My first distinct memory of Rambo is from the 7th Street house in Wyoming, when I was talking with Dad in the kitchen. Rambo was super friendly, he jumped onto a box in the laundry area so that I could pet him. He was your special kitten (Alex & Rob, you had named him), along with his younger brother Ross. Let's get the worst stuff out of the way... Later on, Dad was not doing well and would no longer care for them so put both cats out of the house. This was just terrible (it happened shortly after Rob began staying at Montgomery Ave full-time in the spring of 2014, and you guys worried about them constantly). Unfortunately we're not sure what happened to Ross, who had black fur. But Rambo was around the house, and Aunt Pam and a next-door neighbor Holly were feeding him. In the fall before it got really cold, we drove over to 7th Street to look for Rambo. On our 2nd attempt to find him, Rob you called his name and he came out of the bushes. I'll always remember this rescue mission, as you held Rambo in the car. So with help from Jim at Grooming Cottage, he got cleaned up. And after a brief socialization period he joined Tiger and Jean Luc, to establish our "tres gatos" household.
Rambo was, understandably, a bit neurotic after this horrendous experience. Upon arriving here, he was super focused on food, he always perked up and rushed to the kitchen upon hearing "Treats, Treats!". As he got sicker early this month, he was eating only treats and of course lost so much weight. He certainly loved tuna fish, which he got regularly this summer. Rambo consistently drank out of the toilet in the upstairs back bathroom, which was a big incentive for us to keep the bowl clean. Yuk! Plus, a few years ago he stopped using the litterbox to pee. Instead he peed in front of the litterbox - absolutely disgusting!! So we became good customers at Wallgreens buying underpads, which we cut to fit litter trays. Honestly, it's a relief not to be dealing with that problem any more. Rambo never had any interest in going back outside, though we enjoyed the screened-in porch upstairs, which is perfect for bird-watching and has warm sun spots.
Rambo was almost a "Kitler", sporting half a Hitler mustache. He liked me to occassionally pet his head, but that was it. He let both of you guys pick him up for cuddles, briefly. Rambo got along ok with Tiger, although Tiger intimidated him by following Rambo around - Steve called it a "low speed chase" - which ended with Rambo hiding, usually under my desk in the living room. He got on well with Jean Luc, they were good buddies particularly they enjoyed sleeping together on beds upstairs. He was annoyed when kitten Oren was adopted. Of course Oren had lots of energy and would jump on Rambo, which resulted in Steve yelling at Oren to "stop riding Rambo like a horsey!". Rambo would snarl, and escape troublesome Oren by climbing up on the dining room table (this didn't make me especially happy).
It was truly difficult last week for Rob and me to take him to Shoemaker Animal Hospital, where he was literally put to sleep. It was merciful and quick, and certainly the hardest thing we do for our pets. Alex, you came a couple days in a row to say goodbye to Rambo. And you know exactly how painful this is, since you and Aunt Pam took Jessie to the vet at the end of her life.
Steve is so attached to our kitties, as you know. He wrote his own post about Rambo on NCFE, it makes me cry every time I read it --> Requiem for Rambo . Steve would get Rambo to do "rollies" i.e., roll over, as you know. And he made up various names for Rambo:
- Rollie Kitty
- Rambi
- Rambi Pambi
- Rambolio
- The Great Rambolio
- Ramstone
- Ramshackle
Here are a couple song lyrics Steve adapted and often sang to Rambo.... To the tune of "Mandy" by Barry Manilow "Oh Rambi, well you came and you purred when I pet you. But they sent you away, oh Rambi." Also, to the tune of "Moonshadow" by Cat Stevens "I'm being followed by a ramshackle, ramshackle ramshackle."
At the end of this post are some pictures of our boy doing various Rambo things. And in loving memory of Rambo, here is Cat Stevens performing "Moonshadow".
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