On a warm August morning in 1995, a small wisp of a cat arrived at
the NEADY Cats shelter and changed my life forever. Roo was a stray
found behind a local gas station. She appeared to be about one year
old. Roo had very short front legs and her ability to hop up onto
things was amazing. Her name evolved from her likeness to a kangaroo.
She was adorable and so very special.
Roo was the NEADY Cats shelter mascot and guardian of the shelter
cats. Roo set the example. She never hissed or growled, and shared her
space graciously. She had a way of letting all the other kitties know
that life at the shelter wasn’t anything to get upset about. Life was
good.
Roo was the editor and special advice columnist for the NEADY Cats
newsletter. Roo had a following all over the United States. Sometimes
people would arrive at the shelter and ask to talk to Roo thinking she
was a real person.
Roo loved having her tummy rubbed. She would roll over and hold her
little front legs up in glee. Everyone who met Roo was enamored by her
charm. She was a true lady. She was refined, polite and had a smooth
even purr. Year after year she shuffled about the shelter very quietly
with an air of calmness and confidence.
With all her amazing qualities, I think, above all, Roo was a
delicate little thief. She stole everyone’s heart.
The years with Roo were wonderful and passed much too quickly. In
early March 2008, Roo’s little body began to fail. She was diagnosed
with lymphosarcoma and a large growth was removed from her throat. Day
after day I prayed for a miracle, but Roo was so sick. She rallied a
bit, but it became evident she was no match for her illness. I said
good-bye to Roo on May 19, 2008.
