A tribute to Moumoon the cat

Moumoon, this writer’s cat, has died at age 11 after a courageous battle with kidney failure.

He was known to readers of “France Revisited” through various texts in which he played a prominent or supporting role, including Of Cats and Friends and a review of Hotel Saint Paul Rive Gauche.

Born to undocumented parents on the 14th of July 1999, possibly pure chartreux, he was adopted at an early age by Didier and his son Jeremie, who gave him the name Moumoon, and spent his kittenhood in a housing project in Noisy-le-Sec.

Unable to keep him in their growing menagerie when Moumoon was just under a year old, Didier asked this writer if he would take him in. This writer said “No” but the following day there was a knock at the door and when he opened it there was Didier with Moumoon in his hands saying “Here!”

Moumoon, known to friends as Moomzy and to intimates as The Moomz, was extremely affectionate and enjoyed human contact. He liked being scratched around the ears and under the chin and on the back just above the tail. He enjoyed being brushed and petted and patted. His beauty was such that even those with cat allergies regretted not being able to touch him.

He liked running after corks, ping pong balls, and crumpled pieces of paper. He played soccer. He would occasionally chase spirits, especially in his youth.

He never complained, even when ill, except to say that he didn’t like closed doors between rooms. At night he liked spending a few minutes exploring the stairwell. He mostly ate dry food and preferred tap water, especially directly from the faucet.

Moumoon enjoyed meeting people and was comfortable around guests, after smelling their shoes and bags. He liked having company yet he was very discreet. He tended to avoid crowds. He was a good sleeper but didn’t mind being woken. He would often come when called, unless he didn’t want to. He was equally fluent in understanding English and French. He spoke little. He was very clean.

He was tolerant of dogs and even of cats, though he could defend himself when necessary.

He mostly lived in Paris’s 10th arrondissement near Canal Saint Martin. He was a great observer of city life, whether perched on a table by a window or on the balcony, as well as a great observer of apartment life. He caught flies and once caught a mouse while in spacious ground-floor apartment the 16th arrondissement but let it go.

Moumoon was a big fan of writing of all kinds, frequently sitting or lying on papers, newspapers, magazines, and books. He could often be found near a computer keyboard. He enjoyed pushing pens and pencils off of tables and desks. His favorite author was this writer. His second favorite was Lolly Winston, who was his godmother.

He traveled often and was a good traveler, whether transported by foot, metro, car, train, or plane. He was much appreciated as a guest. He was a frequent visitor to the home of a florist whose plant-filled balcony in the 19th arrondissement he especially enjoyed. He once spent seven months in the 16th arrondissement. He also visited apartments in the 4th and 14th arrondissement as well as a house in the western suburb of Le Vésinet. Further afield, he traveled to the Jura, Vendée, and, despite failing health, the Eastern Pyrenees. He once spent a winter and spring in New Jersey.

Moumoon leaves behind no known surviving family but many friends and admirers.

He will be sorely missed.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local SPCA or autism society.