by Donna Swagerty Shreve
Mom always had Siamese cats during her 40 plus years marriage to my father. When he died, she happened to be without a cat. She lasted without a cat for several years but I knew she was lonely and a cat could help. She had remarried and her new husband saw no need for a cat, let alone a Siamese. I decided to give her a cat as a gift. Warren was a bit put out as my tactics had gotten around his order of no cats. He was only partially paying rent so I didn’t think he could have so much say. I found a cat advertised and asked Mom to go with me. Warren insisted on coming with us and demanded that if things didn’t work out with the cat, I would keep the cat at my home.
We arrived at the address and quickly were introduced to the cutest little fluff of white with a few hints of gray at the ears and tail. Who can resist a spunky little kitty with lots of personality? Mom named her Mai Ling to go with her Siamese ancestry. Mom was so thrilled and even Warren came around to admitting he enjoyed the cat. Another argument between Mom and Warren arose about if the cat could go outside or just be an inside cat. Mom actually prevailed again. Mai Ling began quite a life of luxury.
When Mai Ling came of the right age, she was taken to the neighborhood vet to be fixed. The usual routine is for the cat to be operated on and then she stays the night for observation. Late in the afternoon of the operation, the vet called and asked if Mom could pick up her cat early and if there were any complications to let him know. It seems Mai Ling had taken strong exception to being, what she felt was rudely treated and caged. This became our first hint Mai Ling might be an exception to the usual experience we had with cats.
Mai Ling did have a complication with this operation as her stitches gave way and her insides tried to escape. Mom took Mai Ling back for repairs and again was asked to take Mai Ling home early.
During some of our trips out of town, Mom would come to our home and feed our two cats. We would return the favor and feed Mai Ling. My husband John had the duty when Mai Ling attacked him. Fortunately John had on heavy boots but the deep scratch marks remained for the life of those boots.
I would sometimes take my female Siamese, Dusty, to go visit Mai Ling. For some unknown reason Dusty got along with the “she beast.” Dusty would enter Mom’s condo and when Mai Ling approached, Dusty would slap her once and then they would actually play and seem to enjoy each other’s company.
I got the brilliant idea of bringing Mai Ling to our home during one of Mom’s two weeks vacation. Mai Ling spent most of her few days huddled under one of our son’s bed and refused to eat while growling and hissing if anyone came near her. Finally out of pity, John threw a blanket over her, wrapped her up and returned her to her turf. I guess Mai Ling was better off being lonely than freaked out.
Mom was now getting into her lonely battle with dementia and cancer. It became time to move her to assisted living at O’Connor Woods. The staff made an exception and let Mom bring her beloved cat with her. Being in assisted living, Mom’s room had many workers in and out of her living space. Mai Ling became a problem as she would hide under Mom’s bed and attack any poor worker who entered the apartment and had to make Mom’s bed. The workers were horrified and now we had a problem. I was asked to take Mai Ling to the vet for a rabies shot and two other shots that are usually done at the same time. There was nothing Mom and I could do to get Mai Ling into that cat carrier. We really had a problem as no one liked Mai Ling except Mom and Warren. Mom said Mai Ling was no problem and a very loving cat. I brought to her attention the scratch marks up and down her arms. Her response, “Oh, we were just playing.”
One of the wonderful staff members found a solution to our dilemma. It so happened a local vet visited his own mother every Sunday at the very facility where Mom lived. The staff member arranged for the vet to bring the required shots and give Mai Ling a physical. I was not there but my sister described the vet’s visit. He walked in wearing a tee shirt and shorts with flipflops. His only armor was his black bag and knowledge of animals. Mai Ling had been locked in the bathroom so there would be easy access. My sister volunteered to help but the vet responded with, “I don’t need two patients.” Behind the closed door my sister heard a loud yowl followed by “one”, then another yowl followed by “two” then the final yowl followed by “three.” He emerged no worse for the wear. He informed my sister that Mail Ling was scheduled for three shots and a physical exam. The three shots had been administered and he decided she was very healthy. After hearing this story, we switched our own cats to this vet.
Mai Ling developed a lump on her upper body that we thought about treating but again Mom and I could not get her into the carrier. Somehow Warren managed the feat and racked up quite a vet bill that Mom ended up paying. It was a benign tumor but there was a strong possibility it would return. Mom and I decided Mai Ling had lived a long life at 14 years.
Then Mom died and Warren definitely wanted to keep Mai Ling. He had grown quite fond of the terror and felt there was no problem with the cat. Warren moved into a cheaper facility and this place also allowed the cat to stay. Mai Ling managed to escape Warren’s room one day and dashed down the hall of the facility. Several fellow residents tried to catch her and I shudder to think if one of them had succeeded. The staff finally called the fire department who threw a towel over her and got her back into her room. Warren was encouraged to keep a better watch on her.
About a month later Warren was in a minor car accident and the same fireman arrived on the scene. He recognized Warren as that man with “that cat”. Mai Ling was becoming famous. Warren then needed an operation and a bit of rehab. I agreed to take Mai Ling as none of his four children would even consider it. I thought I had some sort of rapport with Mai Ling as I now lived in the same condo where Mai Ling had spent most of her long life. How wrong I was!
Mai Ling became the cat from hell and then some. She refused to use either of two litter boxes provided and would use any part of our own home for her own personal bathroom needs. She attacked both of our cats, even her friend Dusty. She was constantly hissing and causing general havoc. I called the vet’s office that usually dealt with Mai Ling and the nurse suggested a condo cage where Mai Ling could have her own cat box and food dish. This had to work or I was going to have to use desperate fatal methods to solve my problem. Fortunately for all, Warren had now returned to his residence from rehab.
Another year or so go by and Warren died. His son now had the problem of what to do with Mai Ling. He knew not to ask me. I had told him of my adventures taking care of Mail Ling when his father rehabbed from his operation. After exhausting several other people, he called the vet in desperation. He delivered Mai Ling in her carrier. He had used a sheet to cover, capture and enclose. He asked the vet to find a home for his father’s beloved cat. The vet called back in an hour and said they would be unable to find a home for the cat. The vet then mentioned that the staff had had a meeting about the future of Mai Ling. They had come to the conclusion that no one would think any less of him if he let the vet put her down. She was 15 years old and had had a privileged life. The son readily agreed. I know this part of the story as I saw the son a few months later and he had to tell me the conclusion of the Mai Ling era.
Four years ago we purchased a Siamese kitten to replace a long lived pet of ours. We actually discussed the odds of obtaining something even close to the infamous Mai Ling. Fortunately we were very lucky and have a wonderful pet but Mai Ling’s memory will live on for at least another generation as my sons were introduced to Mai Ling throughout the years and have their own tales.
On another note, we took our new kitty to the vet who had made the house call. We made our appointment with the receptionist. The first question the reception asked us was, “The doctor wants to know if you are bringing in Mai Ling?” This question was repeated in the office when we arrived and the vet asked, “You don’t have Mai Ling do you?”
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