You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine...

 The original gang circa 2003

 Puff and Rudy 2000-ish

 Brand new Rudy - 1999

 That tail...

 Our mischief maker

 Handsome boy

 Sunshine in the late afternoon

Rudy - May 16th, 1999 - August 11th, 2018

Semper in corde meo

The Mom 'rent here. This boy, this little orange cream sickle, this big, bright ray of sunshine - he left us yesterday. The world is dimmer. Rudy Toots never knew a stranger. He loved everyone. He lived life large and made the most of it. We were blessed with 19 years of this orange menace, but in the last few weeks he struggled with kidney disease. We did fluids and medication, but he did not like being sick. He struggled with his new normal and as things normally go with Rudy, he got his way. He sat in my lap on Friday night and we had a chat. He wanted to go. Some of you may know that look, it's the worst look that your beloved cat can give you. I promised him that he didn't need to keep up the fight. Instead of the appointment for fluids yesterday morning, we said our goodbyes. He passed quietly and gently - no more struggles. The Dad 'rent and I took his remains to Wayside Waifs where they will take very good care of him. We will bring him home later this week,

Rudy is the last of our original gang. We lost Puff 2 years ago and Powder last year. The connection to our brand new marriage with kittens is gone with the passing of Rudy. That fact makes it even sadder for us. 

It seems that we have lost many old blogging friends lately. The Bridge is lucky to have so many wonderful animals. But I, for one, would like to hold on to our babies longer. 

Rudy was a lucky cat. He never knew hunger or what not having a home felt like. He always knew love and happiness. I take some comfort in that.

Love is eternal.

Rudy Speaks!

Hi Kitties - I just thought I'd let you know how all of us are doing. I guess it's kind of a Rudy Report, but not a formal one.
The 'rents are still pretty sad about Parker Pie. We all do our best to cheer them up and day by day I think it's working. They are lavishing the love on us and who are we to refuse that?
Mommy is working a lot at the big hospital and then again at our little shelter. It's a busy time of year at both places. Today she caught an injured kitten under a porch - the thought of Mommy crawling like a snake under a yukky porch sort of makes me snicker - but I am glad the little guy is safe and sound now...
Many kind people sent green papers to our little shelter in memory of Parker. It made Mommy cry and smile at the same time. Even at the Bridge, Parker will live on, helping homeless kitties. Between you and me, I still miss her as well. She was a good sister, even though I loved to mess with her.
Puff and Powder are doing great and Diamond Doggie is enjoying the sunshine when he gets to go in the backyard. We kitties are enjoying the air conditioning and having the 'rents wait on us hand and paw.
It's a new reality here in our little corner of O Hi O, but we're carving a path to the new and honoring the past.
We hope your June is going great - we were happy to see May go away. Keep those tails held high kitties.
Love,
Rudy

A Lazy Afternoon

It's a good time to nap and wait for Mommy to return from the shelter this evening. I watch over Parker Pie and hope that some shelter kitties find great homes. I hope your afternoon is shaping up to be a good one!
Love,
Rudy Toots

The Rudy Report

Hello there kitties! It's ME! - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! It's fun to have a nap with Daddy - he has a cool sense of humor. He was trying to give me bunny ears. I was trying to sleep. Silly Daddy! We are happy to see that Parker is now grooming herself and has gained some more weight. She sends her love and thanks to all of you who have sent good wishes and purrs. Soon she will be well enough to pose for some photos and be back on her own blog.
My furs are growing back and it feels wonderful. They are soft and smooth and I am glad I have more of them now that it's cooler. Mommy and Daddy have spotted a feral kitty outside that they are now feeding and trying to catch. He's orange like me and we have named him Rogue since he is a wanderer. When we catch him, he'll go to the shelter for a wellness check and a neuter. If they can socialize him, he'll go up for adoption, if not he'll come back here to his territory and we'll set up a little shelter for him. As of now he won't come anywhere near Mommy or Daddy.
Mommy is getting ready for our little shelter's "Strut Your Mutt" that is on October 15th. Diamond gets to go but us kitties are going to take a pass on all of the canine fun.
I also hear a rumor that the 'rents are leaving us in a few weeks for some "alone time". Our awesome sitter will come, so I guess I am OK with that.
Keep those tails high kitties!

Preview of Coming Attractions...

You'll have to wait till tomorrow for the "after" photos..
It's quite a big change. Think "Lion in the Summer..."

The Rudy Report

Hi-Dee-Ho Kitties - it's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! It's been such a HOT Spring that we have been having to stay inside and dream about the deck. We only got out there one time. I nommed on some cat grass and took a big drink of water. Guess what happened about 5 minutes later? If you guessed that I yakked it all up at the bottom of the stairway, you win!  Mommy says that this week might be a little better, the hots might go away and we can get back on the deck. The sad part is that when the 'rents left us to go on vacation, the catnip plant on the deck bought the farm. Now we have to start all over again with a new 'nip plant. Sigh...
Mommy is still working with our little shelter, trying to raise money so they can offer more services to the great animals that are living there until they find their forever homes. She reminds all of us how lucky we are. So many kitties, so few homes.
I hope all of you have a great week. I am still fat and sassy, big and bad and hard to diaper and handsome as ever. Oh, and modest, very, very modest.
Keep those tails high kitties!

Wordless Wednesday

The Rudy Report

Just waiting on dinner...hurry up!

Sanibonani kitties! It's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! What a week it was here! Puff and Powder are now officially teenagers and we had a great weekend celebrating their birthday. The actual day of their birthday was on Friday and we want to thank all of you who came over to help them celebrate. On that particular day, I did not feel as though I had a lot to celebrate. It started with the PTU making an appearance and from there things just went downhill for moi. Mommy stuffed me in the PTU and we headed down the road to visit Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy. Now don't get me wrong, I love them both but I have seen enough of them to last a long, long time. I was overdue for my Rabies shot and my FeLV shot. I could not get them when they were due because I was still recovering from that awful, horrid, no good Hemobart. So into the room I went and I was treated like a rock star. Lots of the staff peeked their heads in to see me and they all remarked on how handsome and wonderful I looked. Both Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy came in to check me out. You see, Dr. Joe is the guy who does the day-to-day Vet stuff and Dr. Wendy is the gal who does the surgery and critical care Vet stuff. Dr. Wendy wanted to see for herself how I had progressed. Let's check my weight first, shall we?

Crappy phone shot courtesy of Mommy

Holy Cod! 12.2 pounds! When I was sick, I was down to 7 pounds. My normal weight was about 11 pounds. So, I guess I showed that Hemobart where to go! Everyone was very pleased with that number. After the great weigh in, I was poked and prodded and they looked in every opening I had (geez!). My toofies are good, my ears are pretty clean, my ticker is fine and apparently my butt is pretty nice as well. Time for the shots. Dr. Joe first gave me a shot of cortisone behind my head so I would not be as sore. Then in one flank I had the Rabies shot and in the other flank I had my FeLV. Dr. Joe said that since I am an indoor-only kitty that I never have to have another FeLV shot again. Yay! I took my shots like a good mancat and never even flinched. After that I was more than ready to hop back into the PTU and head on home...

Open the door, will ya'?

So kitties, that was that. I hope I don't have to go back to see Dr. Joe and Dr. Wendy for a long, long time. I spent the rest of the weekend in laps and inhaling some 'nip leftover from the Calico's party. Not a bad way to recover from a trip to the Vet's.

Oh, one more thing. Lobster is good. Very, very good. You should try it if you get a chance. Where has it been all of my life?

The Rudy Report

Well Hi there kitties - it's me - RUDY! with your Rudy Report! What an awesome weekend it was! Mommy went out hunting and came back with a refill for the middle of my our Turbo Track ball chaser. She stuffed it full of the preemo 'Nip and I went to town! So much fun! I really feel good and Mommy says she thinks that I weigh more now than I ever have. I have to go and visit Dr. Wendy next month for my shots that are overdue. Dr. Wendy did not want to give them to me a few months ago because it was too early after that awful Hemobart that I had. I've  made it through my grooming last month, so I guess I can make it through a visit to Dr. Wendy and a few pokes in the butt.
The grill has been working overtime with the nicer weather and we have all had little tastes of real live dead shrimps and steak. Springtime rocks.
Keep those tails high and enjoy the passing of winter. I have to say, this winter was the worst winter I have ever had in all of my 12 + years. I made it though and am happy that I have the chance to welcome Spring to our little corner of O Hi O!

Wordless Wednesday

 

Wordless Wednesday

The Rudy Report

Snug as a bug in a rug...

G'Day kitties, here I am, RUDY! With your Rudy Report. Oh the joys of a Ham-Mick. Naps are better in them, they make you feel like you are floating on a soft cloud full of love and peace. And that's what I did for a lot of the weekend, I napped and snacked. The 'rents were generous with some awesome pot roast tastes and I keep eating like a little piggy. Mommy is so happy about this! Daddy had a fun Sunday watching his Bears and Mommy cooked and baked and generally hung out in the kitchen with us while the cold O Hi O weather reminded us how lucky we are in our forever home.

I overheard that I am going to go back to see Dr. Wendy on January 31st. I am OK with this as I feel great and don't mind showing Dr. Wendy how well I am doing. My newest game is batting leaves off of our Boston Fern. It's so much fun, I don't understand why Daddy gets annoyed when I do it. 'Rents, who knows what makes them tick...

Anyhow kitties, I hope your Monday is wonderful, I am planning on helping Daddy cook some pork chops. Maybe if I put on my cute face I'll get a taste or two...or three.

Keep your tail held high and have the best Monday possible. Peace out.

The Rudy Report - A Day Early

To quote my good buddy Max, Doods, I did not feel so good...

Anywho...let me tell you about the last week or so. It sucked - big time. I didn't want to say anything to the 'rents, they worry and when they worry, it means a trip to see Dr. Joe. And as much as Dr. Joe is a very nice guy, he has a bad habit of sticking things into me that I'd prefer he didn't. So, Mommy noticed last week that I wasn't acting my normally spritzy self. You know, not chasing Puff and ambushing Powder, maybe not being as hoover-y with my food and just generally not being my normal adorable orange self. Then she said to Daddy - "doesn't he feel a little light"? Daddy agreed and the next thing you know, Mommy was on the phone with Dr. Joe and had made an appointment for me to go and see him on Saturday (yesterday). But last Thursday night Mommy opened a new bag of Temptations and took us out on the deck. Normally this is my little idea of kitty nirvana. But I had no interest in the treats and while I was out on the deck I just sort of lolled around. That's when Mommy knew that things were not as they should be with her little orange creamsicle and the next thing I knew, the appointment got moved to Friday.

Really Mommy, I'm OK

So, OK, I lied, I wasn't OK. I was hiding a raging bladder infection and I did not see why it was anyones business. Later that evening, I joined in on a fun game of trackball but did not choose to challenge Parker's mad whapping skillz.

I could totally beat her at this game...if I wanted to...

So Friday morning I got stuffed into the PTU and off to Dr. Joe I went. Honestly, I didn't even care, I felt like last Monday's poop. I just wanted to sleep. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to do anything. I got on the scale and all I heard were the gasps - "He weighs 9.7 pounds!" (I usually weigh about 12 pounds).  So I had lost a few pounds, what's the big deal?  Dr. Joe poked me, prodded me, stole my bloods, and stuck a tube somewhere that I don't even want to tell you about  - and then he told Mommy and Daddy to go away and call him in a hour. THEY LEFT ME THERE KITTIES!  Mommy and Daddy went home and I went to a suite in the back of Dr. Joe's hotel. I had a  lot of nice people waiting on me hand and paw. Needles here, thermometers there, it was really a lot of fuss over my poor bladder. Back at the ranch, Mommy and Daddy were beside themselves - they didn't know what Dr. Joe was going to tell them. When they called to see if they could come and get me Dr. Joe said no! He wanted to keep me overnight and said that I had one of the worst bladder infections that he had ever seen. I had to stay the night and get IV aunty-biotics and fluids. Crappity-crap-crap crap...

Sooooooo...I stayed at the kitty Hotel California on Friday night. Luckily I was much better on Saturday morning and got sprung from the joint to enjoy the weekend at home.

Now I'm on a new diet and the 'rents are hovering over me - frankly it's a little annoying. I love them and all, but a guy needs his alone time. I feel better, but I have a ways to go 'till I'm back to my old menacing self. I leave you with a little picture of what I went through - kitties, I hope this never happens to you. As much as Dr. Joe and his staff are awesome, home and healthy is the only place you want to be.

Yeah, it's a lot of dough, but the 'rents say I am totally worth it.

Photo Hunters - Orange

Truly - a no-brainer...

The Rudy Report

Yassou kitties! It's me - RUDY! with your Rudy report! I hope you had a nice weekend, I spent mine giving myself a spa treatment with my tongue. I subscribe to Parker's belief that it's very important to keep a clean machine! Just don't think you can come after me with a brush, that's off limits!

We spent some time on the deck with Daddy, Mommy would not come out because she is allergic to the Hots. At least that's what she says. She spent her time in the kitchen and she managed to clog up the kitchen sink with parsley. Here's a tip to all of you kitty moms, parsley does not grind up well in the garbage disposal. And then your Dad gets to say bad words and spend his Sunday fixing it. She should have just stuck to fixing meat and tuna, those never clog the disposal!

I hope you have a Monday that feels like a Sunday - and stay away from parsley!

Wordless Wednesday

The Rudy Report

Hi there! It's me - the Rudester with The Rudy Report! I'm happy to report that I am still mat free. I had a couple of opportunities to let the breeze blow through my furs and it was wonderful. I was a good boy this weekend, no chasing. It was my way of saying Happy Anniversary to the 'rents.
It's a good thing we got to go out on the deck, there are big storms coming to O Hi O this morning and everyone knows, a wet cat is an unhappy cat.
Have the best Monday possible kitties, and remember to keep your tail held high and proud!

DoDoDoDoDoDo...They Say It's My Birthday!

Hi Kitties! Guess what? I am 11 years young today!

I feel a lot younger than that - 4 maybe, 3 on a good day!

Thanks for stopping by, Let's party!

Rudy's New 'Do

Ta-Da! Here is my report card kitties.

Lots of floof went poof, and I have a shaved hiney, but I WAS A GOOD BOY!

Tiffany says I am a Love Bug!

No sedation!

Here I am yesterday afternoon enjoying the breezes on my newly coiffed furs!

It's good to be home and mat free!

Today The Floof Goes Poof!

Hi kitties, Parker here on behalf of the Rudester. This morning Rudy gets stuffed into the PTU and goes to see Tiffany the very nice groomer. We all had our food and water taken away before we went to bed last night just in case they have to sedate Rudy. Tiffany works out of Diamond's VET hospital  - Dr. Babbit will monitor him if it comes to that.
Since Rudy is going to be 11 years old next month he is considered a geriatric kitty and sedation is always a concern. The good news is that Rudy is very healthy and should be fine if he has to be sedated. But we still worry. As much as I don't care for his orange menace pesky ways, I still want him to be OK and come back smelling all sweet and having his mats gone. Mommy won't relax until she hears he's ready to come home.
Please think good thoughts for our big orange creamsicle - life in O Hi O is always exciting with him in the picture!