"Gink" was our first cat - "came with the girlfriend" (now my wife "J"). J has had Gink since Gink was 8 weeks old, after first meeting her at 3 days old. Gink was the only black cat and the runt of the litter.
I remember the day I discovered that I was allergic to cats. I had stayed overnight at J’s place, and in the early morning I woke up unable to breathe, wheezing, short of breath. Down the street was a walk-in clinic and I stayed outside it’s doors an hour before it opened, just waiting so I could find out what was wrong. The doctor’s advice was “get rid of the cat”. I said I couldn’t, the cat came with the girlfriend. I remember the laugh the doctor gave when I said this, as he shook his head with a smile.
My sinuses have never been clear since.
Eventually we moved in together (the 3 of us), and along the way we adopted two male strays - Calvin a year after Gink, and Casey a year after that.
However Gink was “first” and was a very affectionate kitten until they both got fixed after we brought Calvin home. She was always jealous and spiteful of us bringing 2 more cats into our home. While Calvin and Casey get along like close brothers, she always swatted at them if they got within reach, and always chased them away from “her” spots. This continued her entire life.
She had a cry that sounded the same whether she wanted you to give her attention, or wanted you to go away! You never knew until you touched her, and she either purred or BIT you. Sometimes she’d do both, right after another. You’d pet her for awhile and then all of the sudden she’d bite you (hard!). Then when you pulled away she’d come closer for more. Or she’d bite you first, and then when you moved away, she’d come to you, begging your attention.
She loved to sunbathe. On really hot days her black fur was almost too hot to touch!
Until her last year in life, when it started to fall out in clumps, she was always proud of her soft and shiny, luxurious black fur. Always preening and grooming, stopping only to strut around and show it off.
Gink was a true diva.
This cache was placed on the anniversary of when our pet cat Gink was put to sleep at 17 years old.
We miss you Gink, and will always love you!
You b***h!
(I called her that often - she would know I’d say it with the utmost affection)
Congrats to fellow cat lover RockHarder on the FTF!