The
Foundation's Logo
Zoe
was selected as the official logo for the foundation back in
1989. Her likeness (right) is now registered with the US Patent & Trademark
Office. (Click image to enlarge)
During
the early life of the foundation it was not a nonprofit organization.
I was working to acquire funds solely through product sales,
then donated a percentage of those dollars to needy animal organizations.
My work revolved, to a great degree, around domestic cat products.
Zoe
was given to me by a very close artist
friend (Kata) who had already named her. Zoe in Greek means Life
in all its Manifestations. I fell in love with this extremely
intelligent cat and decided her illustrated form would make a
fitting logo. Originally it was a small cats helping big
cats direction because my sales and research efforts were
directed primarily at domestic cat owners.
As
the years passed, and after I met Dr. Bleyman, the focus of the
foundation became more targeted. We received our non-profit status
and now
focus on saving the tiger. But Zoe remains our logo because she's
my inspiration and has been here from the beginning. It may be
a little confusing for some people to see a Manx cat as a logo
for a tiger project, but as the project moves from planning to
reality her association will be solidified.
Its
still small cats helping big cats to a great degree because
many domestic cat owners have a greater appreciation for the
felids than do people who do not own, and maybe just dont
really understand, cats. Of course, this is not always true,
but ten plus years of consumer research on this subject points
to
that conclusion.
Thats
the story of our inspiration and logo - Zoe, the world's #1 Manx!
Zoe
the Manx
Zoe
was a rambunctious bi-color, (black and white), full rumpy Manx.
She weighed about sixteen pounds. She was given to me by a very
close friend, Kata,
who is a fine portrait artist who now specializes in Elvis Art.
Zoe
was born on July 28, 1987 behind a bed in a ninety year old farm
house in Georgia. I located the lady who owns Zoe's parents.
She raises Manx cats and places the kittens with families close
to her home so she can visit them. Zoe is the only kitten
so far who got away from the area. A friend of Kata's brought
the kitten from Georgia but did not tell the lady she was going
to leave the state with her. She actually gave Zoe to Kata as
a gift. Kata gave Zoe to me because the fellow she was going
to marry was allergic to cats.
Zoe's
grandparents were two wild Manx cats that were found near where
she was born. Kata named the cat Zoe after the Greek word zoe meaning
'life in all its manifestations'.
I
had Zoe for nine years as an only cat. Her new roommate,Ben,
was a shock to her being.
Zoe
the Cat: July 28, 1987 - May 2, 2002
My
constant companion, foundation inspiration, and friend
- Zoe passed away after coming out of anesthesia today.
She had broken a tooth on some hard cat food, but it
had healed. I thought it best to have her checked and
get her teeth cleaned. In retrospect, I should have taken
her age and weight more into account. I will always regret
that decision. I miss her terribly and will never forget
her. I am now writing her biography and will make it
available on this site when completed. God bless you
Zoe and God's speed.
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(Click images to enlarge)
Ben
August
1, 1988 - December 19, 2009
Ben
is a bicolor, (orange and white), twelve pound
stumpy? He's a Japanese Bobtail. I met Ben
while I was working on a historic home on Savage Street in downtown
Charleston, SC - my home for forty years. He was found shortly
following hurricane Hugo and adopted by an older, retired gentleman
that
everyone in
the
area
called 'The Mayor of Savage Street'. His wife told me he just
loved the cat although he never really liked cats until he adopted
Ben. Ben would follow him up and down the street as he walked
the neighborhood greeting workers and friends.
Mr.
Hewitt, 'The Mayor of Savage Street' died suddenly one morning.
When EMS came they scared Ben. He seemed lost and alone after
Mr. Hewitt's passing. Ben was wandering around a busy street,
and Ann, Mr. Hewitt's wife, was moving to a smaller home several
blocks away. She decided she could not take Ben and asked the
neighbors if anyone wanted him. Only one of the neighbors, who
all loved to pet him, was interested. However, the woman who
offered traveled extensively which meant it would have been difficult
for her to keep him. That's where I came in.
I
said I would love to take Ben. Mrs. Hewitt really wanted one
of the neighbors to adopt him, but she decided it would be best
for me to provide him with a home. I built a new fence off the
back of the studio and installed cat fencing so he and Zoe could
not
wander.
I installed
two cat doors so they could go in and out when they wanted. Zoe
had been an indoor cat all her life, so when she got out it was
a new and wonderful experience. Ben
is a very gentle, playful cat.
(Click
images to enlarge)
Samson
June 1, 1993
- October 10, 2003
Samson
was a great cat. I’ll never forget the day I saw him as
a kitten screaming all get out from atop a tall, wooden fence
next to a gas station I frequented in Charleston, SC.
It
was Thanksgiving Day - 1993, and I had stopped to put some gas
in my truck before continuing to a friend’s home for dinner.
I heard this little cat, seemingly lost or abandoned, meowing
at the top of his lungs. I went over and took the cat off the
top of the six foot high fence and placed him in my old pickup.
I asked the attendant if he knew the owner of this fur ball,
but he did not.
So
that little cat stayed in the truck all afternoon while I ate
dinner and watched football with Marvin. You see, I lived a fair
distance from my host, so I didn’t have time to take the
cat home.
The
following day I placed notices up in the neighborhood, at the
station and in the paper. No responses. That’s how Samson
came to live with my mother, Louise.
Samson
lived with my mom and her cats and dogs until we moved to Raleigh
in 1997. Zoe and Ben were my only charges. When my mother passed
away in 1999 all the dogs and cats came together. It took a while
for
them all the get use to each other, but eventually they were
all hanging out together.
Photo
three has Samson and Kiwi (11/30/89 – 4/5/03) opening their
presents Christmas Day 2002, and photo five shows Samson on the
sofa with Ben (foreground) and Suki (1985 - May 2002).
Samson
had a great personality. Sometimes I would watch him race around
the back yard climbing a few feet up each tree as he passed.
Toward the end of his life he curled up beside me when I was
napping.
Another
interested aspect I thought a little unusual. In the final year
of his life he developed diabetes. I had to give him two shots
a day – one in the morning and one in the evening. When
it came time for his shots he would come right over, kneel down
and wait for his shot. He never seemed to mind.
A
year into the shot regimen he was diagnosed with cancer. I did
all I could do to save him, but it was too late. Six weeks after
diagnosis he was gone.
He
was a wonderful asset to my life. I’ll miss him. God speed
Samson.
(Click images to enlarge)
Suki
July 1985
- July 2000
I mentioned Suki in Samson's
information. In April 1985, about a year after we moved to
Johns Island, I was out on a ten mile run. About two miles
from the house I spotted this solid black kitten wandering on Main
Road. He
couldn't have been more than a month old. There were no homes
close by and no sign of other kittens or cats. So I picked
him up and ran the two miles back to the house with this tiny cat
clutched between my palms. I
presented him to my mother who immediately took him in.
Suki was an indoor/outdoor cat
who repeatedly managed to get in fights. I found him next
to the house one day so torn up I thought he was dead. I
placed him on a make shift litter and took him to the vet. He
survived another close encounter. I believe he had more than
the prerequisite nine lives. As
he grew older he began to mellow. He was another fine companion.
(Click
images to enlarge)
Update: (12-11-97)
Zoe and Ben are fine up here in North Carolina. We moved in July
to help with the tiger program. They have a much bigger cat
fenced yard, but Zoe rarely goes out. Ben is out all the time.
They get along a little better.
Update: (02-19-01)
Zoe and Ben are still hanging in there. Zoe still doesn’t go
out much although she has a half acre of cat fenced area to roam.
She gets along fairly well with Ben, but she still doesn’t like
Samson, a male short hair. Maybe because he has a tail?
Update: (07-15-01)
Zoe is fine after a tooth extraction several weeks ago. A tissue
sample was also taken for cultivation and frozen storage at
Lazeron. Ben and Samson are fine.
Update: (March 17, 2000) Suki passed
away.
Update: (May
2, 2002) Zoe passed away today.
Update: (October
10, 2003) Samson passed away today.
Update - May 28, 2009: Ben
has had quite a few problems in the past two years. He is
on medication for high blood pressure, which took his sight, and
a thyroid issue. The vet thinks he has a form of cancer on his
nose. From a practical standpoint it is untreatable due to his
age and frailty. He also has a problem with a sack that developed
off his colon. He now weighs about six pounds and holding. He's
hanging in there however. He's now almost 21 years old.
Update - The Final Days: December
19, 2009; this
was a very hard day. I knew for the past few days Ben’s time
was drawing near. He fought a courageous battle against age and
his Basel cell carcinoma. Yesterday he came forth with some forlorn
vocalizations. He was not sleeping as most cats do most of the
time. He was seeking me out and sitting in my lap whenever I was
around, which was now most of the time.
He was drinking a profuse amount of water, which seemed to go
right through him. His temperature was also below normal. I had
taken him to see the vet only a few days ago to get an antibiotic
for an infection that was causing him to get blood in his urine.
The shot seemed to clear that up, but there were too many other
things going on.
This morning he was restless. He was drinking a lot of water,
but eating very little, as had been the case for the past few days.
He was vocalizing more; seemingly trying to tell me it was his
time.
I never wanted him to suffer. To this point he was eating, drinking,
getting around well, and in no pain. But he had lost two thirds
of his body weight. I decided to have him put to sleep. I asked
the vet about giving him something to calm him so the ride to the
hospital would not be noticed. She gave me a valium mixture that
she said would give him a kitty high that would be pleasant. Giving
him that liquid was a mistake I’ll never forget.
When I squirted the mixture in his mouth, he immediately fell
to the floor. He tried to get up for his water, but could not stand.
I held him up, but he could not drink. His head went limp in the
small, red water bowl causing water to be inhaled. This was a disaster.
The valium could not have taken that immediate type of effect.
I didn’t know what to do. I took Ben with me to the couch
and held him in my arms. I hated the way things went. He was having
trouble standing. I hoped that was due to the valium taking effect,
but I could not be sure.
I placed him on his small blanket in his carrier and took him
to the hospital, which was only a mile away. I said my good byes
through tears. That was the last time I saw this wonderful cat – Ben.
In retrospect, after digesting information I learned from the
vet, I should have made a different decision. I did not want to
see Ben die, but that would have been the best decision. I initially
asked the vet if she could come to the house and administer a sedative
to knock Ben out before administering the lethal drug. She said
that all sedatives stung at the injection site, so you would probably
see the animal hurting before the sedative took effect. This I
did not want. That’s why I opted for the valium. I thought
that would be an optimal solution, but the reaction I described
was dreadful and will be hard to live with.
The vet said the barbiturate they use to put animals to sleep
does not sting at the injection site, so the animal does not deal
with a painful administration. Upon injection, the animal loses
consciousness and drifts away. That is what I should have done.
I should have asked the vet to administer the injection at the
house; in Ben’s comfortable surroundings. I just didn’t
want to see him die. That was selfish. I will regret my decision
forever. I hope Ben can forgive me.
My vet did
not do routine blood pressure checks beginning at age seven
as recommended. Please,
if you own a cat(s) get their blood pressure checked. High blood
pressure
is the leading cause of blindness in cats. |