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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There is no such thing as “just a cat” or “just a dog” or any other dismissive way to describe a beloved pet. Animals are pure positive energy. I’ve never been without a pet of some kind regardless of how painful it is when they die. Condolences to you and your family.
What a beauty. Tho he gave you no warning, he spared you much pain and expense in a long goodbye. A truly generous boy.
His loss is difficult, I know. His gift is that he had courage to seek out your acceptance. Once that was welcomed he spoke to you as cats do. He told you how much he appreciated you and your acceptance of such a scruffy old fellow. He told you in cat language that he would love and look after you and stay with you until the end. His tour of duty is now over but he will continue to live in your heart.
He looks like a nice cat. And well fed! I’m sorry for your loss.
Travel well, Rado.
Lovey words for a lovely cat. RIP Rado Thomas. And may comfort come to those who miss you.
Bless his little soul. Cats are shooting stars, they blaze across the heavens of your heart for a brief instant, freezing time and bringing joy, and then they vanish.
I love cats, always have, had my heart broken by dozens of little shooting stars thruout my life. Each one weird and special in their own way. Rado was certainly a handsome chunk – Russian Blue? my favorite, next to black. I’ve had nothing but good luck with black cats crossing my path..l
Blaze on, cat kind,
light the heart and free the mind
And if you get into a bind,
Another life, is yours to find.
Peace to you and yours, Sundance.
“Cats are shooting stars”
what a wonderful phrase, thx for expressing that, Jeff
Cheers, Nim
I think some Bad Company brought it to mind..,
So sorry to hear about your recent loss, and greatly moved by your loving tribute. What a lucky (!) miracle for Rado/Rado-Thomas and your family.
I know it is still too soon, but the Best way to heal is to (after waiting for an appropriate time, every case is different) have another lucky cat or two to continue the loving.
Different personality from the new cat(s) always bring reminder to us how the one(s) who passed was different and each cat (pet) is their own person. We love each one of them and they love us back in their own unique ways.
We had a cat like him. He came to our back door one day and made us his forever home. We called him Beemer because my wife said everyone loves a black Beemer . He would love parties and always would greet people as they came in. We had the privilege of knowing him for 12 years before he went on to snuggle up to God. I will always miss him and remember how he loved us so much! My deepest sympathies for your loss!
So sorry for your loss, Sundance. Been there many times. You will think of him many times and a smile will come across your face as you remember the love he gave you. That will help comfort you. Animals are truly a gift from GOD.
Did he have the fifth pad on his front paws, as many Russian Blues have?
Sorry for your loss.
Think of how meeting new friends will be good for Rado Thomas and will broaden his horizons. He might get to meet up with my Johnny Walker Beemer, that I bought as a pup. A papered Brittany Spaniel meant to be a hardy companion for our aging Labrador, Missy. Both were beauties. Magnificent dogs, and Missy a magnificent mother too.
Johnny Walker Beemer liked his adventures. If he could sneak out of the house or backyard, he was GONE. The two times this happened over the years the city had picked him up and taken him to the shelter, where we were called. He looked rode hard and put away muddy. From head to toe filthy and miserable. So glad to see us.
That’s also how we lost him. He took his last shot when a neighbor came over and we answered the door. Slid out the door crack and ran across the street where someone hit him with their car and never looked back. He died that evening.
Missy made a path in the grass of the backyard, going from the gate on one side to the other for months, watching and waiting for her Johnny Walker Beemer to come home. But this time it was not meant to be.
I can tell you he will welcome Rado Thomas and want to show him around. I already put in a good word for him. The rest is up to Rado Thomas, at his pace.
Much Love to one and all, and to healing our hearts by remembering and sharing the best life that we lived with them, because of them.
Rest our wonderful friends all.
So sorry for your loss. He was a very handsome boy.
Boy. was a beautiful cat! So long Rado=Thomas.
What a gorgeous guy. RIP, Rado. He sounds like he brought lots of wonder and joy to share with your family.
Love this poem, but cry my eyes out every time I read it. Found it when I lost my Amelia she was a rescue we had for 14 years. I miss her every day
Blessings to you Sundance.
https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm
I’m so sorry for your loss. They steal our hearts and then take a piece of it with them. Maybe we should all strive to be a little more like Rado-Thomas and ‘enjoy or best life’ and be more intentional in our efforts and expressions of appreciation.
An animal friend is a blessing. Take comfort in knowing that you took good care of Rado and he appreciated it.
Also when my 24 year old American Longhair passed, I got a video lineup on youtube called Purple Cat strange!
Sundance, will you speak at my funeral?
I’m a cat woman (real) myself. I’ve had siamese cats since I was a child, until I married.
The husband is not, repeat, NOT a cat person.
So I appreciate your tender recollections of your dear companion.
In last photo, Rado-Thomas seems to be saying: “I’m enjoying life. You should be, too.”
Condolences to you and the family.
Animals have the purest love and loyalty.
They want no more the your attention, time, and of course the bowl of food is a bonus
I have often thought if people we were as loyal and transparent as our pets what this world would look like.
A Vetenarian said it best to me when I was crying as grown man after putting several dogs and cats down through the years…if you don’t feel the lost then you didn’t deserve the animal in the first place.
He had a better life with you and he lived it well.
Thank you for rescuing and providing a.loving home.
Rado picked you and you were blessed by his company. He waits for you at the rainbow bridge.
God bless Rado. I feel for you. Many of us humans have been doing the same thing for the last 6 years. Rest well.
My heart goes out to you Sundance. May God give you the strenght to deal with this huge loss!
Losing a pet leaves a huge hole in your heart. My thoughts are with you and your family, Sundance
So sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat.
What a beautiful boy. I’m so sorry for your loss; I know only too well how painful it is to lose a beloved feline friend.
My heart goes out to you as a Cat mom myself!
a truly handsome fellow
I’m crying reading this post, SD.
It hurts so much to say goodbye to your loved ones.
Im sorry it was so sudden and you couldn’t tell him
whatever you needed to, and hold him, hug him.
Hes waiting for you, now.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in your dreams.
Sundance, sorry for your loss. Cats are people and are just as precious. We lost two cats in as many months. One was sixteen years old so it was expected but our beautiful Scratchula was only four. She died of a cancer that came on very suddenly. We still have four other cats so at least we are not alone.
So sorry for your loss. The boy’s are so handsome. Fly free sweet Rado! 🌈
So sad when we lose them.
Cry and celebrate his life, SD.
I don’t know you, but I’m thinking of you and Rado.
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
I am very sorry for your loss.
Oh my, Sundance, I am so sorry for the loss of Rado-Thomas, and heartbroken for you, but the joy of having had him for so many years is wonderful. He is such a beautiful soul!
A stray kitten wandered up to my Mothers house about 4 months before my Mother passed away. That cat was such a comfort and she saved me from much sorrow from my Mother’s passing. I went through LOT for that kitten. She got into everything and nearly died 3 or 4 times. I was constantly being attentive to her, trying to save her from her own curiosity and rushing her to the vet when she got into things she shouldn’t have.
And one day about a year after she showed up, she bounded up to the door like she always did to come inside, rubbed her cheeks on it, and bounded away again and I’ve not seen her since! I was inconsolable; walking the neighborhood calling, driving up and down the road looking in ditches for her. Nothing.
I put up signs and pictures of her all over the neighborhood, and I frequented the Animal Shelter hoping someone would have picked her up and brought her in. No luck. Not knowing what had happened to her was torment, and every cat I saw prowling through garbage at a service station was checked out to ensure it wasn’t Suzie.
About 3 months later, the shelter posted a picture of a 10 year old cat whose owner had died and the cat was scared and miserable. When I got to the shelter, the cat they had was not at all the cat advertised, but I brought her home with me anyway. Turned out the shelter had mistakenly mixed up her “pedigree” and she was not the beautiful gray Misty posted.
This cat is a 3 or 4 year old calico and she is now named Sadie (new home, new name). I have never seen such a terrified animal! She would only come out of hiding when no one was around to eat and for the litter box then hide away again in a drawer, a closet or kitchen cabinet where no one would look for her.
It has now been almost 2 years and Sadie has finally realized that she is here to stay, that no harm will come to her and she is a warm and loving cat. We are still working on her fear of people she doesn’t know, but the UPS and other trucks don’t freak her out anymore, and she’s finally accepting some of my family members.
It is such a joy to rehabilitate this cat! Each animal is special, with their own personality and traits, their own needs and sometimes their own fears.
I say rescue another cat soon; some need someone to let them know that not all humans mean harm to them.
God Bless you and yours, Sundance. You are so appreciated.
My Russian Blue, Boo, looks just like Rado Thomas. About the same size…huge! He takes good care of me since my husband passed away 3 yrs ago. They truly proclaim God’s goodness and glory.
I love Russian Blues. They have the best personalities and are so intelligent. It’s heartbreaking to lose a pet but especially one so unique and distinctive in his ability to connect to your family. So sorry for your loss.
Awwwwwww … I’m very sad to hear of your and your family’s loss, Sundance
May God bless Rado in heaven
It sounds like he went very quick, as you’ve described … perhaps a measure of God’s mercy that Rado didn’t suffer a lengthier passing
Your story about Rado Thomas brought a smile through tears. What an exceptional feline he was. My deep sympathy to you and your family.
What a beautiful boy. RIP big fella and know you had one of the best if not best dad as your people. I’m sorry Sundance prayers for you and family. It is not “just a cat” they take a piece of your heart with them.
I’m so very sorry about Rado, Sundance.
Pets are family so prayers of comfort are going up for you and the rest of your household.
RIP Rado. 🙏❤️
Tough loss, Sundance. But, as Greg said below, Rado, and God, made his departure as surprising and painless for both RT and his loving family as possible. I’m sure his arrival had some spiritual elements as well. I often joke that the best thing about cats is they’re never borrowing money. However, true cat lovers know it’s WAY more than that. Cherish those six years as much as Rado Thomas did. This was a love story. Godspeed to you and yours this Christmas. Carry on, soldier.
Do most of you bury your pets at home?
I always have, when and whereever I’ve made a home – cats need a home to come home to. Another cat will have me when I find my next home, right now I just speak to cats passing by… they always love to stop to chat!
I am so sorry for your loss. All of us who are or have been fortunate enough to experience extraordinar bonding with a pet understand what you are feeling. Rado-Thomas will forever hold onto a piece of your heart as you and your family obviously held a piece of his heart.
I’m sorry, Sundance, I know it hurts. I was never a ‘cat person’ until a special furry friend entered my life. How it hurts when they depart.
Hardest part of having a pal is saying goodbye.
I want to believe that I will be rejoined in heaven with the pets that were close to me, mostly two loving dogs, Peanut and Mortimer.
It will be lonely without him but it sounds like he lived a good life after he found you. And you did too. So sorry.
So sorry for your loss – RIP Rado (as in Silverado) – Had a cat growing up, Trixie. Have only had pups for the last 40 years and I feel your heartache – but they all had middle names too – Shooter John, Chappy Ann, Duke David & many more :):)