Biography

Lambert was the only cat who was actually chosen instead of the usual method of joining the family by just showing up at the door with a hungry look and a pitiful meow. He was selected from a litter of Bedford County farm cats to become a housemate to my first cat, Elvis. Elvis was about a year old when my first husband brought home the recently weaned gray tuxedo kitten. Elvis instantly let him know who was boss. He was a big kitten but was duly intimidated by the petite older cat. Elvis took full advantage of his timid and gentle nature until he grew bigger than her and finally but his paw down to one of her hissy fits. She didn't boss him around anymore after that.

Lambert's name came from an old cartoon character, "Lambert the Sheepish Lion". Walt Disney animated the story of a lion who was accidentally delivered to an old Ewe by a very weary stork. All the other lambs made fun of Lambert because he couldn't bleat or head-butt like they could. Even when Lambert grew into a nearly full grown lion, the other young sheep bullied him around. Finally, one night a wolf tried to attack the flock. At first Lambert attempted to hide, but when the wolf chased Lambert's mommy, Lambert went mad and belted out a huge lion-sized roar that sent the wolf running for cover. Lambert's mom beamed with pride while the flock revered Lambert as a hero. For eighteen years Lambert remained my dearest "friend". He outlasted two of my marriages and several boyfriends. Over the course of his life, Lambert shared me with ten other cats and my daughter. He endured several illnesses, a four month disappearance and a badly broken leg. He was our vet's favorite kitty because he was always a "gentleman" regardless of his health. One of Lambert's favorite pastimes was to sit quietly in a flowerbed while enjoying the perfume of spring and summer blossoms. He loved to go into the garden with me and after the accident which crippled his right hind leg, he never roamed off again. Food was a passion of Lambert's. He wasn't the smartest cat, but he knew where the food came from. He never met a refrigerator he didn't like. Whenever we would move, Lambert would come get me and show the refrigerator to me several times a day until he was certain I would always remember where it was. Likewise, Lambert loved bathroom walls. Before he became crippled and could no longer jump over the rim, Lambert loved to sit in the bathtub and stare at the tiled walls. He was a very peaceful cat and he is as much still loved as he is missed.