Roo. She was 5 1/2. She was born with radial hypoplasia, her radius bone didn't grow in her forelimbs. When she would walk on all fours, her front end was way lower than her back end. Because her head was so low to the ground, she would stand on her back legs like a kangaroo so she could see better. Hence the name. It was very cute. :) She also was born with tetrology of fallot. this is a heart condition with four different things wrong with her heart. The vets told me they had never seen a cat with TOF, and dogs with it usually die within the first year. She was very small, about 6 lbs. I got her when she was 6 months old. My aunt had told me about a little "deformed" kitten on this farm. I went and before I saw her legs, I just saw this teeny tiny little calico kitten. She was about half the size of the other kittens her age. She came right up to me, and rolled over on her back. This adorable habit was something she did her whole life. Whenever she was happy, she would tilt her head to the side, and then flop over on her back. She loved belly rubs. Her other favorite thing was eating. Anything. Any time she heard me getting some food, she would come over and beg. She had this little tiny voice, she kind of sounded like a squeaky toy. She was so persistant about getting my food. She was so tiny, she could worm her way onto my lap, no matter how I tried to block her from my plate. And of course she was so adorable, I always gave her a taste of what I was having. Her favorite things were milk and dry cereal, particularly Cheerios. She loved any kind of carbs, just like her mommy. :) She was just a mellow, sweet cat. Even her last couple of days, when she was in the hospital, the vets said she was rolling on her back looking for attention. She loved to curl up beside me on the couch or lay under the covers with me when I slept. She would lay right up against my stomach and purr me to sleep. She has a sister, a cat named Riley. Roo is the only cat Riley has ever tolerated. Riley and Roo would both stand on their hind legs and "box" with each other. OF course, Roo was at a distinct disadvantage b/c of her short arms. Roo won everyone over, even people who say they don't like cats liked Roo. You just couldn't help it. When I saw her on this farm, I had been planning on getting a male cat, b/c I thought Riley would tolerate a male better. i left the farm that day, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. I ended up calling that night and asking if I could keep her. The lady was more than happy to get rid of her. I went the next day to get her with my mom. I didn't have the heart to put her in a cat carrier, so I had her sit on my mom's lap. She wouldn't stay there though. She kept crying and trying to get to me. She knew I was her mommy right away. When we got back to my mom's I fed her and bathed her. After that she pretty much slept for about three days straight. It was like she knew she could finally relax. She had to be touching me all the time for the first couple of days. After about a week and a half, she pounced on Riley. Riley had never really played with another cat before, and she wasn't really fond of other cats. Roo hid behind a box, and jumped out at Riley. Riley stared at her for about 30 seconds, and then they started chasing each other and playing. That was all it took for them to become friends. They never had a fight after that day, they were just fine together. A few days before Roo passed, she started having trouble breathing. I took her to the vets and they put her on oxygen. She was stable for a few days, but they couldn't take her off oxygen for more than a few seconds. Her last day, I asked them to wait until I got there to take her out. I took her out of the O2, and she did pretty well for about 30 min. I got to hold her and cuddle with her. I think she was trying really hard to be ok, but then after about 30 min, she started having trouble breathing again. They put the O2 back on her, but it wasn't helping. I made the decision to have her put to sleep. I think she was letting me know she was done, b/c she started hissing and freaking out all of the sudden when she had just been very lethargic. She never hissed, even at the vets. It ws very hard, but I think I made the right decision. I think she was letting me know she was ready to go. She died on 11/12. The next day I was looking on pet loss websites, and I found you. I also found the rainbow bridge poem which I had never heard before. I was having a really hard time, and the chat room helped. I had really been hoping that I would get some sort of sign that I did the right thing and that Roo was happy. The day after I found the bridge poem, my 5 yo niece drew a pic of me and roo. Roo had a rainbow over her head. I took that as my sign. :) That really helped, it brought me a lot of comfort. I realize it could just be a coincidence, but I had asked for a sign, and I got one. Roo, aka boo boo, lu lu, bear face, baby bear; I miss you so much. Every time I sit down on the couch or have something to eat, I look around for you. I keep expecting to hear your squeaky little voice, or see you waddling out of my bedroom looking for a snack. Every time I would take you to the vet's and they would ask me how you were doing, if you still had an appetite, I had to laugh. you definitely always had an appetite. I think Riley really misses you too. She has been very needy since you haven't been around. I miss you so much, it's so hard for me to believe you aren't here any more. I keep picturing in my head how you would flop over on your back looking for a belly rub. You were such a tough little girl. The vets kept saying they had never seen a cat do as well as you with such a bad heart. I just don't think it ever occurred to you that you shouldn't feel good. I think you were the happiest cat I ever met. I really hope I did the right thing for you, Roo. I love and miss you so much, and I'm so sorry you aren't here anymore. I knew you wouldn't be here forever, but I kept hoping you would be anyway. I am so happy that I had you for as long as I did. You brought me as much, if not more, comfort than I brought you.