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                                                                                                       Altti

  

Altti came via HESY (local SPCA). He was perhaps about one year old so he is about the same age as Veera or else one year older. We like to think that he is same aged as Veera is and born on year 1992. We decided that his birthday can be the day when he was found. That is 13th february. When he was first checked by a vet he thought that Altti might be a bit older than one year. But no one knows for sure.

Altti´s history starts from Tuusula. He was wondering there little less than a year time. That happend in a little village where Minna´s mother lived at that time. That village is called Hyryla. So quite near to Helsinki. Neighbours gave him food and all people living in that area though that he belonged to one of them. He was always hungry though and coat was covered by tangles. Then we decided to ask who owned him and it turned out that he belonged to no one. We put advertisments into local newspapers but no one called for him. No one seemed to miss him.

And then came winter. Weather turned colder and colder and Altti lived under Minna´s mother´s house. And when weather forecast said that it will soon be -20 degrees Minna called HESY and asked for the trap. She put some fish into it and Altti went into it in the very next night. he was terribly hungry and scared and Minna took him to her home back to Helsinki. That was ment to be his temporary home. Minna had also some other cats like him at that time from SPCA so Altti was just one of them. He had to get used to live in an apartment and he was neutered as soon as he was in a bit better condition. And he had to get used to live with 3 dogs owned by Minna´s roomate.
   

Altti was in poor condition at first. He visited vet many many times. Some of his teeth were taken off, they were broken and infected. His head and ears and paws had suffered from cold weather and they looked bad and painful. At first vet though that he might be about 5 years old, he was in so poor condition. He looked much older than he was. Altti was also afraid of touch. He was curious and followed Minna everywhere but he did not liked to be touched. He missed to be cuddled but was too afraid of let people to come so near that they could have touched him. His skin was so sensitive so obviously touching caused pain.

Then Minna decided to have him. She though that there would be no need to try to rehome him. Altti had started to trust her and he had get used to her habits and home. So she went to HESY one day and they made papers. And guess what happened when she came home? Altti decided it was time to sit on Minna´s laps! That ment tears of happiness :-) Altti did that quite often for the rest of his life but he never liked to be lifted up. If he wanted to be cuddled he came to laps himself.

When Altti felt himself totally at home he could join us to our summe cottage. During the first four years he had to spend inside but then Minna thought that maybe he could also try some outing in the garden. Altti had to wear cat harnesses and leash. And then the door was open for him to come and go! But Altti refused to go out! He had obviously had enough of it when he had to stay outside and try to stay alive also in very cold winter. Within two weeks he got so much courage that he felt brave enough to sit in the doorway with Minna. Door was open all the time so he could go back inside when ever he felt like doing so. Next year Altti spend some time in patio but did not go further than that. One day he stepped away from patio, came right back and walked inside a house. And after that he marched in and out, in and out again and again. :-) And he was purring all the time! He loved the feeling that he could go inside when ever he wanted and that he had a home of his own. And food as much as he could eat and a warm bed to sleep in. And after that, year by year Altti started to check the garden and join us when we doing some gardening. Finally he loved to spend time at summer cottage and he also did a little trips of his own. We loved to follow how he got rid of terrible memories he had and how he became a relaxed old man.
   

Altti never liked to be lifted to laps but he loved to sleep over stomack when we were on soffa looking at TV. Age brought some health problems also. Altti had a special diet for the rest of his life because of urinary stones he had once. And his right knee was not been completey ok but bothered him sometims for the last few years, especially on rainy and cold days. But mostly he was OK. He had so difficult time before he came to us so we are really happy that he got quite healthy life. 

Altti was black with white markings on his head, throat, stomack and paws. And he had the most wonderful black and white nose. Altti was the kindest and the most friendly cat we have ever met! He was easy to please and he was always happy. Altti liked to just observes what happend around him. We tried to encourage him to come and take his place among us others on soffa but he rather went away. He waited until there were no one else around and then he came. Altti loved to look at nature and wild life programs. Especially if there were birds in them! And he had one funny habit. When some one was washing teeth he went to toilet and jumped on washing machine and wanted to smell the tooth paste. He both hated the smell and liked it. :-) 

Altti was put to sleep on 9th of July 2008. He got tumours in his nose chamber and some changes already in his mouth. And he had some more tumours on his loin as well. There was no need to make him go through a difficult operation because he was more than 16 years old. So we made a difficult but the only right decison and he was put to sleep. He is burried to our summer cottage right next to Joona.

  
Altti has many nicknaes: Altti-Vaari, Jaltsu, Rossykkakissa, Papparainen and Raiskale.
     
Altti´s photoalbum
Old times At home Summer cottage Portraits
 
  
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