RIP Rufus

He was a real character. Aggressive, demanding, and yet loving and wanting cuddles. He loved to be out and about, chasing birds and cats and probably the odd fox for all I know. He was mean to his sister, wanted feeding all the time, and could never be ignored.

One day he was out and about in someone else's garden as usual but the next day he suddenly collapsed completely and the vet found an inoperable tumour. We had to say goodbye to him. It came as a terrific shock.

The last year had been difficult, as he had become more aggressive and he was on gabepentin, which seemed to help him. He was obviously far more unwell than any of us realised: at his check up in the summer he had appeared well, although showing signs of age. I wish we had known.

We still have our sweet girl Bonnie, but she is also very unwell and has lost half her body weight over the last six months. I think soon we may be without cats for the first time in sixteen years.