12/31/2025
This has taken me several days to write as processing it, has been extremely difficult. As I know, many of you love my regular guest Smudge and enjoyed his journey to his new home in Iceland. On Christmas Eve, Smudge made his journey to Rainbow Bridge. I still can't believe these words to be true. Smudge and his mama were family to me, and this is a profound loss. I feel so incredibly lucky to have Smudge as a guest for the past couple of years and to build a friendship with his human. His mama is the kindest and most genuine person you will ever meet. She did everything for her Smudge and he did the same for her. Their relationship illustrates how a cat can impact and improve the quality of life of a human. So, as you can imagine, this loss is devastating for her, and I am holding her in my heart each day.
Smudge, simply put, was extraordinary. He would have his quirky, funny moments, but what he did best was comfort. He had an aura about him that brought peace to whomever was around him. And although it sounds strange to describe a cat this way - he was kind. When you looked into his eyes there was just pure, unselfish kindness that you could feel. He had the best waddle when he walked, gave the best head butts and his air biscuits were second to none. When you looked at him and he felt love, he would wink his right eye and curl up his lip – this always made my heart sour. And oh how he loved the outdoors. He would spend countless hours in his window seat and loved it when the window could be open. Smelling all the smells. I have never seen him move so fast as when he was allowed to use the catio. He would run to the entrance door and dart out as if to announce himself to Mother Nature. He would spend hours sitting in the sun and rolling in the dirt. The only thing he loved more than the outdoors was his evening snuggles with his mom in the crook of her elbow with his head nestled in her neck. This was his heaven on earth. He never met a scratching “dish” or cat nip cigar he didn’t like! He had a heart of gold and was brought into his mama’s life with a purpose that he fulfilled each and every day – with everything he had.
Smudge, you have taken a bit of my heart with you. You were supposed to enjoy so many more Balcony Blanket times with your mama and feel that Icelandic air! Thank you for choosing me to care for you when your mama was away. Thank you for all the laughs, snuggles, conversations and wink of an eye you gave me. You will never be forgotten and with each day, I will think of you. Now go and run to the pastures of sun and warmth. Enjoy endless rolls in the dirt, catnip ci**rs and sunsets! It brings me comfort knowing you will be there to greet the stray/feral souls (those that don’t have humans to wait for) as they approach the Rainbow Bridge with your compassionate heart, kindness and gentleness you gave all you met here. I like to believe that is why you had to go – you were needed to help lost souls. I will whisper your name in the breeze. I love you Smudge Boy – infinity times 100. My heart is broken. 💔💔💔
