Angel, the Ragdoll: A Recovery Companion That Transformed My Cancer Journey

Angel came to me at a crucial time in my life. We named her Recovery Angel because she has certainly helped me recover. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had surgery. I was home from the hospital just two days before she came. My little girl was with me, being so loving and attentive.

She would lie close to my surgical scar as if she knew exactly what was going on. It felt so soothing. I think, also, she was enjoying hearing my heart beat, quite frankly. After all, she was just a little baby. Iʼll enclose pictures of her with me while Iʼm still wearing my johnny. I shed a lot of tears with her as my constant companion. I had a lot of loving support from my family, but baby girl was always there.. Angel and I are the sole residents of my home. She needed me as much as I needed her.

She loves to hug. She just puts those pretty, silky feet up around my neck. In the morning she wakes me up with little pat-pats and kisses on my cheeks. What a wonderful way to wake up unless sheʼs an early bird and that does happen.

I had researched online, found the beautiful Ragdolls and fell in love.

Angel was hand raised by a family breeder. She was born in July 2004 and came to live with me in September. She is a seal point. She was a joy from the minute she arrived. Angel is a great bed buddy, loves to cuddle and purr. She does have a little temper. Things have to go her way.

Angel also loves to be brushed. Fetch with her mice is one of her favorite games. She initiated this on her own. Sheʼs always ready for fun and frolic. She loves to be coy and flirty with my son. She talks endlessly to him when he visits. Another favorite activity for her is watching all the little wild life outside. She has views from all windows. She will dash from one window to the other to keep and eye on whatever is taking her attention. She gets excited, scratches the window and makes chirping sounds.

Angel loves most of all to sleep on my bed, but also she has a favorite condo, itʼs soft and plush inside. Sheʼs very cozy there. Each morning she sits on my walker seat for her ride to the living area. What a hoot. She does NOT like to be picked up. She wants to get on your lap but for some reason doesnʼt enjoy being picked up from the floor. I have thought maybe because she was a Ragdoll it might be uncomfortable for her. Also, she will only jump very short distances. I have climbers for her by the windows.

Angel has different purring sounds: An anxious, loud purr–an angry purr, almost like a growl. My favorite is the gentle purr which is what she does most. Iʼm told that cats purr to soothe themselves when they are anxious or upset. Purring doesnʼt always convey happiness and contentment.

Eating is not Angelʼs favorite thing. Iʼve tried everything from the best the pet stores sell. NO! No! Finally, I got Fancy Feast with gravy. She finds that appealing. The veterinarian says sheʼs a healthy little girl, but her weight fluctuates from eight and one half pound up to ten pounds. She has a sturdy built but is very slim. She shows very little response to catnip. Strange, all my other cats would go berserk. Also, and Iʼm knocking on wood, Angel has faithfully used her litter box with Worldʼs Best Litter. Angel is an indoor cat. She does have allergies and sneezes from time to time, but itʼs not that troublesome.

Angel, like all cats, grooms and keeps herself beautiful, but the strangest thing is that her grooming also includes biting her nails. This doesnʼt seem to cause any injury, the plus is her nails stay short.

Finally, sheʼs such a pal. Her blue eyes are so expressive. She looks straight into my eyes, her eyes half closed with the look of pure adoration.

Right now sheʼs proofreading her story. (Not really). It seems she approves. She hates sharing my time with the computer and will get between the monitor and me.

Thanks for listening to my Angelʼs story. If you donʼt have an Angel, you MUST get one. She is the best and brightest cat Iʼve ever had.

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Do you have a Ragdoll cat?  Would you like for she or he to be featured on Floppycats.com like Angel?  Please read our guidelines for Ragdoll of the Week here and then feel free to contact us and submit your kitty’s story and photos.