Celebrating Life - Hersheybear

Hersheybear's Life Story

Aries "Hersheybear" Montgomery was a Ragdoll cat. He was born on March 31, 1989 at 5:15 p.m. in Montgomery Alabama. It was a Friday afternoon and I had talked to the breeder at about noon and she told me she had a mother cat ready to give birth very soon and if there was a male black and white I could have him. I called back at 5:30 p.m. and was informed there were three kittens born at 5:15 p.m. and she thought one was a male and two were females. The two females were all black and the male was black and white. I told her I wanted to buy the male.

We talked many times over the next several weeks and since I was in Westminster, Maryland and the kitten was in Alabama we discussed our options. She suggested flying the kitten to me and I said "No!" I said I would drive to Alabama and get him. She informed me that she would not let the kitten go until he was at least ten weeks old and then only if there were no children in my family. Since I had no children that was fine with me. She also told me that her husband had taken a job at Cornell University in New York State and that they were preparing to move to Spencer, New York. She was bringing all of her cats with her and I could drive to Spencer and get him. Arrangements were made and on Saturday June 10, 1989, my parents, my girlfriend and I left Westminster, Maryland about 4 a.m. and drove to Spencer, New York.

The breeder had named him Hershey and he looked so much like a little bear I added the bear part to his name. I registered him as Aries "Hersheybear" Montgomery because Aries was the sign he was born under and Montgomery, Alabama was where he was born. So in the tenth week of his life this little kitten had traveled from Montgomery, Alabama to Spencer, New York and then to Westminster, Maryland all by automobile. I think this had a lot to do with the fact that Hersheybear loved to ride in a vehicle.

Hersheybear became my constant companion. If I took a short drive to the store and Hersheybear wanted a longer ride he would let you know about it. For a long time Hersheybear rode in a blue pet carrier and then one day my girlfriend let him out while we were traveling and he sat on her lap. After that you couldn't get the car started before he was out of the pen and on her lap.

In November of 1999 during a routine visit, Dr. Perry Crowl of Northwest Animal Hospital discovered an enlarged kidney. After some tests the kidney was removed and the results from the lab showed cancer. Dr. Crowl suggested I make an appointment with Dogs and Cats Veterinary Referral for chemotherapy. I did and Hersheybear's first appointment was in February of 2000. He had three rounds of chemotherapy and everything went well. After the three rounds of chemotherapy I took him back every six months for checkups.

Several years passed before Hersheybear developed Inflammatory Bowel Disease and then Fatty Liver. With the help of Drs. Arrington and Phillips I had pretty much set up a cat hospital at home. Hersheybear did not like to be by himself and I made sure he wasn't. He liked me to hold him in my arms and walk him around the yard. He liked riding in automobiles, sitting on my lap under the maple tree out front and going out in his large pen on the deck out back and lying in his chair in the living room and looking out the front window. Hersheybear loved life everyday and we spent a lot of time together.

Hersheybear passed on October 15, 2007 and my life changed forever. Eighteen and a half years is a long time and it would take a large book to tell of all of the life experiences we had together. Hersheybear was loved and he knew it. I will remember him forever and I hope there is a kitty cat heaven and that he is in it and will remember me forever.

Gregory E. Wright

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