Life according to Malibu our calico cat

This is a tribute to Malibu, our calico cat who gave us the best 13 1/2 years of our lives. Mali passed away on March 13, 2013. She had added structure to our daily lives, trained us, and adopted us. Sadness turned to gladness after we realized that Mali was a little gift from God.

In this article, "Mali" tells her story about her fruitful life after being picked up as an abandoned kitten from a parking lot in April of 2000. See the world through the eyes and words of Mali, our calico cat, who may have left the world but never left our hearts.

The photos were selected and posted in a chronological order. These reflect what I remembered best about Mali, the cat that took over our lives.

All photos were taken by Bakerwoman (that's me)

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on Apr.8, 2000

In time, my name Malibu was shortened to Mali, because two-syllable names are so much easier to say, and usually pronounced in a musical high-pitched voice. It does not matter what my name is. They say cats do not come when they are called anyway unless it is time for dindin. This is so true.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on Jan.1, 2002

This is a hand-me-down camel saddle bag in the sunroom that the previous resident cat used to lounge on. I'm not proud. It is mine now. This is where I nap most of the afternoon to catch some rays. My momma finally bought a powerful vacuum cleaner to help remove all the cat hair I always leave behind.

I stuffed the two large pockets of the saddle bags with square pillows so this can make a comfortable sitting area on the floor. Or fold it in half over a rod and use both pockets to stash away essentials.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman Oct. 12, 2003

I tried to turn on the faucet myself by biting on the handle. I have seen my Momma turn on the water. Now she is not too happy that I scratched up the faucet handle with teeth marks. You see, I love to play with water and I do not mind water dribbling all over me. Is that strange for a cat or what.

Cats provide sensory stress relief too

I have a routine of dry food on demand, clean water in two locations, and a quarter can of ground wet food in the evening. What is this ground food business? Well, if the truth must be told. I have never learned to eat sliced or chunky food. I know, what you are thinking. I am such a big baby. Yup, I eat only ground salmon, white fish, or chicken.

I have a calming effect on my owners. Humans have a basic need to touch. The stroking, holding and cuddling calms and reduces anxiety. That is what a long-haired cat is for.

And then there is cat hair all over the clothes and furniture. But that is another story and we won't talk about that.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on Oct. 16, 2004

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on March 2005

Like a typical finicky cat, I traded this ratty stuffed mouse for a new model ---a pink one. Of course, I have other stuffed mice--- a green one, orange one, and fuzzy ones. But my fav of all time is the pink mouse. I bring the pink mouse to the hallway and loudly announce to my humans that I brought them a gift. It works like a charm. They love me even more.

Cats like to be praised and rewarded by their owners.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman 2005

In the winter, I love to hop on momma's desk and relax next to her laptop. I like the air blowing out on the side. Nice. Keeps my buns warm.

My momma painted that cat picture on the wall. I've been told it sort of looks like me but has a different color. The painting was dated May 1999. That was about the time I was born. Except my momma never knew I existed until April of 2000. It must have been my destiny to come home here.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on March 5, 2006

My human painted me on the powder room wall so there is something to look at when you're seated. Most folks leave the restroom smiling and amused and not because they have just relieved themselves. They think my Mali mural is such a cute idea. Of course, my momma gets all the compliments.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on July 8, 2008

Oh drats. I hope it is not that nasty raccoon again. Being an indoor cat keeps me safe from these critters that occasionally lurk in the backyard garden. I must admit I'm just a scaredy cat.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on March 9, 2010

When my humans makes me wear girlie clothes, I would freeze -- like being stuck to one spot on the floor. I made it known I am not a fashionista and would prefer to be naked. Except this pinafore is hard to wriggle out of.

Get a load of the grumpy face.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on Mar 13, 2010

You see, I know how to get on my Momma's good side. So, I learned how to lead the way. Sometimes Momma cannot keep up with me.

Cats are also expert contortionists. You should see me wriggle out of this harness faster than Harry Houdini can. I really hate being restrained by a harness.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on March 25, 2010

Being a creature of habit, I still love to get into the washbasin whether it is wet or not. Turn on the tap please.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on April 29, 2012

There is a story as to why the jade plant ended up outside in the porch. This was so I do not kill the plant with my cat antics. I used to collect the dried leaves and offer them as presents to my humans. I would bring my offerings in front of their masterbedroom door. You see the surprised look on their faces.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on Dec. 25, 2012

It was Christmas Day and the usual crowd of friends were over for our long-drawn dinner.

I look upset because I got caught stealing a piece of ham on the kitchen counter. I did not use to climb on tables and counters. I seem to be so hungry all the time lately. Those appetizer plates of ham, smoked salmon, cheeses and whatnot did not help. Then I got caught again getting on the dining table sniffing the red tablecloth. My momma put this harlequin bib on me to punish me, I think.

Do I look like a grumpy cat?

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on Jan. 19, 2013

The vet said that I had tapeworms. Those tiny critters inside me were eating up all the nutrients I needed to be healthy. So I got two separate shots at two week intervals to get rid of the tapeworms. But I continued to ask for food and am always thirsty. Then I started to vomit and have loose bowels. Off to the vet I go again for more tests-- blood test, fecal test, urinalysis which all came up negative for diabetes, kidney stones, and tapeworms. Then came the X-ray results. It shows a blurry mass inside my intestines. The vet thinks it is lymphoma and only an ultrasound can confirm this suspicion. It is a form of malignant cancer. Older cats typically get it. Lymphoma causes the lining of my intestines to thicken too. But there is really no cure for lymphoma and we already spent so much money.

We resorted to cortesteroids and antibiotics for 3 weeks in February and the vomitting and diarrhea stopped. Momma was hopeful. After the medicines were used up, I got really sick again, throwing up and refusing to use the litterbox because it was difficult for me to get in and out and to squat on the feline pine litter. So I used a corner of the living room to do my business because I the soft carpet was easy on my behind. My poor momma had to do the dirty job of cleaning up and steam cleaning the living room.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on Feb.18, 2013

Momma let me go outside so I can smell the fresh air and visit Stoneface, my bestfriend cat and my favorite frog sundial. I enjoy rubbing my face on it. But I don't like spending too much time out on the deck anymore. I just want to come back inside.

Photo was taken by Bakerwoman on March 2, 2013

I have not been feeling well since the vet suspected I had lymphoma. I started looking for food that I do not normally eat, like ice cream. My weight dipped below 6 pounds from 9 pounds. And I stopped asking to go outside because my defenses are down. I am scared of everything that moves.

Photo taken by Bakerwoman on March 11, 2013

There is nothing unusual about me sleeping under my favorite coffee table. It is just that I feel so tired and weak and I have lost interest in eating or drinking. I have become anti-social too. Usually, I would sit on the couch with my humans while they watched tv. Not anymore. I just want to be alone today.

It was almost time for me to go to "Rainbow Bridge"

Photo taken on March 12, 2013

I hid behind the headboard all day and did not come out to eat, drink or even use the litterbox. The male human in my house could not coax me to come out. He was worried so he called Momma at work.

When Momma came home that evening, I struggled out of the headboard and wobbled my way to the bathroom to greet her with my three loudest meows. I startled Momma but she was so happy to see me. She scooped me up and hugged me and would not let go. She was teary-eyed because she knew I had waited for her to come home so I could say goodbye.

I was so thirsty but I could no longer drink on my own. So momma gave me water through a syringe in my mouth to keep me hydrated. I drank the water as if it was my last time. Right after that I vomitted a massive amount of reddish brown fluid with mucous and froze on the bathroom floor.

All the humans in my home were so grief stricken.

Read the Rainbow Bridge Poem - Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge

Photo taken on March 13, 2013

Momma woke up at 7 a.m. and picked me up and I groaned and looked at her. She placed me on top of the bathroom mat and wiped my mouth because I had thrown up again that night. I twitched my head and paws a few more times and then I breathed my last.

Momma wrapped me in a baby blanket and took me to Pet's Rest in Colma, California. It was the only pet cemetery that allowed witnessed cremation. Momma wanted to make sure that I was the one coming home with her. She took me home in this pretty handcarved wood keepsake box.