Happy 8th Birthday, Charlie!

Happy 8th Birthday, Zers!

How on God’s green Earth is my Charlie 8 years old?!

Charlie, Trigg and I joined Caymus, Murphy, Parker and my mom at my parents’ lake house earlier this month.  It was then that I realized how magical 8 is.  My favorite number is 8.  Rags (site founder) was born on 8/8.  All blog posts on this site are published at 8:08am.  And my favorite age with Rags was 8.  But I didn’t know why – I just knew I had made a mental note of it.  And now I think I know why.

When we were at the lake, I realized that Charlie and I really know one another – there are no more surprises, no more doubts, etc.  I know it seems like 8 years is a long time to get there, but I felt complete and total understanding of one another when we were at the lake this time around.

Charlie knows he is not top cat at the lake (I let Murphy and Caymus be top cats in their home), but also knows I will do special things with him to make up for it.  And he responds so well to my eye contact and anything I say to him now – like he just knows and gets me.  It is a really lovely connection – one I had with Rags that I never thought I’d have with another cat.  But Charlie filled that void when I lost Rags and does even more so now.  (Chiggy, on the other hand…)

Now about my Zers – yes, Charlie has many names – including Charlie Mansers (which has been shortened to “Zers”), Charlemagne, Wubbie, Bubbie, Mansers, and many more I am probably missing.  But of late, it has been simply, “Zers”.

A reader recently wrote me telling me that her dad is dead-set on getting a Ragdoll with a blaze.  Charlie’s “look” is the Ragdoll face I had always dreamed of as a little girl.  I wanted a cat that looked like Charlie for as long as I can remember.  And while I used to be embarrassed about admitting physical appearance desires, I have come to realize through books like Many Lives, Many Masters, that that visualization of his physical appearance was more a soul calling.  I do believe Charlie and I have been together in a past life and that’s why our connection is so strong (whereas, I think Chiggy and I are either in our first life or one of our first lives).

Charlie has been a huge gift to me for this website.  He is incredibly photogenic and will do just about anything I ask of him for a photo, etc – like sticking a birthday hat on him for a photo.  I forget how accommodating he is until I attempt to do the same with Caymus or Murphy – and realize how absolutely spoiled I am with Charlie.

Charlie loves action.  When we were at the lake – he was always in the middle of everything – and always following my mom around.  She told me again, “Jenny, he is the nosey-est cat I’ve ever met.”  I corrected my mom and told her, “He doesn’t get this type of action at home.  You forget how entertaining you are.”  My mom is like an Energizer Bunny – always on the move, always cleaning, picking up, etc.  Me, not so much.

Charlie Fun Fact: Charlie has type A blood – his mother, Jasmine, has type B blood.  Charlie was hand nursed by his breeder, Soulmate Ragdolls, until the colostrum was gone from his mom. and then he was free to nurse like the other kittens.  I was told by the breeder that he and a few other kittens from his litter would have died if they had eaten his mom’s colostrum….don’t ask me why (and if you’re a breeder reading this and I have said that incorrectly, please advise).

As many of you know, Ragdoll cats are also known as “Puppy Cats”.  Charlie is definitely a “Puppy Cat”…meaning he will come when called, follows you around like a dog, etc.  He is not very floppy when you pick him up, but does lay belly up daily.

I hate stereotypes with cat breeds or animals in general as there are always exceptions to the rule – and humans are too inclined to rely on stereotypes (setting up new kittens, puppies, etc. for disappointment) – so that’s why I hesitate to say this….but my family, who has 6 blaze cats at the moment – has a theory that blaze cats are outgoing, confident and social.  Well, such is the case with Charlie.  He is SUCH a blaze cat (“blaze cat” means a cat with a blaze. A “blaze” is that little white stripe down Charlie’s nose – blazes come in all shapes and sizes).

Charlie is a gift to me – he is a challenge to me too – sometimes I don’t feel like I meet all of his needs and wants because I don’t want to be a servant 24/7. But overall, I think he is a very happy cat.

He makes many people smile across the world – and for that, I am grateful.

I am blessed to have him in my life and hope he will be around for more than another 8 years.

Happy Birthday to my Zers.