Gandalf

Introducing: Gandalf!

Gandolf the Wizard

Gandalf the Cat

I was named after the Wizard from the Hobbit. He was an intelligent, gruff, long-lived individual, and so am I! I'm around 31 years old... We're not sure exactly how old I was when I came to live with my humans, (which was 27 years ago) but I'm pretty darn old, nonetheless. The vet approximated that I was 3 or 4, so we go with that.. I was taken into the vet to be put down by my previous owners. They were moving and couldn't be bothered to take me with them, so my mom's friend Dr. Way called and asked if they wanted an abandoned cat. The humans had just sadly lost their black cat Pepper, so they thought they'd come and have a look at me. Well, I was just so cute they took me home right away. I immediately took to my new home and it's been MY house ever since!

I have led the life of a King! My mom takes excellent care of me and dad always keeps me on my toes!
Click here (93k) to hear my howl! You must have Real Player to listen. The neighbors have commented on my lovely voice. Now that Duffy is living here, we do duets in the backyard sometimes for the whole neighborhood's enjoyment. You can hear Duff's voice here. (108k)

I was an excellent hunter in my prime. Now I can't see well enough to hunt, but I have many memories of stalkings and killings... ahhh, those were the days. Now I prefer a nice can of gourmet cat food... 4 or 5 times a day... I also like to share my mom's bologna sandwiches. mmmm.. mustard...

I have to admit, I may not be able to hunt, but I can sure still hold my own in a fight. Katie and I get into it sometimes, and wo-nelly... fur flies everywhere! The impudent little whippersnapper seems to think she owns this house... gimme a break! I can't wait till she's gone! Only 8 more months till their house is built.. not soon enough for me...

Bailey used to live here too, until she went to the Rainbow Bridge. Now she haunts the house and I like to howl at her ghost in the middle of the night. Sometimes I sit outside her room and call for her permission to go in. Sometimes she gives it, and sometimes she doesn't! I think she's getting me back for being so mean to her when she was alive.

I allowed her to share the house with me, but if she got too close.. wham! I let her have it. She always cried and ran away... total wimp...

Let's see... what was I talking about? Oh yes, hunting... I used to really like birds. I could take them down right out of the air. Sometimes I would spy them in the trees and bolt up so fast they didn't have time to fly away! I loved to proudly bring my trophy back to the house. Mind you, they never let me in with these prizes. I knew I had to figure out a way to get them in so I could enjoy my meal in peace. One day I caught a nice juicy sparrow. I had an idea! I broke off a flower from the bush and put that in my mouth along with the bird. I went to the door and dad saw me with a flower in my mouth. He let me in, I dropped the flower at his feet and proceeded up the stairs. No one was the wiser! They were so surprised at my little "gift" that I managed to get the bird upstairs under the bed. It wasn't until later that day that they found the feathers I had left. After this incident, mom decided I should start wearing a bell. I found a way to get around that as well! I was heavily into hummingbirds and would sit under the bush for hours and hours waiting for one to come by.

One afternoon while I was waiting, Michelle was watching me out the window. A bird came by and I slowly started to rise towards it on the bush. As I got closer, I put one paw over the bell and shot the other one out at the bird. Got Him!!! Michelle was shocked. They always underestimated my intellect.

I have no love for dogs either... They're such big dumb brutes.. I'm not scared of their barking and intimidation. I've given many a dog, many a beating. Don't they understand? If they leave me alone, I'll leave them alone. It's their own fault. Cousin Giz came for a visit for 3 weeks. He wanted to be friends, but HAH, good luck... When he was in the house I sat watch over my food bowl and if he came near I growled a warning to STAY AWAY. He tried his barking and bouncing, but I held my ground. No little fur-ball is going to take over MY house.

Have you ever seen older or wiser eyes?

Oh man.. too much catnip last night..

Once a LONG time ago I was sitting on my front lawn when a young girl came by with her german shepherd. The dog wasn't on a leash and immediately came after me. I ran to the side of the house and he followed. Michelle was on the porch and said "oh no!". The girl said "don't worry, my dog won't hurt your cat", and Michelle said "it's not the cat I'm worried about..." just at that moment the dog came running back yelping. I had gotten him good! hee hee.. We never saw that girl or her dog again. lol

These days I like to sleep on the heater or in the garden or under the dining room table. I also enjoy the occasional snifter of catnip now and then. I've mellowed a lot these days and I'll even let people pet me and hold me on their lap without biting them or drawing blood with my claws. (well, not ALL the time) I used to be quite the hellion, but those days are mostly over. I can even be heard to purr now and then. (don't let that get around) The veterinarian is scared of me (as well as all the assistants) so I'd like to keep it that way. I'll lunge at anyone who

comes near me at the vet. I got a cyst on my face a few years ago and had to spend a few days at the clinic. They couldn't release me fast enough. I left quite the little bloodbath behind. hehehehe

I also Love to hang out by the pool... ah, the life of luxury... sometimes I'll even take a drink.

Mom thinks I'm reincarnated from somebody really stubborn... Michelle thinks I used to be a biker. I think that all the kitties on the Bridge signed a petition asking God to keep me down here because they KNOW I'll just come up there and take over. hehehe...

Well, enough of my reminiscing. Hope you enjoyed your visit. Thanks for dropping by. Any other senior kitties out there who'd like to write, I'd be happy to hear from you and add your link to my page.

WHAT are you looking at? Grrrrrrrowwwllllll.

Remember, you're only as old as you feel!
WOW!! Guess what? I won Pampurred Prince of the Month for November 1999!!! Thank you Hope! I'm so honoured to receive this prestigious award!