Dude

2004-2022

We are grieved to share the passing of our family member, Dude. She was chosen and named by Nikki, who was given this honour to mark her 7th birthday. Back then, she was a solid grey runt of the kitty litter. In her 18 years, Dude grew to about teen-age size, and not much more; her coat became more nuanced, fluffy and lovely with age.

Smart and fun, Dude taught us to play fetch with her. She would bring her cloth mouse right up to my hand as I typed, or to the girls in bed, to minimize our efforts to give her exercise. We’d toss and she’d return, over and over in her youth. In her later years, we especially loved cuddling with her, even if it meant not being able to see our books or the TV with her body draped around our neck.

Dude showed signs of illness beginning in September, when her other mother Elena (aged 8 at her arrival) embraced her new role as active caregiver and nurturer to our dear Dude. Despite our efforts to improve Dude’s health, her challenges only grew more complex. It was with deep sadness that we took the decision as a family that the most loving response to her illness would be the most painful for us ... Thank you to Sunset Veterinary Care for helping us through a very difficult afternoon.