Ajooba Cats

We visited Purebliss Bengals on the recommendation of my friend Carol Hebden of Eriador Bengals. We were delighted and awed by Jacky Bliss’ beautiful, affectionate and cheeky cats. I discussed homing a snow Bengal kitten, preferably a marbled as I think they are just stunning. I received an email from Jacky a week later telling me she had just had a snow litter and in that litter was a snow marble that she thought might be quite good. I then received a kitten photo of a very young Quin.


On seeing Quin for the first time I was completely hooked and we looked forward to taking this cheeky and boisterous boy home when he was old enough. Quin came home with us in December 2006. He was a vocal and confident kitten who loved everyone, including a very hissy Tinky. He particularly became attached to Nugget and the boys would often curl up together to nap.


Quin did the cutest thing where he waved both paws in the air to catch toys (pretend prey), and we had hours of fun playing with him. He loved to hide and then jump out at us from behind furniture when least expected. At shows he was playful and happy in his pen with Nugget, and not bad tempered at all on the judging bench. He particularly enjoyed his show treats, as he loved food-all food including cheese, prawns and anything else he could get hold of. He used to help me open letters and parcels and wait patiently to play the cardboard boxes that were discarded.


Quin had an almost ethereal beauty and in the sunlight his fur glistened so beautifully it would take my breath away. He was beautiful both on the inside and out. He was never a lap cat but would sneak up beside you on the sofa, so half way through a film you would find him curled up next to you and wonder when he got there.


It was at a show in September 2007 that a judge pointed out that our Quin was not well. None of us had noticed, but we rushed Quin to a vet and bad news was confirmed; that he indeed was anaemic and jaundiced and had a large mass in his abdomen. My heart broke on that day, and hasn’t mended since. His signs were investigated, and a probable diagnosis of terminal cancer given. Quin passed away quietly 2 weeks later in our bedroom, on the 7th October 2007, after deteriorating very quickly. He was 12 months old. Nothing can really explain why he was taken from us.


Words cannot begin to explain how much this hurts and how much we miss him. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of our little boy and see him in our other cats. He really was a beautiful Bengal and a lovable rogue. I regret I never had the chance to take him to The Supreme Cat Show, watch him grow to his full potential or have his pictures taken professionally; I kept putting the latter off as I never knew he would be gone so soon.


Quin can never be replaced or forgotten, he is at peace now, something we must accept, and will remain forever in our hearts. We are grateful for all the support we received when Quin passed away from Jacky Bliss his breeder, Carol Hebden, Anne De Berry, Sara Kingston, Claire Norman, The Novice Breeders’ Advice Group and a number of other breeders and exhibitors of all breeds of cat, who are too many to mention and truly understand our loss and grief to be parted from our beautiful Quin.