Micky, our neighbourhood friend

I am sad to report that Micky, our ginger neighbour, is no longer with us. Micky was a larger-than-life character with a wonderful laid-back personality. His family are missing him terribly of course, but everybody misses him. It is just not the same to get home at night and not have Micky run to meet me at the front doorstep to see what's for dinner. His family did feed him, he just preferred to know what my girls were eating before he committed himself.

He had 18 wonderful years of life. In the last two or three years he had been diagnosed with a heart condition and he took a tablet night and morning – stuffed inside a prawn.

Micky thought he owned our road. He seemed to like sitting on his front step in the morning and watching people leave for work. Often when I opened the curtains on a grey winter's day, seeing Micky lovely ginger and sparking white fur brightened my whole morning. No matter how awful the weather was, Micky’s white paws were always spotless. He kept himself scrupulously clean in the most horrible grey slush. His family thought it was because he was always curled up in somebody else’s house, and he certainly did like to visit some selected neighbours every day.

Years ago one of my neighbours came across to tell me that after we left for work in the morning Micky used to let himself into our house, and he sat on the front window ledge watching the world go by. We have a magnet on our catflap which is only intended to allow our own cats through, but Micky had figured out that he could stick a claw in the rubber seal and pull it out the way then climb under it. We did eventually see him do this – made a noise like someone was breaking in!

The people we bought this house from obviously told Micky that we ran a restaurant, because he was under that impression right from the beginning – always stealing my girls’ food he was.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1828

He loved it here. He found our garden so comfortable …

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1826
(Notice Jessica grimacing in the background?)

… and our car

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1827

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1824

… and our settee, complete with auntie Vio's fleecy pad

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1832

… even our bed!

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1831

Micky was always around to help out with the household tasks. He helped me wrap Christmas presents

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1830

and was always willing to help out with the garden work. Please excuse my dirty fingers.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1825

Well he was usually willing to help with the gardening. I do remember one time when he decided just to watch me work from my front windowledge.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1821

Micky was such a big personality. Who could forget the times he would break in to play with auntie Tracey’s catnip cushion

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1800

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1799

or just come round to hang out with the girls.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1822

The lure of uncle Gary’s catnip mousies had nothing to do with it.

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1795

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1794

Remember the time he came running through the flap to show off his new Tshirt?

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1793

and his pathetic let-me-in look?

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1823

People do tend to come to our house expecting some quality cat time, but our girls are so anti-social that Micky was often the only cat they saw. He was certainly the most gregarious one around here. Once we were having a large number of people and we had brought in the garden bench and chairs for some extra seating. Guess who was the first one to find it?

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1829

This was the photo he enclosed in his Christmas card last year

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1820

and the last photo I took of him this summer

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1792

Farewell beautiful Micky. We will always keep your memory.

That was a wonderful tribute to a beautiful cat. I laughed at some of the pictures even with the tears in my eyes.

I am so sorry for Mickys family and your whole neighborhood.

RIP Micky

Wonderful tribute indeed! What a delightful boy Micky was. Running the entire neighborhood for all those years was quite a job, and Micky performed his duties exceptionally well. I'm so sorry about his passing.

RIP, handsome Micky. I'm sure you're getting things organized and under control at the Bridge.

So easy to love him through your tribute. What a special boy. My deepest sympathies to ALL that knew and loved him.

Wow, he was some kind of cat. I can see how he will be dearly missed by everyone. Thank you for your wonderful tribute to him. I feel like I knew him and miss him too. Have fun at the bridge sweet boy.

RIP, sweet Micky, and play well at the Bridge. You'll be sadly missed by your family and friends; pop in every once in a while to let them know you're OK.

Wow, carrying out all those neighborhood-watch duties at EIGHTEEN years old!!! What a guy-- and what a loss.... my condolences to you and his 'owners' (a.k.a. staff) and your other neighbors-- and play well and be comfortable at RB, Micky- you did a very good job for a LOT of humans for a LONG LONG time...... look up my Shadow-cat and Max and Mouse and so many other fur-kids over there--

I have always loved "cheeky Micky" stories and am so sad to hear of his passing after a long and fun life. He will be missed.

I believe a little bit of Micky lives on in Eddie's friend Mozart - who would be only too glad to "come on in" if he could just find the cat flap!

Godspeed Micky.

18 years old and such a handsome orangeman, with such panache!!! Sleep soflty, dear sweet Mickey.....

And now Micky has his Wings of Silver and Gold and is strutting his stuff as a Greeter with the Awesome Angel Army in Reno Nevada the biggest Little City in the World!!!:cool:
He will be a Great Loving Cat Angels and will plaese wherever he goes, and go wherever he pleases.
I wish I had a Great Neighborhood Cat like Micly although Prange Blossom was well liked too.
I know that Micky will drop by in spirit to see You and the Gray Gorls and seem how mis neighborhood is doing.
And you will all convene in Paradise in Love.
One Fine Day.:love:

Now there's a life well lived! What a loss for you and your neighborhood but what a gain for the Rainbow Bridge. RIP, handsome Micky and peace to all who loved you and whom you loved right back. :love:

It's cats like Micky that leave the biggest hole in your world when they leave.:( R.I.P Sweet Little One.:love:

I'm sorry about Mickey. I think it's neat how even though he belonged to your neighbor's he still came over and let so many others love him too. He seemed to have lived an awesome life and was loved every minute of it ;)

I'm so sorry to hear that Micky has now passed on.:( He was quite a character and very handsome too. You did a great job with his tribute.:) I remember the thread you started about him coming into your home and playing with the catnip pillows that I gave you for your girls. I never knew that he was an older cat. He sure didn't show his age.:) I bet he's playing and making many friends up at the Bridge. RIP sweet Micky.:(

I can't believe that when we will be over next time Micky will not be there. Yes, he is the only cat we ever managed to pet in Killearn. I had no idea that he was already 18. In his last picture you can see that he is not 8 anymore- but when I met him about 1,5 years ago he looked young and healthy.
My, he will make friends with all these guys at the bridge in no time.:(:)

Such a lovely tribute to a gorgeous boy.

Rest in peace, Micky, you are sorely missed and will ever be remembered.

What a gorgeous guy! I especially love the picture of him in his t-shirt.

Rest in peace, lovely Micky. You are a fine cat who had a good long life among many people who love him dearly and miss him very much.

I’m feeling sad that Micky is gone. :( He was such a sweet and friendly boy and I’m glad I got to meet him in April. Although he was not a spring chicken anymore, he seemed to be in fairly good shape, and he definately had not lost his appetite. :p

Karen, I know you and his family will miss him terribly, in fact the whole neigborhood. Let it be a comfort that Micky had a long and spoiled life.

Even though he came in to “steal” Daisy’s, Samantha’s and Jessica’s food, I’m sure they miss him too and wonder why he doesn’t come around anymore.

Karen, you wrote a beautiful tribute to him and I enjoyed seeing all these wonderful pictures, they show what a good life he had. :)

I snapped a few pictures of him myself, which I’ll share here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ing-dinner.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...key-eating.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...chen-table.jpg

Rest in peace, sweet Micky - you will never be forgotten! :love:

http://petoftheday.com/talk/picture....pictureid=1846
I met Micky too.....such a friendly guy...

And what a difference a couple years makes!

Beautiful tribute for a beautiful kitty. He will live on in the hearts of many.

Rest in peace Micky. I loved your tribute and all the pics that were shared. You were a handsome fellow and will be missed by all whose lives you touched. Have fun at the bridge, I'll sure you'll be really busy there keeping watch over everything. :love:


Amy

What a beautiful boy. It is sad to think of a world without him in it.:(
Micky was a blessing to many people. What a delightful character.:)

Mickey is Just Gorgeous!! So Sorry for His Pet Humans,and Other Human and Kitty Friends...
Miss Puss will Welcome Dearest Mickey to The Rainbow Bridge!!
Godspeed,Dear Mickey
R.I.P

What a beautiful tribute to one handsome kitty. Rest in peace sweet one and play happily at the bridge. You enriched so many lives. Prayers for your family here as I know they miss you.

Micky sounds like just a lovely guy and a great little pal. Micky may be gone but he will live on in your heart and your memories.

Beautiful guy and what a character! In that last pic, I could see how he had aged.

Play free and happy at the Bridge, beautiful Micky! Many human and fur hearts are hurting.

Blessings to all of you for giving him a full and wonderful life. :love::love::love:

What a wonderful tribute to your good friend Micky. He has now crossed the Bridge and is with all the ones that have gone before him. Condolences to you and of course his family.

Thank you all so much for reading about Micky, and for the other photos of him. :D He was such a handsome boy.

I found an old videoclip of one of his other methods of getting into the house. Hopefully it will still work.

LOL! He was not born behind a bush - clever boy! :D And he was picky too! ;)

Wow,what an amazing cat Micky was, so beautiful, what a wonderful gentle soul. He must have touched many many people in his lifetime.
RIP Micky, you have certainly left a pawprint behind you.

:(
Safe Trip to the Bridge, Dear Micky.

God waited a long time to call Micky back Home to the Bridge ...
I'll bet HE was saving a really Special Project for Micky.

My Sympathies to KK and all the Neighbors, as well as Micky's Family.

:(

What a character! And what a loss to the neighborhood. :(

Yes, he does look like he has aged in the last picture, but knowing their time is limited doesn't make it any easier when their time finally comes. :(

RIP Micky. A great many people are mourning your loss. :(

Awww, Mickey led a good life.

My prays.

Melissa

I met Micky, what a sweet boy!

I was surprised to hear it was not your cat, it sure looked like he thought you were his humans :)

Rest in peace, sweet Micky! You lived a good life.