Quebec City

Rather than wallow here over the painful loss of Professor Rudie, I traveled with my artist friend J. to Quebec City to paint for a few days. It was beneficial to have something to concentrate on all week, however some of the paintings I have returned with are a reflection of my deep, quiet sorrow.

Aside from the food (escargot! good wines!! baguettes!!!) the highlight of the trip had to be the Hotel Maison du Fort Bed and Breakfast, where we stayed. Charming and cat-themed, it was a balm for my soul, as was delightful owner Marielle, who made every effort to ensure her guests were well looked after.

NB: I will upload photos and expand this entry soon, and upload my languishing entries for Oakville and Niagara Falls. Forgive me dear friends for the delays of late. The blog took a back seat while I have been ill off and on since early September, but I am doing better this week; serious cancer has been ruled out and that is an incredible relief.

Professor Rudie

We lost our beloved seal point Siamese Professor Rudie to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and a double thromboembolism last weekend, and I am alternately numb and raging with grief. Just at Thanksgiving he was front of the line for turkey when Heather was here.

On Saturday morning, I came into the living room and saw that he was paralyzed from the waist down on the floor. He was still playing with a toy with his front paws! 27 hrs later, he was gone. It happened so fast, and he died in my arms. I will be haunted by that for a long time. I told him we loved him and held him and stroked him, regardless of the mess that an exploding heart brings. That sweet, trusting, wily face with so much love... I would give anything to see it again and hear his loud alligator meow.

He was only 5. It is NOT FAIR. It was hereditary and we had no way of knowing. He was supposed to stay overnight at the vet for observation, but because they do not have anyone on site from 6pm to 9 am, we and our very kind, compassionate vet Dr Steven mutually decided that we would take him home overnight and bring him back when they opened. Thank the stars that we brought him home. It was his last night on this earth, and he spent it surrounded by love and in front of the warm fire with all of us around. He was sedated and on opiates, so he was fine, dragging himself around with his front paws and still trying to be our comical little Rudie. He died the next day.

Rudie was the fulcrum of our cat household. The lovable alpha. The other felines are depressed and at a loss without his star leadership. There is now another cat shaped hole in my heart that will never heal. I feel raw and angry and completely spent. How many tears can a person cry?

Good-bye, dear Rudie. I will never forget you.


Ohanaskye's Purrince Rudolph: June 6, 2002 - October 21, 2007

Rude-bear will be cremated with his favourite schmousie, his feather toy, a flower, and wrapped in my ratty old housecoat that he loved. We are trying to contact the caregivers of Rudie’s littermates; they need to know so they might save their kitties’ lives.