by Rudolph.A.Furtado
(Mumbai)
Doll faced persian kitten "Matahari" (29-2-2008).
Photograph of doll-faced white Persian cat Matahari at 8 months old in February 2008.I had purchased her from Mumbai's famous "Crawford market" at a cost of Rs 14,000 (Us $350 approx) a queens ransom for cats in India.
She grew up beautifully and her photographs have been put onto "wikepedia commons" under "Persian cats", the same have been used by 'world photo media" for various captions.
Today, in 2009 cat "Matahari" is 2 years old, the mother of 6 kittens delivered after a record 67 days gestation and all kittens have survived and are over 2 months old as on Monday (1-6-2009).
Bizzarely, the entire physique and behaviour of cat matahari has changed after delivery and weaning of her kittens.
She has lost her entire undercoat fur and resembles a "short hair exotic persian cat", besides her eating habits too have become more diverse, previously being very fussy and had to be pampered like a child for food.
This photograph of "Kitten Matahari" was taken in our building garden in Mumbai in Febraury 2008.
Rudolph.A.Furtado
Hi Rudolph: Thanks for showing us Matahari. She is a special lady. I lightening the picture a bit so we can see her gorgeous expression a bit better. I hope you are OK with that..Michael
Saturday(22/8/2020) DEMISE OF ICONIC CAT MATAHARI, A CATALYST IN FORMATION OF CAT CLUBS IN INDIA :- Its with deep sadness that i Rudolph Andrew Furtado announce the death of my 13 years old non-human companion “Queen Cat Matahari” .She expired today morning at approx 0800 hrs after suddenly taking ill yesterday morning with the most probable cause being cancer combined with “Old age”.In human terms she was 68 + years old.She died peacefully surrounded by her human family and with her 11 year old kitten now “Tomcat Matata” keeping a vigil over her. 13 years + is a long lifespan and she filled my life with “Cat humour” and entertainment besides being the inspiration role model for creating “Cat Clubs” as well as a catalyst in formation of India’s first “Cat Show”.Now there is one less member in my household but the memories will live on.The image of her sitting on the window gallery ledge for the last 12 years will be missed by one and all.To quote Lord Alfred Tennyson , quote, “Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all”.She was buried at iconic “PRABHADEVI BEACH” which is the sea facing graveyard of my previous two dog’s “Blondie” and “Lucky” as well as cat “Trixie”.Thanks to fisherman Shri Mahadeo for digging the grave at a time when the “Coronavirus Pandemic” is creating havoc and a scare among us all humans.Yes, the SEA always beckons the living as well as the dead . R.I.P “Matahari”
interesting ! would love a persain kitten