The Hollenberg Family Website

Mocha...

• Mocha was always happy no matter what the situation entailed. He didn't care if Abby stood directly on him or if it was 107 degrees outside. He still found an excuse to purr.

• Mocha had the loudest purr of any cat I've ever seen.

• Mocha had a soft brown belly.

• Mocha would lick at the air when the spot right above his tail was scratched.

• Mocha always wanted to sit in my lap.

• Mocha *loved* the laser pointer toy.

• On cold winter mornings Mocha would sit in the first sliver of sunlight at the edge of the back yard.

• Mocha used to lick my hair when I slept so that I would wake up with a wet spot on my head.

• Mocha would also lick my arm hair -- I think he was trying to groom me.

• Mocha had a rough sandpaper-like tongue.

• Mocha ruined countless carpets at the various apartments I lived in.

• Mocha was always ready to play... all you had to do was jiggle a toy in front of him and he would pounce.

• When we let Mocha in the house he would meow at us loudly and incessantly... I now think he was just trying express gratitude for letting him in.

• Mocha would meow and paw at the back door when it rained; even though it was dry inside their houses.

• Mocha used to sleep on my chest at night and "make dough" on me. Sometimes he would get brave and reach out his paw and attempt to "make dough" on my face. That quickly woke me up.

• Mocha was very strong physically.

• Mocha weighed 25 pounds most of his life but was still quick and nimble.

• Mocha was so happy the day I got him neutered. After he recovered from the surgery he ran around the house and played like all his troubles were over. I still wonder about that...

• Mocha had breathing problems early on. The vet placed him in some kind of breathing chamber where he could ingest aerosolized medicine. He was always fine after that.

• When Mocha would get really wild chasing the laser pointer dot I remember hearing him pant loudly and breathe heavily. I would let him rest for a while after that.

• Mocha hated Neptune when they were first introduced. After about a month of getting used to each other they were lifelong friends.

• I got Neptune for Mocha because he was cooped up alone in my apartment all day while I worked. I figured he needed a friend.

• Mocha loved to ride in the back of my Camaro, where he could look up and out through the glass hatchback.

• The color of Mocha's fur would change from dark black to coffee brown depending on the viewing angle. That's how he got his name.

• I originally named him Orion after my favorite constellation and the blackness of the night sky.

• I truly think Mocha tried to communicate with us. He was a very smart and special kitty. He would look directly at us and meow as if trying to tell us things.

• Mocha had black ninnies.

• Mocha had large paws with black skin on his paw pads.

• Mocha was always a little bald on both sides of his forehead.

• Mocha drooled when he was really happy and purring loudly.

• Neptune always wanted to be beside her Mocha.

• Neptune regularly groomed Mocha and it was rare and special to see him grooming her back.

• Mocha and Baby Kitty never fought.

• Mocha started getting gray hair in his later years.

• Mocha would roll over on a whim wanting his belly scratched.

• Mocha had massive, sharp claws.

• Mocha would "fwap" us with his tail while laying beside us if he was irritated about something.

• Mocha loved to sit on the balconies at the various apartments Jason lived in and watch cars, birds, or whatever else went by.

• Mocha willing accepted baths.

• Mocha would tuck his two front paws under him and just let his back legs hang out when he was resting.

• Mocha escaped from the back yard a few times but never got far.

• I originally had to fight to keep Mocha. I adopted him from a friend that wasn't going to take very good care of him but that person wanted Mocha back shortly thereafter. Obviously I won in the end.

• Mocha never hissed at me and always trusted me. He even went willingly to the vet June 11, 2009 likely knowing what was ahead of him.

• I never got to say goodbye to Mocha.

• Mocha licked Lesley's cheek in the vet's office before we left him for the final time.

• Mocha would lay on my pillow above my head and purr us both to sleep.

• Once I took Mocha to the St Patrick's Day parade on F.M. 1960

• Once Tuesday smuggled Mocha in her purse to visit me at while working at Compaq.

• I could never get Mocha to come sit by me in the office while I worked. He would always go back into the living room.

• Even after being dirty from outside Mocha's coat still shined.

• Mocha was my longest and best friend.

• Mocha always kept me company and saw me through some pretty rough times in my life.

• Mocha never judged me or or held a grudge. He just lived in the here and now and loved me for who I have always been.

• I left the ground where I buried Mocha piled up and rocky with very little grass. I wanted the wound in my yard to symbolize the wound in my heart that will never truly heal.

• Neptune and Galaxy sit by Mocha's grave.

• Mocha had a thick bushy tail and and soft fur.

• Neptune used to attempt to nurse on Mocha's ninnies when she was young.

• When Mocha ran his fat belly would jiggle from side to side.

• Mocha liked to dip his paws in his water dish after I cleaned and filled it back up.

• When Mocha came in the house he always went for Baby Kitty's food dish and water bowl.

• In his later years I had to lift the folding end of the recliner out slightly to give Mocha a ramp to climb up and sit in my lap while watching TV.