Maxx… often called Mad Maxx, was dropped off at my door by a neighbor at 6:00 am one morning in 1992, appearing half dead, blind and not more than 4 weeks old.  My neighbor said it appeared he was left for dead in the bushes and gave me $20 to take him to the pound… instead I took him to my vet at 8 am that morning.  The kind vet that he was, took care of Maxx and didn’t charge me.  The idea was to eventually find him a home since Byron was the King Kat of the Augustine Household, and according to Byron, there was no room for another cat.  Well, eventually Rosemary overruled Byron’s request and Maxx became a member of the family.

Maxx was an orange and white long haired domestic feline.  He was definitely a special needs kittie. It was determined that Maxx was blind and had some sort of brain malfunction, that the vet really didn’t think he would live much past age two.  Maxx lived to age 13!  He was quite obese and at 30 lbs won the Cumberland County Fat Cat Contest in 2002.  He hated the noise of the vacuum and would constantly hiss and growl at it even though it was behind the closet door.

He was originally called Max, and the extra X was added as he grew and became quite the fat cat… so double X for all that extra love.  And a love he was, he was truly a lap cat.  Maxx played 2nd cat to Byron who ruled the Augustine House.  Byron was not very accepting of him, but eventually came around.  Though there were times Byron would wrestle with Maxx and the next thing you know he would try to choke him.  It was some sight to see because Byron was almost 18 lbs but appeared much larger than Maxx.  Maxx would scream bloody murder when Byron would try to choke him.  Cats will be cats though, and often they were found grooming one another and curled up together enjoying a snooze.

In 2001, Byron, Maxx and their human moved 2,000 miles across the country – from Denver, Colorado to Vineland, New Jersey.  Maxx traveled easily with the move, never making a sound or moving in the carrier during the 5 day drive.    After Byron passed in 2003, Maxx was  very lost. He had a hard time understanding why his brother Bryon was gone.  His human made sure all the attention to this furry feline was now paid 100% to him.  Shortly after Bryon’s death, Maxx and Rosemary moved to Berwyn, Pennsylvania, and Maxx continued to enjoy love and attention until his death 15 months later.