency

Memories of Magic

What was so special about Magic? Probably the fact that he loved me so much. I remember when we talked about getting cats I said that I didn't want a cat that didn't give a damn if I was there or not. Well, I certainly got my wish with Magic because he was always happy to see me. I'd come in and say, "Where's my Sweetheart?" and he'd come running, or when we started leaving them in the bedroom while we were gone, he'd start to howl at the door. Then when Kit would open the door, he would run out to the dining room table where I was and be telling me all about it. He came by his name because we were looking for something to go with Merlin. His CFA name was REO Speedwagon's Magic. He was born on May 15, 1992, one of 5 boys. Two of his littermates died in the first week. Magic, Merlin, and another silver tabby (later adopted and named Bentley) were the three remaining sons of Kira and Malcom. He died on October 21, 2002. I loved the way he would get on his tippy toes and give me a head butt, then turn around. This little dance became known as "butt-in-the-face." It was much cuter than it sounds. And when he was trying to be really cute, he would just squeak or you'd just hear his lips part. But when he wanted something, he was not at all shy about telling us what he wanted. He would come right up to us and look us in the eye and talk. One of the things he used to say was "Ow-wow." I was never sure if that was his name for me or if it meant "I want." Kit said he had a different name for her, "Ow-reh." When we first started brushing Magic and Merlin, we were living at Mallard Crossing and we would put them on the dining room table to brush. Merlin seemed to like it, and Magic hated it. But when we moved to the condo, we started doing the brushing on my bed, and it reversed. Magic loved brushings and Merlin didn't like it. Magic would get all excited when I would "get out the implements," that is, the brush, pet roller, nail trimmers and baggie to put the hair in. He'd purr and purr and drool and roll. He was shameless. He even liked the cat lax we'd give him as a "treat" when we were done. We had not originally intended to get two cats. Kit arranged to get Merlin, and I thought I might get a dog or another cat some time down the line. But a couple of days before we went to get Merlin, I began to think that we should get two cats right away. I'd read that it was better for the cats to have a companion, and I knew we had enough love to give. What I didn't know was if we could afford to get one of Merlin's brothers. So, on the way to Youngstown, I told Kit I thought we should get two. She thought I was nuts. So, when we got to the breeder's house, she jokingly told the breeder that I thought we should get two. Carole (the breeder) said, "Well, I'll give you a discount for two." I was afraid that it would still be too much, but fortunately, it wasn't. I stuck my finger in the cage and Magic came right up to me. I knew that he was to be mine. The "one with the little bit of brown on his nose." He wasn't quite as perfect as the other silver tabby, but we bonded. We called him "the Baby" even though he was much larger than Merlin. He acted like a bigger baby. For a few years, Merlin was a bit more macho, but Magic was never shy about admitting his need for his humans. And, the Baby had bugs. Not literally, but he seemed to think so. We never did know if it was just that he was neurotic, or if he had seizures or what, but sometimes his back would start jumping and he would attack these "bugs" on his fur or on the carpet. We never saw any bugs, and it would have been odd for bugs to only bother Magic and not Merlin. It was just another oddity that was Magic. Both Magic and Merlin were known to go on "booger runs." Magic would hug a corner at a door and get all crazy eyed and then scale the door jam or bounce off the wall and take off running. His runs didn't usually last as long as Merlin's, but he could really get the speed going when he wanted to. And when he and Merlin were chasing each other, he would sometimes stop and make some incredible sounds for a cat. I don't know how he got down so low. Although nap spots tended to change periodically, Magic pretty consistently liked sleeping under my bed. I think that is where I will place his ashes when we get them back. Unlike Merlin who usually sleeps in a ball, Magic liked to spread out. And he had a lot of cat to spread out. He was a muscular 14 lbs and had a nice waist. We'd call him the "Tabby Load." And when we'd pick him up or scratch his ears, he'd grunt like a little piggy. Cats are supposed to be nocturnal creatures, and Magic and Merlin were to an extent when they were younger. We would go to bed about midnight, and they'd have to have a wild spree before settling down. Later on though, Magic started going to bed when I did. It was cute. I'd say "Nitey-nite Sweetheart" and go to bed, and he would go to wherever his current sleeping spot was. For a long time it was the end of the couch, and God help Kit if she was sitting in his spot. Most recently it had been a pillow we had on the deacon's bench. I had even taken to telling Magic "Nitey" when I was away from home, so that if he could hear me or sense me, he'd know I was thinking of him and that it was time to go to bed. Yeah it was silly, but it was our little ritual. Everyone that met Magic commented on his big head. Brits normally have large, round heads, and his was classic. We used to say that Merlin had a baseball-sized head and Magic had a softball-sized head. Even one of the vets commented that his head was big because she hadn't met many kitties whose heads she couldn't get in her hand. And when we had their teeth cleaned and called to check on them, the vet's assistant said, "Oh, you mean those precious big-headed babies?" He had nice size hands too. Both he and Merlin loved to scoop treats. Magic used his on a couple of occasions to kill moths, causing us to call him "Moth-Killer" as his Native American name. He loved to put his big ole hands on things. If he saw something new or interesting, he'd look at it for a bit, then that paw would reach out and tentatively touch it. If it didn't scare him, he'd give whatever it was a whack and chase it. Magic never lost that kitten-look. He was 10 1/2 years old and still looked like a tiny kitten--at least in the face. He loved to play. He had some interesting expressions. For instance, when he smelled something interesting, he'd scrunch up his nose, raise it and bob his head up and down as though that helped get the smell in his nose. He could look crabby, leading us to call him the "Crabby Tabby" on occasion. It was a scream when he was confused or really concentrating because he would furrow his brow, and his eyes would cross a bit. He had gorgeous features all over. He had black eyeliner around his hazel eyes; he had magnificent necklaces and bracelets for his tabby markings. When he was a kitten, all his stripes were tightly packed together. And let's not forget one of his other nicknames. "Little One Nut" or the "One Nut Wonder." Poor guy. Only one of his testicles fell, so when we took him to be neutered, he ended up getting "spayed" so to speak. One testicle was wedged under his diaphragm. I don't know if it was the shaving of his stomach or what caused the hair on his belly to be really long. When he sat, it rested on his back feet and practically covered them. There were times that I thought Kit was sorry we got two, especially Magic. When he was younger, he was a bit naughty. He bit a hole in our picture window pleated shade, and he jumped on top of Kit's wicker shelf and knocked off a Precious Moments pewter figurine in glass. Needless to say, it broke. She was really mad. I thought Magic and I were going to have to live in my car. He and Merlin were the cause of a few other "faux paws" when they were younger, usually while chasing each other. An RC, a lamp, and a water globe were three victims of their playing. But it didn't really matter; those are just things, and things can be replaced. After all, a water globe doesn't purr. I know that I will love other kitties in my lifetime, but there will never be another Magic. He was special. Merlin misses him so. He was my son, my sweetheart. I am honored to have been his mommy. I think we gave him a good and happy life. **It's been almost 6 months now since Magic left me and went to the Rainbows Bridge. And it still hurts. Even though I have little Maddie, I still cry for Magic. I guess I always will. ***Over a year since he passed and I still miss him terribly. I miss seeing him under the Christmas tree. 12/03***This is Magic's Aunt Kit, AKA "Ow-reh". It's been 2 years and I still miss him VERY much. He will always have a place in my heart and in our home. Love you, Magic! 10/21 ***Another Christmas without the baby. Your bro is still going strong. 01/05***We still miss you sweetheart.***Christmas 05 - the tree skirt doesn't look the same without you laying on it, but Molly seems to like it too.****We still miss you Sweetheart. There will never be another you.

Magic's People Parent(s), Bridget, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Baby's Residency. Click here to Email Bridget a message, or to send a sympathy card click here. Email this page to a friend.

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