Malaki Peterson

Malaki, the apple of my eye, my sweet pie, the strong, brave and loving cat peacefully passed away Thursday August 28, 2025 at his home in Las Cruces NM.

Malaki found his 3rd and final forever home with Joel and Cindy Peterson Sept 15, 2014. Malaki was about 6 years old when his second family brought him to the Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) because of children’s allergies.

August of that year he worked on his sales abilities to capture Cindy’s heart when she walked into the cat cage areas during her first volunteer training session. A meow and roll over showing his two white toes back paws and his sweet love captured Cindy’s heart. It took a couple of weeks, but Cindy got Joel to come meet him. Malaki walked out of the cage onto Joel’s lap and curled up and sealed the adoption deal. He came home and settled in immediately making his sister Oreo comfortable.

While Malaki had a good life with the Petersons, it wasn’t always easy. He was diagnosed with heart disease shortly after settling in his new home. He took this all in stride as he made regular visits to the U of I in Champaign Illinois veterinary schools clinic. Because he was diagnosed in the early stages of the disease, and he was so easygoing, he became part of a feline heart study that would help other cats.

Malaki took to RV travel easily, racking up visits to 36 states. While he had to say goodbye to Oreo shortly after becoming a Peterson, he accepted a new brother when 10 month old Tesla came to the family. Malaki loved Tesla and could be found cuddling with him most days.

In 2020 he moved with the family to New Mexico. He loved his new courtyard and the big back yard where Joel supervised him. Of course we worried about moving away from the vet school clinic but luckily we found Calista Animal hospital and Dr Ceniceros who helped us continue monitoring his heart.

Malaki had another challenge when diagnosed with hyperthyroid. After radiation treatment from the VCA hospital in Albuquerque, he was cured. Life was good as he spent many hours a quilting kitty when Cindy went to her sewing room. He even supervised the creation of a big quilt portrait of himself. He traveled to juried quilt shows in Orange County, California, Paducah, Kentucky and Houston, Texas to cheer the quilt where it was seen by thousands of people.

In 2023 Malaki was diagnosed with cancer. Through excellent care by VCA and Calista staff and Dr Ceniceros, Malaki purr continued for another two years. He was around 17 when we said goodbye.