Veteran Birmans - oldest Birman

SHANDATAL CLEOME "MINX"

(Birchtree Cinnibar x Thelsun Annanika)
15 July 1985 – 17 December 2008

The oldest known Birman ~ whose 23rd birthday celebration was featured in the 2008 Winter Newsletter

Minx, a Blue point female, was from Shirley Talboys' third Birman litter and lived all her life with devoted "staff" Shirley Hartnett and Douglas Mensforth of Herefordshire. In her last years she was lively and loving, with a thick coat and ruff and no health problems. She was still able to bounce onto the bed when she celebrated her 22^nd birthday with cards from friends, and still enjoying her daily tours of their lovely garden when she reached the record 23, again with a postbag of cards.

She lived for a wonderful 23 years, 5 months and 2 days. On her last day she had a huge breakfast of trout and lamb and hake and cod and later, while at the vet's, had another meal and a walk in the practice garden which she took the opportunity to make her own. She was buried in her beloved garden with her 23^rd birthday present toy spider to accompany her to Rainbow Bridge.

On the death of Minx ~ oldest of Birmans

                                      Her fighting heart is still, that heart uncowed
                                      By age’s grim affliction, confident
                                      That she would go wherever once she went
                                      And do as she was used. No weakness was avowed,
                                      Nor cession to infirmity allowed
                                      To circumscribe her full entitlement
                                      To everything that living to her meant:
                                      She staggered, fell; she rose, and stood up proud.
                                      Her spirit to the very last burned bright;
                                      She scorned to languish docilely to death.
                                      She forced her failing body to work right,
                                      And at her passing, freed from ills, her wraith
                                      May say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight;
                                      I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.”

Shirley Hartnett and Douglas Mensforth

Minx had slowed down since her 23rd birthday but was still lively and loving, she had a thick coat and ruff, and no health problems. Minx also wrote extraordinary poems -click here to read just one of them

Shandatal Cleome at 23 years old