Blaze – Ragdoll of the Week
Wanting someone who would compliment my Flame Point Himalayan, I went on the internet and found a Flame Point Ragdoll kitten at the Lone Rock Cattery. Blaze had enjoyed a wonderful kittenhood in surroundings that any cat would love to call home. The day I picked him up, I had to get him out of a palm tree. There was every toy a cat or a person could imagine in a room that was so clean you could have sat down and had dinner. The males and females were kept separate, with the new mothers having a room of their own. It was obvious the breeder really cared about her cats–I even met Blaze’s mother and dad, and had spent time playing with the kittens to get them use to humans.
Blaze loved everyone and everything. I worried about someone stealing him, because everyone could pick him up and he had no fear of wondering into other people’s apartments. He has been found on sofas in strange apartments and one lady found him on her bed. I’ve always said if he met a mouse he would invite it home to lunch. Blaze’s love of animals did get him into trouble once. Before I got Smokey (an eight year old chocolate point Siamese) I met a lady who was trying to find homes for her Bangel cats as she had cancer and could no longer take care of them. I feel in love with Tawny Rose, who had big green eyes and gorgeous dark stripes. My plan was to bring her home and keep her in one room until she got use to the boys. Blaze snuck in and started licking her on the head. I think he scared her half to death. At first, it was just verbal. Every time she saw him she had a lot to say (he just looked shocked), but then one night she started beating him up–he never lifted a paw to her–a perfect gentleman, his mother had gone a good job teaching him that you don’t hit girls. The next day I took her back to her breeder–she got a good home with a one cat family, where she could be the queen.
I have been ill all summer with blood clots and Blaze has been my constant companion. Flame and Smokey cared that I didn’t feel good but mainly because I was laying on the couch where they would normally take their naps. Blaze seemed to understand that I needed special attention and gave me as much love as I gave him.
On the morning of the 12th, he was fine. Ate his breakfast and tried to start a fight with Smokey. He loved to start fights, but was the biggest chicken, so the minute Smokey raised a paw to him, he was gone. Was eyeing the teddy bear shelf–he liked to go up and sit with the bears, but if one happened to be sitting here he wanted to be, he’d just kick it off. As some of the bears are valuable, I didn’t care a lot for this idea, and a friend said to get a bottle and spray him with water. It didn’t work, he like water!
By afternoon he was vomiting, and when it didn’t stop I took him to the vet. I’m sure the vet wondered why we were there as he was jumping from the exam table to the desk, purring so loud she couldn’t listen to his heart and didn’t make any fuss when she took his temperature. We decided to take some blood tests just to be sure he was okay, and they found he had pancreatic. The vet suggested bringing him in for iv treatment and antibiotics. He didn’t respond to the treatment, and by Saturday the vet was saying we should do an x-ray to see if there was a tumor on the pancreas. She didn’t find a tumor, but she found a lot of fluid between the lungs and the ribs–a condition she considered very serious. I asked if was going to die, and she sid maybe and it would be a slow painful death. I couldn’t do that to a guy I loved so much and who had given me so much love in return. I picked up his ashes on Saturday and he is sitting on the shelf with the flag from my husband’s funeral.
I want another Ragdoll. Flame and Smokey (especially Smokey) are really trying to be a comfort, but just don’t have the talent for knowing what I need like Blaze did. I showed him the canister that contains Blaze’s ashes, and I believe Smokey cried. He laid down beside me and put his head on chest and made little sobbing noises.
If anyone has a Ragdoll that needs a loving home, I would like to hear about it.Thank you for reading! Submissions like these – the “Cat of the Week” and “Kitten of the Month”- are provided by their owners and reflect their individual experiences and practices. The information these submissions share does not necessarily reflect Floppycats’ recommendation or endorsement regarding cat nutrition or care. Always consult a qualified feline nutritionist or veterinarian for personalized advice on your cat’s dietary and health needs. If you want to learn more about species-appropriate nutrition, please visit our cat food page.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
Blaze was such a darling and a joy to you! I am deeply sorry for your loss but thankful you still have Smokey. You will comfort each other while missing Blaze together. I wish our kitties could be with us throughout our lives and not have to pass away before us. Our Rainbow Bridge reunions will be the best of times…
Once in awhile we have guardian angels in the form of cats. They seem to know what you feel, how you hurt, when you are sick, and are always there for you. It is like their purpose in life is to provide a type of comfort no one else can give. Those angels are the ones with which we experience a tight, special bond and it is devastating when they are no longer with us. I’m not in your shoes to know exactly what you are feeling but at the same time I can relate for I, too, have lost several angels. May the memories of your angel, Blaze, bring you peace.
Hi, Leanna!
I was so touched by your comment. A beautiful sentiment and a very true situation. My sweet hubby and I have had several of these angels in our lifetime, too.
Thank you for describing this so eloquently and beautifully.
Very warmest regards,
Patti & Pink Sugar (our current Raggie Angel)
I am so very sorry to hear about your losses (your husband and your Raggie, Blaze). Please accept my deepest condolences.
Prayers sent to you for comfort and to have another sweet Ragdoll become a part of your family as soon as possible!
*BIG HUGS*
Very warmest regards,
Patti & Pink Sugar (my sweet Raggie girl) <3
So sorry to hear your pain
I too could almost write the same words regarding
“my BUDDY”(lost him to ocular cancer)
What great lovers they were.
I can only thank him for touching my life.
Best wishes to you.
I too am looking to fill this hole in my heart.
I’m so sorry to hear about beautiful Blaze. He sounds like a wonderful cat and that he had a great life with you and his kitty siblings. You’ll know when it’s time to get another cat- not to replace Blaze, but to spread the love around.
Oh my, I am literally in tears reading this about your beautiful Blaze. My condolences and heart goes out to you in this sad time. Please know that I send good wishes to you to help heal your heart, but it does take time, especially when there was someone so extra special as your Blaze. Know that he is looking down at you smiling from the Rainbow Bridge so happy for all the wonderful care and companionship you gave to him with such a great life. Your courage and strength to tell us all about his unique qualities at such a hard time is so precious. He was so blessed to have a Mom as wonderful as you and know he is happy to be honored in this very special way. ♥♥♥♥
I too have a love of ragdolls. Gizmo was the first, could NOT figure out why he didn’t STOP growing ..until I saw him in a cat book I was paging through in a store … NO WONDER .. mystery solved … my ex had gotten him from someone who’s cat had gone on impromptu “date” with a ragdoll obviously. VERY proud of his tail, he was gorgeous. He was named after the cute character in Gremlins and YES he even drove a car, and loved to do corners. Just before he turned three he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy .. horrid disease … told me 6 months and it was that to the sad day. He was also a comfort cat tuned into the emotions around him and I miss all of his 18 pounds sitting on my chest. I now have Zander, he is a bicolor and feels that we are his servants … he is such a Diva … He is now 8 years old and spunky enough to take on the other two cats AND the three dogs although 100 pound Sammi sometimes is intimidating to him especially if Sammi sits on his tail. The pain of losing Gizmo has faded and left imprints of happy memories and I pass that onto you … he was probably the first one at the gate to welcome Blaze …
Please accept our sincerest condolences. We’ll pray for your heart to become lighter as soon as possible.