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Our first two cats were and are Red Burmese male neuters, brothers named Minbu and Magwe, brought home in 1995 - two Red Burmese brothers. We decided to name them after towns in Burma (or Myanmar as it is now known). The only two remotely pronounceable names we found were Magwe and Minbu, two towns on opposite banks of the Irrawaddy River. Our next two were Siamese kittens named Georgieboy and Basil. In the picture below, all four are together in January 1999. Sadly, Georgieboy died of lymphatic cancer in July 2001 shortly after his third birthday, and Basil died of cancer in August 2006, aged eight.
Photography note:
All pictures (except Hugo and Chikuai kittens)
were taken with my Sony Mavica MVC-FD7, and almost all tinkered
with for size, light, colour, file compression etc. using JASC
PaintShop Pro v 6.0. They are all Copyright © Linn Barringer. Digital photography has moved on since then!
Our cats have all been "indoor cats" - here's why...
NAMES
Basil
Basil's name came from his pedigree name, Chikuai Basil. We can shout "Basil!" in a Sybil Fawlty-esque manner. But it doesn't make any difference - he's a red point siamese.
Georgie
Georgie's name is simply a shortened version of his pedigree name, Chikuai Georgieboy. He was a lovely chocolate point Siamese.
Magwe
In 1995 we brought home our first ever cats - two Red Burmese brothers. We decided to name them after towns in Burma (or Myanmar as it is now known). The only two remotely pronounceable names we found were Magwe and Minbu, two towns on opposite banks of the Irrawaddy River.
Minbu
In 1995 we brought
home our first ever cats - two Red Burmese brothers.
We decided to name them after towns in Burma (or Myanmar as
it is now known).
The only two remotely pronounceable names
we found were Magwe and Minbu, two towns on opposite banks
of the Irrawaddy River.
Basil Red point Siamese, pedigree name Chikuai Basil. He had beautifully creamy-blue eyes. Although friendly with our other cats, Basil was rather inhibited and unfriendly with his humans, during Georgieboy's 'difficult period.' Since Georgie died, Basil continued to grow more and more friendly and very talkative, especially at 5:30am!
Basil's name came from his pedigree name, Chikuai Basil. We can shout "Basil!" in a Sybil Fawlty-esque manner. But it doesn't make any difference - he was a red point siamese.
Basil died from cancer (probably lymphatic) when he was eight years old.
George A very handsome and loving chocolate point Siamese, with particularly soft silky fur. Chikuai Georgieboy was insanely jealous if other cats had his owner's attention - one purr from them and he had to join in, up front! Very deep-voiced chatty cat. Georgie died from lymphatic cancer, shortly after his 3rd birthday.
Georgie's name is simply a shortened version of his pedigree name, Chikuai Georgieboy. He was a lovely chocolate point Siamese.
Magwe Red Burmese, pedigree name Coerulea Magwe. One of our two first cats. So soft to touch with an equally gentle nature. Had his first dental without anaesthesia - just sat there and had his teeth picked clean. Never dashes anywhere. Frequently flops over with his feet in the air for a tummy tickle. Loud purr.
Minbu Red Burmese, pedigree name Coerulea Minbu. Magwe's brother, one of our first two cats. Minbu is a little prettier than his brother, and likes drinking water from a running tap - usually in the kitchen but if it's hot, the outside tap saves him the bother of going all that way indoors
In this early 1995
picture, Magwe is on the left, his smaller
brother Minbu is on the right. These two pictures
come from the same original print photograph, with different
treatment a few years apart.
Minbu has spotted something interesting.
Magwe prefers to sleep.
He is becoming semi-recluse.
Magwe,
when he appeared
on the television.
Our
first Siamese kitten was Chikuai Georgieboy. George (pet name) arrived
in early September 1998. He was a male neuter chocolate-point
and grew into a handsome, very vocal and intelligent 'boy' full
of character. This is his first day home.
We
selected a red-point male to accompany George. His name was Hugo. Hugo died before we could take
him home, despite an amazing amount of patience, love and care
from his human 'parents,' Jean and David Maish of Chikuai
Siamese. Even in the very short time we knew
him, he was a little treasure, and I couldn't leave him off
this list of loving and much loved pets
We
had the difficult task of choosing another red-point male.
Chikuai Basil chose us.
His pet name is just Basil - he is such a sweet, loving little
creature. Despite his small stature, he puts up a good
defence against (or even attacks) the much bigger and heavier
Burmese.
George and Basil both both took only three or four days to be friends with Magwe and just a few days more with Minbu. They are (usually) all friends now, often pairing up as a Siamese/Burmese pair for warmth and mutual grooming.
We believe
the temperament of both George and Basil is a credit to
their breeders, Jean & David Maish of Chikuai Siamese. Jean and David have all the kittens living in their house,
so they are already house-trained, friendly with people, used
to LOTS of other cats and have learned 'social skills.' We unreservedly recommend Jean and David's Chikuai kittens.
 Young Basil snuggles up to "uncle Magwe". |
 Uncle Magwe with his arm round young Georgieboy - not put there by humans. |
 Magwe and Minb, brotherly companions, July 1998. |
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 Georgeieboy and Basil. Tired little boys. October 1998. |
 Basil and Georgieboy, November 1998. |
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 Little Basil. Is he a miniature lion, a Siamese cat, or an alien? May 1999. |
 Georgieboy as seen on TV, August 1999. |
 Basil and Georgieboy, 12 December 1999. |
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And again, on 22 December 1999, they still get together for mutually cuddly snooze. One of the few pictures for which I have used flash, hence Basil's bright red-eye.
Minbu, Magwe, Basil and Georgieboy
Chikuai Georgieboy was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in
February 2001.
He was fine until a sudden decline in July.
MEMORIALS
Hugo
July 1998. Beautiful Chikuai Hugo
did not have the chance to grow into his lovely big ears!
He died even before we took him home. He was such a sweet
character during his very short life.
George
25 May 1998 - 16 July 2001. Chikuai Georgieboy was
a much loved and very loving friend.
We miss
his chatter.
Basil
1998 - August 2006.
After Georgie had gone, Basil changed into a much friendlier and loving cat.
We miss his 'chirruping' - a mixture of a meow and a purr.