Pharaoh – An unforgettable Aby!

by Maggie
(Australia)

Biru Henry Pawson was the cat who influenced my life. With out him I would not be sitting here now typing this. He was with me from the very beginning of my life, and will be with me until the very end.

On 29 August 1988 King’s Mead Golden Dena, a Tawny Abyssinian female, gave birth to a litter of fine kittens, sired by Grand Champion Absin Howzat, a Silver Abyssinian male. In the litter was Biru Henry Pawson. About 3 months later, my mother purchased Henry and renamed him Pharaoh.

I was born some years later, by then Pharaoh was fully grown and mighty handsome! We grew up together and we shared unforgettable experiences. He was more like a brother than a pet. I remember one Easter morning when I was quite young, I was excited about the arrival of the Easter Bunny, and wanted to share my excitement with Pharaoh, he was outside so I went to find him, I walked around the side of the house to find Pharaoh feasting on what looked a lot like a rabbit, I instantly jumped to the conclusion that Pharaoh had killed the Easter Bunny and was now eating him for breakfast.

But the experience of which Pharaoh and I shared that remains so clearly in my memory was our last. They day he died feels like only yesterday. I will never forget it.

It was mother’s day 2005, the 8th of May. Pharaoh’s health had been deteriorating over the past few months, due to an abdominal tumor. It was early in the morning, and no one was yet up. I heard a high pitched “Meeeeow!” come from outside, so I got up and ran to where it had come from. Pharaoh was under the house. I opened the small door and looked in, I called Pharaoh’s name several times and heard him moving. Slowly he limped his way through the door into the early morning sun. I picked him up, he stank horribly and was covered in feces (he had lost control of his bowel) I held him tight and took him inside. My mother was up by then, and she cleaned Pharaoh up. But gave me the heart braking news that Pharaoh was now suffering, he was too ill to even survive the rest of the day and he would have to be put to sleep.

Hours later, I wrapped him in my favourite blanket and everyone said their goodbyes. My mother, father and I got in the car and departed to the vet, I held Pharaoh close to me the whole time and whispered to him how much I loved him, and how we would see each other again. Tears ran down my face (as they are now) and anxiety built up as we arrived at the vet. I went into vet’s office with mum and dad, the vet looked at him and said “Yes, it’s time for him to go.” and even more tears flooded down my face. I grabbed Pharaoh from across the table and held him tight, my parents told me to leave the room, but I remember continuously saying that I wanted to be there for him. Eventually I left the room and sat in the waiting room, I heard them shaving him and then within a few seconds, my parents and the vet came out. My mother had tears streaming down her face, she said it felt like she had just lost a child. Pharaoh was wrapped in the blanket, he was gone.

Pharaoh was buried by his companion, Khian, a Silver Aby, who had died in about 1990 from being run over by a car.

I will never forget Pharaoh, he is the reason for my love of cats. I believe that part, if not all, of Pharaoh resides within Chilli, because when I look at Chilli it feels like Pharaoh is around. He was an amazing cat and I will never forget him.

In memory of Biru Henry Pawson “Pharaoh” 29/Aug/88 – 08/May/05

Maggie

Pharaoh – An unforgettable Aby! to Abyssinian cat