The Boris Brooks Photo Album
(Cats that have touched our lives.)

Charlie - b. 1969 in Sungei Gerong, Sumatra, Indonesia, d. 1988 in Houston, TX.

I found Charlie wandering outside the Stanvac Refinery in Sungei Gerong. He was almost completely black from dried crude oil but had a jaunty attitude. I took him home and, despite the objections of Jeanne and the servants, we kept him. Washing did not help his color or the servants attitude toward him so we just let the dirt wear off. In a few months he had beautiful, soft, white and orange fur. Charlie came to the US with us in 1970 and went back to Indonesia with us in 1972. When we all returned to the US in 1973, Charlie had accumulated over 40,000 air miles. Charlie helped run the house and raise our two children until old age caught up with him. He died in 1988 about 19 years old. Charlie Photos

Fred - seal point siamese, b. Houston, TX, d. Houston, TX

Fred came to live with us in 1973 after we returned from overseas. He was a very sweet lap cat. He and Charlie were always wrestling with each other. Fred would often grabbed Charlie around the neck, flip over backwards and throw Charilie half-way across the room. Charlie never figured out how to counter the move. Neither cat ever tired of their matches. A cronic urinary tract infection took Fred before his time at the age of about 8. Fred Photos

Bert - orange tabby, b. Houston, TX, d. 1995.

Bert arrived at our front door one evening and petitioned to become a house cat. Since we already had two very competent house cats, we suggested that he become the outside cat. He did not like this and when a raccoon began attacking the cats in the neighborhood we finally let him sleep inside. That was a mistake. We couldn't put him out. Every time I tried, he would climb up my chest, throw his paws around my neck and howl pitiably. We gave in and he became a house cat. Bert Photos

Alexandra - ruddy abyssinian, b. 23 Mar 1985, Neith Cattery, Houston, TX, d. 12 Feb 2000.

Alexandra was our first Abby. She was a beautiful cat but very stand-offish. She was primarily a one person cat. At first she bonded to me but, when I went on a two week business trip, she bonded to Jeanne and really just tolerated me after that. She got along well with Bert and was very protective of Boris Brooks when he arrived as a kitten.The big "C" took Alex at the age of almost 15. Alexandra Photos

Boris Brooks - fawn abyssinian, b. 22 Oct 1995, Angleton, TX, d. 11 Dec 2007.

Boris Brooks came to live with us in 1996. The name was a compromise as I wanted Boris and Jeanne wanted Brooks. The double name allowed us to keep the kitten and avoid a divorce. It was a wise decision. It didn't takke long for BB to take over the house and make sure it was being run to his satisfaction. He was always there to greet visitors at the door and let them know it was his house. He liked heights and could often be found on top of the kitchen cabinets surveying his domain. He died suddenly at the age of 12 from a suspected heart attack. Boris Brooks  Photos

Alexander - red abyssinian, b. 16 Jan 2000, Houston, TX, d. 25 Mar 2010.

Alexander was our bargain kitty. Looking for another "Abby" we found Alexander living in a dog grooming and boarding establishment. He had what appeared to be a mild eye infection so he was a bargain. He was very cute and we felt sorry for him so he came home with us. He and Boris Brooks hit it off immediately. A few weeks later, his minor eye infection had turned into a serious ulcer and he was in danger of losing the eye. At that point he was part of the family so we had no choice. After two rounds of eye surgery we saved the eye. Alexander's color was spectacular, his fur was very smooth and he had an outgoing personality. A long bout of IBD followed by kidney failure did Alexander in at 10 years of age. Alexander Photos

Bailey Brooks - red abyssinian, b. 12 Sep 2007, Sulphur Springs, TX.

Bailey Brooks came to live with us several months after the passing of his partial namesake. His previous family called him "The Kisser" as he likes to head bump and lick faces. He is definitely a lap cat. At nap time he much prefers to curl up either in a lap or against a warm body. When not napping, he is into everything. That keep us on our toes. Bailey Brooks Photos

Clayton - seal point balinese, b. 31 Jan 2010, Atascosita, TX, d. 12 Jul 2021.

Clayton, a rescue kitten, came to live with us shortly after the passing of Alexander. He came from a feral litter found in the attic of a demolished house. He and Baily Brooks bonded immediately. Although distrustful of strangers he was a demanding lap cat once he got to know them. He was very talkative. Cancer took Clayton at the age of 11. Clayton Photos

Cosmo - siamese, b. 15 Jul 2021, Deer Park, TX.

Cosmo came home with us at 8 weeks of age. We thought he was a bit young to leave his mother but it was take him now or lose him. We had him checked out at the vet on the way home. He checked out fine but was harboring a few parasites and a minor URI. After his first vaccination we took him home with meds and put him in quarantine. The meds cured his uri and after 10 days we introduced him to the house and Bailey Brooks. So far so good. He understands his name and "No!" but his attention span is measured in microseconds. Bailey B. is doing his best to teach him cat manners with paw and hiss (cat equivalent of No!) but Cosmo's retention of each lesson is currently less than a minute. They get along fine once Cosmo gets tired of playing "attack".
Cosmo Photos