The origin of Mr. Toots name.
Mr. Toots, a handsome cat I was recently asked to paint, has a name that is something of a mystery. When I asked the client to give me the cat’s name, she said he had no name so she just called him Mr. Toots. Of course, I had to think of a reason a cat might be given such a name!
Might it be his hunting skills that earned him such a moniker? Or might it be his dashing across the street upon hearing a car horn? Nope. None of these reasons.
His name has everything to do with (you guessed it, right?) an unforgettable sound.
Dash before he is given his special name.
Adopted as a kitten by a loving elderly woman, Dash (for old-fashioned Dashiel as he was then known) grew to be a graceful and dignified cat who could sit for a whole afternoon gazing out the window seemingly contemplating the mysteries of life. Cat life that is.
One day, his owner was having a few of her coffee club friends for an afternoon get-together in her home. The conversation momentarily subsided while everyone enjoyed the delicate scones and freshly brewed coffee.
Suddenly, Dash jumped on a chair and sat among the ladies, like a perfect gentleman.
Amanda stroked his soft fur…he was the centre of attention and he gazed lovingly into her eyes…and then it happened.
A very loud toot thundered in the room.
The ladies looked at one another and suddenly moved away from Dash.
Suave as cats can be, Dash looked around wondering what all the fuss was about.
Then another toot escaped. This time, the toot sounded like air escaping from a flat tire. Now Dash started looking for the culprit while everyone laughed and settled back into their respective places.
Through it all, Dash remained dignified and groomed himself as though this was nothing unusual.
From that day onward, all the ladies called Dash “Mr. Toots” and the name became official.
Mr. Toots is never embarrassed about his unique name.
In fact, he wears the name knowing he is special among cats named Snow, Ruby, Tiger. After all, there is only one Mr. Toots!
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