Tahl 1 Charcoal Ashley

Ashley Grey: A Great Kisser
AKA: Ash, Ashley Bashley
1 Apr 2003? - 9 Dec 2019
One Last Look Around the House Before We Go

Tahl 2
The Twins
The Twins
Bonded Pair
We wanted a bonded pair. They are harder to adopt. Graydon and Grayson were their names. (Promptly changed to Ashley and Charcoal). On the way home, Ashley, the bold one, was in the front of the cage and Charcoal in the back making strange.
The Raptors
The Raptors

The Raptors

The twins were very close in their early years. Biff and Bart close. When we got the twins, they were both exactly 11 lbs. Then the next year at the vet they were both exactly 17lbs. We called the twins "The Raptor Boys" because they would make an approach together, or look at things at the same time -- and their eyes would glow a bright green. Quite often it was impossible to tell them apart except for their collar colours -even now in some photos we can't tell who is who. As the years went on, they stopped cuddling. But it was obvious when Charcoal passed, that Ashley felt his absence.

 

A Good Friend to All

His first friendship was Gusto. After Gusto passed, Neko warmed up to Ashley. It seemed to create some distance between Ashley and Charcoal. Almost every night he slept on my chest with whiskers tickling my face. Neko was to my side. Neko would lick ashleys head once or twice before laying down. And when we got Cardigan and Trolley, they forced their way into his heart.

Good Friends
Good Friends

Lap Cat

Ashley loved being near people. He would not eat unless yo were in the kitchen with him, sometimes right next to him. He always sat on my lap while I ate and would often go over to Shan and flop across her chest to relax. He would often sleep on my chest with his face in mine.

Guardian Angel
Guardian Angel
On top of the world
On top of the world


The Hunter

He was very talented. Birds would occasional get in the cage, and he would leap 4 ft and catch them mid air. Mice rarely escaped him. He could climb 1" wire fence like a ladder. He scaled vertical wood boards like a squirrel. He often climbed the scratching post to perch on it's tiny top. If anyone could survive in the wild, it would be Ashley.

Touch My Tummy
Touch My Tummy

Nerves of Jello

The first time he saw neighborhood cats outside our house, he freaked out. It started him frequently spraying around house for many, many years. His brother copied him, and when Ashely stopped, his brother continued. The stress may have contributed to his bowel issues. Or maybe the other way around. He had trouble absorbing nutrients and lost much of his weight. We would often discuss the state of his bowel movements. Ah, for the love of cats.

Burger Time

If I was eating, Ashley was there. He wanted me to be there when he ate, so I guess he assumed I wanted hi there when I ate. I guess I did. There was one time I had a burger on my plate. He ever so slowly extended his paw, then slowly pulled it towards him while I watched. A very comical site. Should food be left unprotected on the counter, it would be visited by. and protected by, Ashley.
Helping me work out
Helping me work out

There at the End

Of all our cats, Ashley seemed to be there for cat's on their last days. He was there for Tahl. and Charcoal. Neko, Trolley and Cardigan were there for him.

Ashley watching over Tahl
Ashley watching over Tahl
 
Pretty as the Picture
Pretty as the Picture

A Great Kisser

One thing Ashley liked to do was kiss. He would push his face into yours. It was noted in the adoption notice. "Graydon particularly loves to give kisses and is a real love bug!". He was to his last day.

Ashley Sandwich
Ashley Sandwich

His Entourage

Cardigan and Trolley took to Ashley right away. They followed him everywhere. They rubbed against him almost knocking him over frequently. It made his last year without Charcoal, full of love.

Outside

Of all the things I am most proud of, it is the outdoor cat cage I built. When younger, Ashley lived outside in good weather. As he got older, and thinner, he went out less. But he still went out, and I loved watching him sniff, hunt and relax.

Fresh Air
Fresh Air

All Good Things Must End

Our cats tend to get sick on Fridays or holidays, when our vet is not available. Ashley stopped eating Friday morning. The weekend he would not eat or drink on his own. We even tried chicken, which worked for his brother Charcoal. Nothing. We would syringe him recovery food and water hoping he would bounce back, but he still got thinner and weaker. He only got up on his own twice. The rest of his time was spent on a foot stool we have for him over a heater vent. We sadly took him in that Monday.

One Last Cuddle
One Last Cuddle
 
Unique.