Leave a treat for Rufus - In Loving Memory 12/17 Nicknames: Foo, Furus, Foofernutter, Little Bunny Foo Foo, Tubbles, Chunky Monkey, Fat Boy Slim, Rufasa, Fuzz Butt, Mwarky Mwark and the Chunky Bunch, Hamlet, Honey Bunny, Stinky McStinkbutt Kitty Complexion:
Activeness
sleepy
very active
Intelligence
silly
genius
Curiosity
not curious
very curious
Friendliness
timid
affectionate
Vocal
not vocal
very vocal
Sun Sign:
Badges:
Quick Bio:
-cat rescue
Coloration: Gray Tabby Likes: food Pet-Peeves: taking his medicines Favorite Toy: doesn't have one since Westpaw changed its catnip formula Favorite Nap Spot: my bed, cat tree, cat bed, kitchen table, "his" recliner Favorite Food: Fancy Feast Turkey and Giblets, Wellness turkey & salmon, Solid Gold Tuna Blend Skills: talks Dwells:
indoors Arrival Story: After we lost Winkie to vaccine-associated sarcoma, we wanted to adopt 2 kittens so they could keep each other company. We went to a foster home to look at the kittens available. We took one look at the pretty boy and said "yes" immediately. The foster mother called him "Agate" because one of his markings looks like the stone, but we had already decided to name one of the kittens Rufus in honor of Winkie. We also decided to take his brother who was almost all white. Unfortunately, before they were old enough to be brought home, his brother (who we were calling Yeti) became jaundiced and was PTS. Bio: In July of 2005, Rufus was diagnosed with GI lymphoma. We have been treating it with chemotherapy. In Spring of 2007, Rufus came out of remission. We are treating him with stronger chemotherapy drugs and still hoping for the best. UPDATE: In November 2007, Rufus started having hind leg weakness and constipation. The vets believe it may be a side effect of the Vincristine (one of his cancer medicines) so we have stopped giving it to him. His symptoms may go away with time. On December 2, Rufus went to the emergency room because he was experiencing pain/discomfort and wasn't eating much. UPDATE: On Friday, December 14, 2007 Rufus was diagnosed with FIP. On Saturday, his oncologist removed 200 CCs of yellow fluid from his abdomen and gave him a different chemo drug. Rufus rallied briefly, but by Sunday, had fallen ill again and was having difficulty breathing. He was able to con the ER vet into sending him home. On Monday, December 17, 2007 his condition grew worse. His onologist and regular vet both had the day off. Momma and Rufus spent the entire day together and finally around 4:30, Rufus let Momma know it was time. A different ER vet determined that Rufus was jaundiced and probably in liver failure. Momma kissed Rufus and told him how much she loved him. She told him about all of his angel friends who would be waiting for him at the Bridge. Then she held him to her heart as the ER vet helped him peacefully cross. Lives Remaining: 1 of 9 Forums Motto: Sweet Angel The Groups I'm In: !!!!!ALL AGAINST CANCER!!!!!, **Tabbies With 'Tudes** , College Football Fans, FOR THE LOVE OF LAUREL, Hey! You Look Like Me!, The 3 Amigos, Welcome Waggin' for Dogsters and Catsters, Administrators of Catster & Dogster Groups, Beauty Marks are Beautiful!!, Books Featuring Cats: Read Any Good Ones, Catster Marketplace, Cool Cat College Football, Coping With A Cat That Has Cancer, De House of Isaac, Feline Lymphoma, FIP Support, Friendship Circle, Guardian Angel Cats, Matzos Kitties Chevarim, New England Patriots Nation, Oceanic Flight 815, Pawprints on Our Hearts, Rainbow Bridge Kitties, Red Sox Fan Club, RED SOX NATION OF CATS, The Hazel Lucy Appreciation Society, The NFL Fan Club, The Power of a Purr and Prayer., World's Most Loved Kitties, ^*^Over The Rainbow^*^
If you get a chance, could you please say a purr for my brother Hamlet? He was naughty tonight and helped himself to a taste of the onion dip while Momma and Not-the-Momma were watching the big game. Momma has been checking out all the vet websites and is pretty sure that he didn't eat enough to cause any harm, but we'd appreciate some purrs just in case.
She'll be keeping a close eye on him the next few days. Please purr that he'll be OK. Thanks.
Many thanks to all of our friends who have shown us so much kindness and love at this difficult time. We'd like to thank everyone personally, but Momma just doesn't have the energy needed. She hasn't even started sending thank you notes to the humans who reached out to her when Grandpa died, so she knows she won't have the energy to thank all of our cat friends for their expressions of sympathy or holiday wishes. We hope you'll accept this diary entry as our thanks. It may be less personal, but it is no less sincere. Thank you.
It's been 4 years since I made my journey to the Bridge. This year is especially bad for Momma because Grandpa, her father, made his own crossing on Thursday night. Grandpa had lived a full life. He was 86 years old and a WWII veteran. Just over 2 years ago, he was diagnosed with dementia. He began having a series of small strokes that took a little more of him away each time. In the end, his crossing was a blessing for him.
The hardest part for Momma and Not-the-Momma is dealing with the relatives. They have been fighting for years, but are trying to hold to a temporary truce until after the funeral. It hasn't been easy, especially when one of them made a callous remark about Bob who passed away earlier this year - on Grandpa's birthday.
Please keep Momma & Not-the-Momma in your prayers. Momma has a bracelet inscribed with the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." She knows she cannot change her relatives and their behaviors, but she can, with God's help, change her reactions to them.
Finally, in memory of Grandpa whose middle name was Francis, I'll end with the Prayer of Saint Francis. You may know St. Francis as the patron saint of animals, and though Grandpa was NOT what you'd call an animal lover *grins* - he did live his life by St. Francis' example.
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
