Tahl 1
 Charcoal
Charcoal
Ashley
Ashley

Charcoal Grey: Big Boy, Big Heart
AKA: Charkie-barkie, Char-Coal-Lot, Cuddle Bug
1 Apr 2003? - 17 Dec 2018
The Superman Song

Tahl 2
The Twins
The Twins
Bonded Pair
We wanted a bonded pair. They are harder to adopt. Graydon and Grayson were their names. (Promptly changed to Ashley and Charcoal). On the way home, Ashley was in the front of the cage and Charcoal in the back making strange. I guess that is why we hit it off that day. I always made strange, and still do.
Charcoal on a computer bag
Charcoal on a computer bag

My Big Boy

The Charcoal and his brother Ashley were adopted after Pudder Tat passed away. Puddn was as close to my Soul Cat as I could hope for. Charcoal was also a large framed gray cat with a mellow personality. The similarities were not lost on me.

 

The Raptors

The twins were very close in their early years. Biff and Bart close. When we got the twins, they were both exactly 11 lbs. Then the next year at the vet they were both exactly 17lbs. We called the twins "The Raptor Boys" because they would make an approach together, or look at things at the same time -- and their eyes would glow a bright green. Quite often it was impossible to tell them apart except for their collar colours -even now in some photos we can't tell who is who. As the years went on, they stopped cuddling. But it was obvious when Charcoal passed, that Ashley felt his absence.

Who am I
Who am I

First Contact

When we adopted Sowen, we chose Charcoal to be the greeter, the first introduction. He did not disappoint. They hit it off right away and she was only ever comfortable with him and Tahl, a later introduction. Sowen was ever in love with him and would watch him adoringly. However in his odd way, he never reciprocated..

True Love
True Love
Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?

Admiration for his Nemisis

Every cat has his nemesis. Charcoal's was Gusto. I assume Gusto sensed everyone's love for Charcoal and was acting out in jealousy. In Charcoals favor, he was never mean back, and always seemed to look up to Gusto despite his actions.

Out Numbered
Out Numbered

A Uneasy Truce

After Gusto passed, Neko carried the tormentor's torch. However after a long while, they tolerated each other long enough. It was a rare but wonderful occasion, when they kissed noses.

9 Lives

Charcoal had 9 lives, and he used most of them all up in one year. He had dental surgery. That caused an infection. A shot given to treat it caused a growth on his neck that had to be surgically removed. He looked so bad I didn't think he would make it. Soon after, his bowels were impacted and had to have treatment for that. Then after that, an infection had him sneezing blood for weeks. He recovered from that to live many more years.
After Neck Surgery
After Neck Surgery

Loved Outside / The Game

He loved going outside so much that he would actually push Neko out of the way to go out. They would play the game of sit in front of the window, so neither could get in or out.

Freedom
Freedom
 
Pretty as the Picture
Pretty as the Picture

Sith Spit

After he had most of his teeth removed, he would drool continuously. When he'd shake his head he would slime us.

Taking care of his friend Tahl
Taking care of his friend Tahl

Feed Me

During feeding time, he would stretch up towards the counter and meow as if he hadn’t eaten in days.

Fighting Weight

He was such a big cat, even under the fat. You could see that even when he had lost some weight. He lost a lot of weight after Gusto passed. I imagine the relief of not being terrorized relieved his urge to overeat.

Ashley hugging his Brother
Ashley hugging his Brother

Meow? What?

Charcoal had a couple meows, but my favourite was his silent meow - he'd look up and his mouth would open wide but no sound would come out.

Silent Meow
Silent Meow
 
Favorite Spot
Favorite Spot

Getting Stronger

Charcoal loved playing with the "cat dancer" toy (click to view) we had attached to the cupboard with all the cat food and treats - and most mornings he would bat it around while waiting to be fed! He was also an avid laser dot hunter and loved batting the ball around in the Tahlly Hurricane. He would move so fast for such a large cat.

The Last Stand
The Last Stand

The End

Nine lives soon run out. We believe Charcoal had a cance near his bowels, and it started spreading to his lungs. On his last week, he lost his appetite, but we were fortunate to discover that he, loved, and would eat pure chicken pieces.

 
My Superman.