Wheezer (Ouizer) was another Maine Coon cat I had in my life. He was a huge male brown classic tabby with big green eyes, and he was given to me by an aunt when she moved to a place that didn't allow pets. I had Ouizer for ten years; he lived to be 13 years old.

You may think that Cajun was the only cat I had in my life. Oh, no...I had other cats in my life, and one that also touched my heart was one that was named Wheezer (Ouizer).

Like Cajun, Ouizer was a Maine Coon, but he was a male, and he was a rather hefty fellow, mostly brown and black, with a huge, fluffy tail, well-tufted ears that had lynx-style tips on the ends, furry, well-tufted paws, huge, green-yellow eyes, and soft, flowing fur. He had belonged to my aunt Barbara, who lived in Cleveland, Ohio (he was one of seven cats she owned), but then she moved to a place that didn't allow cats, so she gave Ouizer to me.

I had met Ouizer before, and I fell in love with him immediately. He was big and very furry, and he was forever tormenting his brothers and sisters. He was a huge cat, but he had a squeaky meow that I found amusing, and I loved to watch him play. He had such a goofy look on his face, and my heart would melt every time.

Now Ouizer was mine, and on one snowy day, daddy and I went to Cleveland, to bring Ouizer to his new home; and like all new cats, he stayed in hiding for a few days. Once he got used to his new surroundings, he would then venture out (albeit tentatively), and he soon became the Ouizer I remembered: loving, always playful, and amusing. He loved to bat at string with his paws, and he loved to chase paper wads or little balls; and he loved tuna ("people tuna"; he wasn't too keen on cat food unless it was dry). He also loved fish.

Now Ouizer was a great companion, because he slept with me at night, and on those cold, Ohio winter nights, he was the perfect sleeping buddy. He lay across my feet, and I would sleep like a rock because he kept my feet warm, and several times, I would wake up, laughing, because he would be snoring; and he sounded like he had asthma! It was funny to hear! He was also funny because he would "talk" to me, and every time I would go to bed, I would see him on the couch, and I would say "Good night"; and he would chirr back to me, like he was answering me. He and I would have many hours of animated "conversations", and I swear he understood what I was telling him! He also would say "Mama" whenever he would get fed (I would say to him, "Say Mama!", and he would say "Mama", clearly as anything!)

Now, Ouizer was a clean cat, but he had one main fault: like a lot of males, he always didn't watch where he was aiming when he used his litterbox; and there would be a mess for me to clean up. I would get annoyed at him, but I would clean up his messes, as it was part of owning a cat. He didn't hardly poop on the floor (thank goodness), but his urinary habits weren't so good. He would either go by the box or on the box instead of IN the box; and I would get annoyed. I also took great pride in brushing him, and nothing delighted me more than to hear his huge, rumbly purr that made his body vibrate. He had one of the loudest purrs I had ever heard on a cat.

For ten years, Ouizer was my constant companion, and I delighted in his actions. He aggravated me at times (as with his bathroom habit described above), but he also showed me much in the way of unconditional love, and he never ceased in making me laugh. He was a clown with a goofy expression to match, and he never hissed at me. It was a very rare thing when he would get mad at me or I at him. We got along famously, and he and I knew each other like a book. He knew my moods, and I knew his, and it was the perfect human/pet relationship.

Then came the sad day when he became sick. At first, I thought he had some sort of virus that would last a few days (he was sneezing and seemed "off his feed"), but then he started losing weight and started vomiting and passing blood in his stool and urine; and we knew something was definitely wrong with Ouizer. So we took him to the vet, and it turned out that the problem was more serious than we had previously thought. Ouizer was in kidney failure, and there was nothing that could be done for him, so I was forced to make one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make as a pet owner: I chose to have him euthanized. He was clearly suffering, and I knew nothing could be done, so I decided that this was the best possible thing I could ever do for him.

This beautiful Maine Coon cat that I had in my life for the past 10 years was now very sick, and he wasn't going to get any better. I was about to put his life in the hands of doctors who were going to end it; soon, in a few moments, he would be dead. I felt like I was a murderer, but I knew I had no other option. I had to have his suffering come to an end: he was pitifully thin, his eyes no longer shone with health, and he was so weakened. My heart was breaking as I held him in my arms for the last time; and I cried like I had never cried before. When it was time, I handed the cat over to the doctor, and he took Ouizer away.

I never saw him alive again.

I then called daddy at home, to tell him that Ouizer had died; and I was crying hard; daddy told me to come home, "where people loved you" ("you" meaning myself), and I drove home, trying to see between the tears that ran like rain down my cheeks and blurred my vision. I then went into my father's arms, and I cried and cried.

I still miss Ouizer to this very day, and I shall always remember him. He was truly a "gentle giant", and he was true to the Maine Coon standard. He was big and furry (he weighed over 20 pounds befoe he took sick and then had to be put to sleep), he had a small, squeaky chirp instead of a loud meow (which was what people expected from such a huge cat; whenever they heard him meow, it was always cause for surprise or shock), he had a very loving and placid nature about him, he was incredibly active, and he had the longest, softest fur and tail one could ever imagine on a cat.

I have since had a second Maine Coon, "Cajun", a female, but she was a tortie with white, and I had her for four years. She proved to be as much of a delight as Ouizer was, but our relationship didn't last as long. I had to give her up for adoption when I moved to Texas (to a place that doesn't allow pets), and she stole my heart just as much as Ouizer had done.

I have written a poem and a story about Cajun before; both are here at the Den. If you want to read about this special cat, check out my poem gallery and also my stories; chances are, you'll find them.

If I could, I would have another Maine Coon. After the two Maine Coons I have had in my life, I am completely sold on the breed, and I truly think that they are magnificent and intelligent animals. They are very big in size, but they are sweet and loving balls of fur, and they have such a charming personality about them; and they are a lot of fun! Ouizer and Cajun were certainly no exception, and I shall never forget them as long as I live!

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Ouizer: miss you, sweet buddy! >tears<