TOBY’S PAGE CONTINUED
Toby’s last show of the season April 29/30, 2006 in Ansonia, CT had a very special moment. A judge from Austria saw Toby for the first time.  When judging there are 12 cages behind the judge with the cats in them and he takes them out one at a time and places them on the podium to judge them in front of the spectators. When he got to Toby he took him out of his cage, walked towards the podium, looked at him and then held him in his arms and turned his back to the spectators. You could see that he was talking to Toby and after quite some time he walked over and put Toby back in his cage without ever placing him on the podium. He still had his back to the spectators and he just stared at Toby awhile and then he took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. He then turned around and walked over to the podium. In a few seconds his whole body started trembling and then he totally broke down in uncontrollable sobs. He just couldn’t quit. He had everyone crying. I jumped up to tell him that Toby is okay and is used to being shown. He just shook his head and was shaking so hard he couldn’t talk. Finally he could mumble “It’s not the cat”.

When the judge finished the round of judging he did not bring Toby back for a winner’s ribbon.   After the show, I took Toby up to the judge and when he saw us he said “I can handle you now boy” and took him from my arms.  He then told me that Toby was so relaxed in his arms and was purring even though this judge was a stranger. He was groomed beautifully and was so contented and happy. It hit him that most handicapped cats are abused, homeless, unhappy, scared and mistreated and yet here was Toby who had everything that any cat could wish for. The judge could tell that Toby was loved and evidently had a life of luxury.  He said he was not crying for Toby but for all handicapped cats that did not have what Toby had and he told me he did not bring him back for a winners ribbon as it was a defensive move.   Otherwise, he would have been crying much longer.

FALL 2006:  Well, you would think that I could do a better job on keeping Toby’s life history up to date.  I do apologize for being so lax.  The show season is from May 1st to April 30th each year.  That show I just talked about in Ansonia, CT was the last for that season May 2005-April 2006.  Toby came out 3rd Best Internationally and we did take him to Hanover, Germany for his awards.  We knew it would be a hard long trip for him but we forgot that he was a PRO at traveling.  We had a small collapsible litter box with a small bag of litter.  We would take Toby to the bathroom, lay out his tiny and I do mean tiny litter box and he made it just fine.  Hit the box perfectly even though he could only fit his back half in it.  He never cried on the trip or fussed in any way.  We got to Berlin after being gone from home for 14 hours we get on the train.  In Germany, animals are treated almost like humans and they are pretty much welcomed everywhere.  On the train dogs were sitting on the seats so we took Toby out and just placed him on the table in front of us as we were traveling first class on the train.  The conductor came by, took our tickets, petted Toby and just kept on going.  Toby was amazing.  The train rocked, screeched at times and other trains going the other
direction flew passed our window actually scaring me to death.  Toby acted as if he had traveled by train all his life.  Nothing bothered him and I guess he could hear the other trains approaching which helped him not be afraid.  Finally we made it to Hanover and we all had a good nights rest.

The Annual Awards show was really nice and it was so great to see so many other breeders from abroad. That Friday night we were at a check in reception and had Toby with us.  All of a sudden someone screamed THATS HIM – HE’S HERE!   I looked around wondering who was here, expecting some celebrity and they were pointing to Toby.  So many started hollaring Toby, Toby, Toby and came running over to pet him and see him.  It actually frightened him but it was so wonderful to know so many people knew who Toby was.   The actual show was a good one and Toby did very well.

When it was time to see the Judge from Austria who had cried over Toby in Ansonia, we quietly slipped Toby into the cage behind the judge.  When it was Toby’s turn he went and got him out, looked at him and just hugged and hugged him.  Then he took him to the podium and started talking in German.  He just talked and talked and petted Toby and then we heard the words Special and he gave Toby a big kiss.  Toby also got Best Cat and the winners ribbon.  Curt later told us he had often thought of Toby and was so glad to see him again.

I will mention here that stories about Toby have been written in magazines in Germany and Sweden.  It is important for people to know that handicapped animals can have fulfilling lives.  There are just so many stories I could tell about his life and the impact he has had on so many.

After the end of the show we went on to Switzerland to sightsee and left Toby with a friend and his
brother “Walking on Sunshine” who is the World Winner pictured on my Stars page..   Yes, they are full brothers from the same litter. All 5 cats in that litter turned out to be show cats. Toby certainly did not want to be left out!  He beat them all with his International wins.  His other brothers, Stormy and Tobias both became TICA Supremes.  His one sister was a show cat too. When we got there it only took 20 minutes and Toby was at the very top of their cat’s cat tree.  Nadja was shocked but we told her he gets around just fine and that he does love to climb.  He gets down fine too.  She thought he would probably have to spend the week in the bathroom so that he could find his food, water and litter box.  We just laughed as he finds those things by smelling where they are.  Water is  just always next to the food.  One thing that was so amazing is that Nadja’s cats immediately accepted Toby.  They never hissed or fussed and it was almost as though they understood his handicap.  They did act a little curious at first.

2007 – 2008:  Before the Annual Awards show in Germany, Toby had been very busy showing tor this
next season and he was doing very well again.  Things pretty much have been the same, weekend after weekend we are off to the show halls.  No pschics and no crying judges.  Its just that Toby is getting bigger and a little more settled in his ways.  He is not as curious with life.  Show season ending April 30, 2007, Toby again an International Winner. This time he was 9th Best Internationally and the Awards are in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Toby again did very well at this Award Show.

In getting ready for the 2007-2008 season Toby has been going to a lot of shows again and may again for the third time be an International Winner.  He has been Best Internationally in the standings ever since the first of May and has just now,  October 2007,  had to drop down to second.  He is not showing as much and will continue to be passed by others.  We hope though he will again be in the top 10.

Again the time has flown by and Toby continued to do well in the show rings.  At the end of the season, April 30, 2008 Toby was 3rd Best in the Southeast Region and 10th Best Internationally.  He has pretty much retired from showing now and only attended the Regional Awards show this past month in Orlando, Fl. He will not be attending the International Awards show.

VACATION TIME  JULY 2007:  This was a highlight for us all.  You must see the vacation pictures
on this website.  I think this was the most fun that Toby has had in his life.  He will be going back to Marco Island, Florida again July 2008.  Click the link below for Toby’s Vacation 07.

AUGUST 2008:  As mentioned above, Toby did go to Marco Island again this summer and you can see pictures of him on the next page.

Toby has continued to amaze us with his knowledge and intelligence.  We do not in any way cater to him.  He is treated just like a cat that can see.  When he goes somewhere different, we just open the carrier door and let him out.  He finds his way around and seems to like new places.  He is so busy checking everything out and does not act scared at all.  He wanders upstairs in people’s homes and then soon you find him coming back down the stairs.  He does not leave anything unchecked.

He seems to remember things almost like an elephant. He may not go somewhere for months but when he goes back, it’s as if he was just there the day before..  He seems to remember people’s voices.  He will be 4 years old this November 4, 2008 and so he has slowed down some.  He gets more tired at the shows by the end of the day on Sunday. The picture below shows him after 23 rings of judging in 2 days and of course the grooming for each ring.  He was so totally sacked out and it was hard to wake him.

NOVEMBER 2009:  It is so hard to believe that time can pass so quickly.  Toby is still doing wonderful but is staying home a lot more.  I did take him back to Marco Island, Fl this past May and again he went swimming in the pool and wandered into the Inlet but instead of swimming he just sat in the water for about 20 minutes and listened to the sea gulls.  He has now learned to go to the edge of the pool and lean over and put his foot in and splash the water.

He did go to a show this past July and I do think he still enjoys getting out.  We also took him to Gatlinburg, TN with us for five days in September.  We were at a wonderful resort and he would sit out in a chair, enjoying the fresh air, while several of us played bridge.  I wish we could take him cruising with us as I know he would love it.  He likes to smell the air constantly.  I get so tickled at him because if you barely lower the window in the car he jumps up and climbs across your lap to stick his nose out the window just like a dog.  One other thing that amazes me is when we come home from a show.  He can be sound asleep in the car but when we get about two blocks away from the house he wakes up and climbs into the front seat and gets excited.  He knows he is home.  It is so amazing how his other senses work.

July 2017:  Toby is doing wonderful and living with Michael.  In early 2016 I retired and moved to Biloxi MS to be near family.  I visit back to Raleigh often and Michael and Toby visit here.  Toby loves strolling the beach and through my retirement community in his stroller.

February 2018:  Last month Michael came to visit and we took Toby to a 3 day show in Houston.  The judges were so excited to see him and commented on how great his health was.  Out of 15 judges he got 14 finals.  One judge even cried and told the audience he had known Toby since he could fit in the palm of his hand.  This month we showed Toby in the Raleigh show and in those two shows he got enough finals to make him a Regional Winner again for the year.

July 2020:  Toby had surgery for a tumor early this year but it was not cancerous.  Now that the Coronavirus is here I have not been able to visit like normal.  We are all just trying to stay safe and pray that this pandemic will soon calm down.

TOBY’S PAGE CONTINUED
Toby’s last show of the season April 29/30, 2006 in Ansonia, CT had a very special moment. A judge from Austria saw Toby for the first time.  When judging there are 12 cages behind the judge with the cats in them and he takes them out one at a time and places them on the podium to judge them in front of the spectators. When he got to Toby he took him out of his cage, walked towards the podium, looked at him and then held him in his arms and turned his back to the spectators. You could see that he was talking to Toby and after quite some time he walked over and put Toby back in his cage without ever placing him on the podium. He still had his back to the spectators and he just stared at Toby awhile and then he took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. He then turned around and walked over to the podium. In a few seconds his whole body started trembling and then he totally broke down in uncontrollable sobs. He just couldn’t quit. He had everyone crying. I jumped up to tell him that Toby is okay and is used to being shown. He just shook his head and was shaking so hard he couldn’t talk. Finally he could mumble “It’s not the cat”.

When the judge finished the round of judging he did not bring Toby back for a winner’s ribbon.   After the show, I took Toby up to the judge and when he saw us he said “I can handle you now boy” and took him from my arms.  He then told me that Toby was so relaxed in his arms and was purring even though this judge was a stranger. He was groomed beautifully and was so contented and happy. It hit him that most handicapped cats are abused, homeless, unhappy, scared and mistreated and yet here was Toby who had everything that any cat could wish for. The judge could tell that Toby was loved and evidently had a life of luxury.  He said he was not crying for Toby but for all handicapped cats that did not have what Toby had and he told me he did not bring him back for a winners ribbon as it was a defensive move.   Otherwise, he would have been crying much longer.

FALL 2006:  Well, you would think that I could do a better job on keeping Toby’s life history up to date.  I do apologize for being so lax.  The show season is from May 1st to April 30th each year.  That show I just talked about in Ansonia, CT was the last for that season May 2005-April 2006.  Toby came out 3rd Best Internationally and we did take him to Hanover, Germany for his awards.  We knew it would be a hard long trip for him but we forgot that he was a PRO at traveling.  We had a small collapsible litter box with a small bag of litter.  We would take Toby to the bathroom, lay out his tiny and I do mean tiny litter box and he made it just fine.  Hit the box perfectly even though he could only fit his back half in it.  He never cried on the trip or fussed in any way.  We got to Berlin after being gone from home for 14 hours we get on the train.  In Germany, animals are treated almost like humans and they are pretty much welcomed everywhere.  On the train dogs were sitting on the seats so we took Toby out and just placed him on the table in front of us as we were traveling first class on the train.  The conductor came by, took our tickets, petted Toby and just kept on going.  Toby was amazing.  The train rocked, screeched at times and other trains going the other
direction flew passed our window actually scaring me to death.  Toby acted as if he had traveled by train all his life.  Nothing bothered him and I guess he could hear the other trains approaching which helped him not be afraid.  Finally we made it to Hanover and we all had a good nights rest.

The Annual Awards show was really nice and it was so great to see so many other breeders from abroad. That Friday night we were at a check in reception and had Toby with us.  All of a sudden someone screamed THATS HIM – HE’S HERE!   I looked around wondering who was here, expecting some celebrity and they were pointing to Toby.  So many started hollaring Toby, Toby, Toby and came running over to pet him and see him.  It actually frightened him but it was so wonderful to know so many people knew who Toby was.   The actual show was a good one and Toby did very well.

When it was time to see the Judge from Austria who had cried over Toby in Ansonia, we quietly slipped Toby into the cage behind the judge.  When it was Toby’s turn he went and got him out, looked at him and just hugged and hugged him.  Then he took him to the podium and started talking in German.  He just talked and talked and petted Toby and then we heard the words Special and he gave Toby a big kiss.  Toby also got Best Cat and the winners ribbon.  Curt later told us he had often thought of Toby and was so glad to see him again.

I will mention here that stories about Toby have been written in magazines in Germany and Sweden.  It is important for people to know that handicapped animals can have fulfilling lives.  There are just so many stories I could tell about his life and the impact he has had on so many.

After the end of the show we went on to Switzerland to sightsee and left Toby with a friend and his
brother “Walking on Sunshine” who is the World Winner pictured on my Stars page..   Yes, they are full brothers from the same litter. All 5 cats in that litter turned out to be show cats. Toby certainly did not want to be left out!  He beat them all with his International wins.  His other brothers, Stormy and Tobias both became TICA Supremes.  His one sister was a show cat too. When we got there it only took 20 minutes and Toby was at the very top of their cat’s cat tree.  Nadja was shocked but we told her he gets around just fine and that he does love to climb.  He gets down fine too.  She thought he would probably have to spend the week in the bathroom so that he could find his food, water and litter box.  We just laughed as he finds those things by smelling where they are.  Water is  just always next to the food.  One thing that was so amazing is that Nadja’s cats immediately accepted Toby.  They never hissed or fussed and it was almost as though they understood his handicap.  They did act a little curious at first.

2007 – 2008:  Before the Annual Awards show in Germany, Toby had been very busy showing tor this
next season and he was doing very well again.  Things pretty much have been the same, weekend after weekend we are off to the show halls.  No pschics and no crying judges.  Its just that Toby is getting bigger and a little more settled in his ways.  He is not as curious with life.  Show season ending April 30, 2007, Toby again an International Winner. This time he was 9th Best Internationally and the Awards are in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Toby again did very well at this Award Show.

In getting ready for the 2007-2008 season Toby has been going to a lot of shows again and may again for the third time be an International Winner.  He has been Best Internationally in the standings ever since the first of May and has just now,  October 2007,  had to drop down to second.  He is not showing as much and will continue to be passed by others.  We hope though he will again be in the top 10.

Again the time has flown by and Toby continued to do well in the show rings.  At the end of the season, April 30, 2008 Toby was 3rd Best in the Southeast Region and 10th Best Internationally.  He has pretty much retired from showing now and only attended the Regional Awards show this past month in Orlando, Fl. He will not be attending the International Awards show.

VACATION TIME  JULY 2007:  This was a highlight for us all.  You must see the vacation pictures
on this website.  I think this was the most fun that Toby has had in his life.  He will be going back to Marco Island, Florida again July 2008.  Click the link below for Toby’s Vacation 07.

AUGUST 2008:  As mentioned above, Toby did go to Marco Island again this summer and you can see pictures of him on the next page.

Toby has continued to amaze us with his knowledge and intelligence.  We do not in any way cater to him.  He is treated just like a cat that can see.  When he goes somewhere different, we just open the carrier door and let him out.  He finds his way around and seems to like new places.  He is so busy checking everything out and does not act scared at all.  He wanders upstairs in people’s homes and then soon you find him coming back down the stairs.  He does not leave anything unchecked.

He seems to remember things almost like an elephant. He may not go somewhere for months but when he goes back, it’s as if he was just there the day before..  He seems to remember people’s voices.  He will be 4 years old this November 4, 2008 and so he has slowed down some.  He gets more tired at the shows by the end of the day on Sunday. The picture below shows him after 23 rings of judging in 2 days and of course the grooming for each ring.  He was so totally sacked out and it was hard to wake him.

NOVEMBER 2009:  It is so hard to believe that time can pass so quickly.  Toby is still doing wonderful but is staying home a lot more.  I did take him back to Marco Island, Fl this past May and again he went swimming in the pool and wandered into the Inlet but instead of swimming he just sat in the water for about 20 minutes and listened to the sea gulls.  He has now learned to go to the edge of the pool and lean over and put his foot in and splash the water.

He did go to a show this past July and I do think he still enjoys getting out.  We also took him to Gatlinburg, TN with us for five days in September.  We were at a wonderful resort and he would sit out in a chair, enjoying the fresh air, while several of us played bridge.  I wish we could take him cruising with us as I know he would love it.  He likes to smell the air constantly.  I get so tickled at him because if you barely lower the window in the car he jumps up and climbs across your lap to stick his nose out the window just like a dog.  One other thing that amazes me is when we come home from a show.  He can be sound asleep in the car but when we get about two blocks away from the house he wakes up and climbs into the front seat and gets excited.  He knows he is home.  It is so amazing how his other senses work.

July 2017:  Toby is doing wonderful and living with Michael.  In early 2016 I retired and moved to Biloxi MS to be near family.  I visit back to Raleigh often and Michael and Toby visit here.  Toby loves strolling the beach and through my retirement community in his stroller.

February 2018:  Last month Michael came to visit and we took Toby to a 3 day show in Houston.  The judges were so excited to see him and commented on how great his health was.  Out of 15 judges he got 14 finals.  One judge even cried and told the audience he had known Toby since he could fit in the palm of his hand.  This month we showed Toby in the Raleigh show and in those two shows he got enough finals to make him a Regional Winner again for the year.

July 2020:  Toby had surgery for a tumor early this year but it was not cancerous.  Now that the Coronavirus is here I have not been able to visit like normal.  We are all just trying to stay safe and pray that this pandemic will soon calm down.