Last night our cat Rado (pronounce as in Silverado) died.  We think he suffered a massive sudden stroke.

All animals are unique, God’s creations, and Rado was a very special gift for 6 years.  A former stray, he came into our lives unexpectedly as a battle-scarred scruffy guy who had enough of the rough life.  So, six years ago he took a chance on us, and from that moment to this we were forever grateful for his presence.

After the initial vet check and neutering, Rado immediately sought to find his place in our family and was uniquely gifted at expressing thankfulness.  He lived his absolute best life for the past six years and was reciprocally cherished beyond all imaginings.

As his battle scars healed, Rado blossomed into his beautiful Russian Blue best.  A truly handsome fellow, and incredibly unique in cat disposition.  His heart was a feature of his personality that exceeded his good looks.

Each day Rado would check on his peeps, making his forever faithful patrol rounds to see what everyone was doing, a trait later called his ‘security checks.’

Once he knew his humans were in their appropriate and familiar places, he would go about doing cat things – napping and enjoying his best life, while remaining watchful and forever thankful.

It is said that pets generally will attach to one member of the household, and I have found that to be true in all cases until Rado.  He received a middle name because he just seemed to need one. Thus, in his second year, Rado became Rado-Thomas.

As if he were forever as concerned about equitable devotion as he was for showing appreciation, Rado Thomas loved everyone equally with his full appreciation.

His intentional efforts were uniquely noticeable. Through each and every day of the six years he put time, effort and energy into making sure his adopted humans knew he was thankful.

In the life of Rado Thomas, perhaps an outcome of his origin, he never once took anything for granted. He loved very well.  “Those outside days are over,” he would seem to convey, “this inside stuff is just way better.”  With that expressed opinion solidly as his foundation he never once again looked wistfully toward the outside; nope, not even a twitch or a flinch.  “Right here” was his place, right here.

Rado was an unexpected gift upon arrival and became a visible reminder of how to define ‘steadfast’.  “You move, I move, that’s just the way it is human,” and with his companionship, even when it was totally undeserved, that’s just the way he was.

I am sure many readers will understand when I say he was more than ‘just a cat‘.

Rado Thomas will live forever, deeply in my heart.

Farewell my boy, I love you.

~ Sundance

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Posted in Treehouse Campfire, Uncategorized
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