Caterwaul

GIC Positively Cloten

The name Cloten is a 4-letter word in the Dutch language, involving “crown jewels”, which caused some good-natured sniggering at shows when his name was pronounced at the prize-winning ceremony. When Cloten arrived from the UK, this name was far too grand for a kitten so he was called “Baby Balls” and somehow this name stuck (though we’ve also heard “Magic Balls” because of his lovely children). Cloten's father, the legendary Grand Champion Positively Uther Pendragon, meant a lot for the British Shorthair. He died on October 24th 2006 at the age of 15. Even in his last year on earth he produced beautiful babies! Cloten is a very short, stocky and cobby fellow, as broad in the chest as in the waist and at the rear. His eyes are very dark hazelnut, his coat is very dense. He is calm and easy-going and very strong.

Unfortunately his show career is now over though he had the potential of becoming a European Champion. This is what happened: in a tussle his eye was badly wounded. Four years and four operations later things weren't any better and poor Balls was in pain. His eyeball was removed. As he is healthy otherwise he healed quickly and adjusted well ( without batting an eye - yes , pun intended!). The other cats don't notice anything odd about him and he acts normally with them too.

He now gives me a wink all the time and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? He is still the apple of my eye and as it was no hereditary illness, there is no need to neuter him.

Having said all this, it doesn't mean that it hasn't been a very sad period. Eyes are the mirror of the soul and their beautiful hazelnut colour was one of Cloten's many assets. Still is actually, only now at half power.

But worse still, the anesthetics and the painkiller (Metacam) used during and after these eye operations had side effects. They caused damage to his kidneys. So Cloten is now on a kidney diet and he really hates it. He has always loved his food and liked variation so this diet is very unappetizing and bland to him.