Ruffles went to the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon. She was 16.
When Ruffles was a wee kitten, she went to live with Peggy, an older woman. Peggy had been told the kitten was a boy, so she named the kitten Rufus. Time came to take the kitten to the vet, and Peggy learned she ahd a little lady cat. The vet suggested "Ruffles," so that is how she got her name.
When Ruffles was 10, Peggy died. Peggy close friend, Lucille, took Ruffles in. Lucille had a young 2 year old female cat, Topaz. Ruffles was nervous about living in a new place and with anothe cat and spent weeks hiding at the foot of the stairs just inside the front door. But eventually Ruffles came around and decided to take command. She put Topaz in her place!
After 2 years, Lucille had to move to senior housing. They only permitted one pet. Lucille put up notices at the senior center, at her vet, but nothing came of it. After 6 weeks, moving day was near, and Lucille knew she would have to take Ruffles to a shelter. And she knew a 12 year old kitty at a shelter has little chance for placement. Lucille sat near the entry door to the senior center crying. I walked in to pick up my Dad, and asked someone what was wrong. The following week was Thanksgiving, and I just couldn't stand it; I told Lucille I would take her cat if that was OK with her. So Ruffles came to her third home.
Ruffles lived with us almost 4 years, settling in and making the other cats respect her. She wasn't an alpha cat, not by any means; but she never took any guff from the others, either. Dad took to calling her Duchess, as she expected to be treated as royalty, but never wanted the power of ruling. She demanded attention when she wanted it, hopping in my lap or Dad's, kneeding us and making sure the strokes never stopped as we watched TV or read.
Ruffles has been fighting off something since June. We suspected cancer, but nothing showed up in x rays, blood work was all fine. Labor Day weekend she stopped eating and I had to force feed her for 48 hours. That Tuesday (sept 4), she went to the vet and weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces. (She had been 12 pounds when she arrived here those years ago). And, for the first time, the vet felt a lump in her abdomen, small, just behind the rib cage; possibly in the intestine. The last 72 hours she has not been able to keep anything down. Today at the vet, she weighed just 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The lump today was at least the size of a golf ball.
A beautiful long haired girl has crossed to the Bridge. Here is a photo of her when she was age 2. She won't feel nauseous anymore, and seh will be able to EAT and enjoy her food again.
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Thanks for telling us her story. Now she's painfree and able to play like a kitten again up at the Bridge. Rest in peace sweet Ruffles.
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