Audi – The Ragdoll of the Week: A Heartfelt Tribute

How I Got My Audi
(Not the car, my Ragdoll cat!)

It all started in mid 2011 when my sweet cat, Serena, became ill.  Serena was a rescue and had just turned 6 years old.  She resembled a Siamese or Ragdoll mix.  Alas, from the time she started acting sick to the time she had to be put to sleep was but a couple of months.  She had cancer in her mouth, and though it pained my heart and soul I just couldn’t let her suffer to death.  I said goodbye to my sweet girl, and was in a terrible funk for a month.  It still brings tears to my eyes today to think of her.  I soon realized that I needed the companionship of another feline. I had continuously had a feline friend since I was in diapers and I knew it would bring me comfort to have a fuzzy face to snuggle with again.  I begin researching cat breeds and it struck me the resemblance of Ragdolls to my precious Serena.  From that moment I was Ragdoll-researching like it was my duty in life.  I found a breeder, and my kitten, and my heart began to heal.  Sadly, before I could really celebrate my new kitten the breeder emailed me and gave me some horrendous news.  He said my kitten had died.  My world came crashing down again.  Twice in a few months time had my heart been broken to its core.  I was scared to start searching for another kitten should the Universe decide to take it from me again.  I cried to my family for support and advice and they said to keep on my search and I would find what I needed.  And then I did.

I stumbled upon another Ragdoll breeder less than 2 hours from my home who only had one kitten left.  A female.  A blue-eyed, seal bi-color four-legged Angel.  The breeder (Sunny Shores Ragdolls) had named her Cairnn and she was 6 weeks old.  She was born on October 20,2011 and the breeder said that I could take her home in January 2012.  My heart was not so heavy with sorrow anymore.  The light of my life would soon be nestled in my arms.  I requested pictures of my sweet kitten from the breeder every week and would smile just looking at her picture online.  January came, and it was time to get my baby girl!  I knew I wouldn’t be keeping her name Cairnn but I was still debating on what to call her.  Low and behold this little fluffball would suggest one herself.  I stopped off at a store on my drive back home and inside her brand new carrier the little kitten had created a disgusting mess bigger than herself.  I have never in my life been so grossed out and dying of laughter at the same time.  I got a jug of water and used some paper cups to clean her off.  I cleaned out the carrier, and the few spots on my leather seat of my Audi, and off we were back home.  It was that moment that decided her name.  Her name is Audi.

Audi has been my little sidekick ever since.  She just turned 2 years old in October.  She follows me everywhere I go, like my shadow.  She follows me to bed, sleeps there all night, and she’s at my feet when I wake up.  I’m a late sleeper and she’s usually still sleeping when I get up!  But if she does happen to be awake first she makes sure I know she’s ready for breakfast!  She chirps at me until I follow her downstairs.  Chirping is an incredibly smart way to get a human to do whatever a cat desires.  It’s too adorable to ignore, and doesn’t annoy you like some cats “caterwauling” or yowling can.  Sometimes I wake up to find a mouse toy at the foot of my bed, which signifies that my charming furry friend went “hunting” downstairs overnight and “caught” a gift for me.  Other times, when I’m about to leave for work or school she’ll attack my leg in a desperate effort to get me to stay and play with her.  Her favorite thing of all time is a plastic bag.  She will spend hours playing and napping in any bag she can find…whether she fits in it or not!  When she was still a kitten she had a penchant for finding any blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow and burrowing herself in it so that only her eye was left exposed.
She’s a hysterically funny, captivating little soul.  She is always keeping me smiling.  She is my best friend.  She truly is a gift from Heaven to heal my heart and help me flourish.