Rest in peace Victoria and Katmandu

It is unusual to lose two cats in one day, and yet that is exactly what happened today - Victoria left for the Rainbow Bridge and Katmandu followed just a few hours later. The two cats were nothing alike in personality but in the last week had become very close, often napping together.

Victoria came to Sanctuary House years ago as a kitten with her sister Veronica - they had been found huddled together in a rainstorm and were completely devoted to each other. They liked other cats - people, not so much. Later in life, each developed her own circle of cat friends, but both remained distant and rejected any idea of being held or petted. [Veronica is still very much with us, managing to ignore me completely!] Victoria was quiet, mysterious, always thinking her own thoughts and keeping them to herself.

Katmandu, on the other paw, loved other cats and people! He lost an eye early in life but didn't let that stop him for a moment. He loved to run and jump and climb. He, too, had come to Sanctuary House as a kitten, but by the time he was grown up, he had become a definite ring-leader. He was the only cat (so far!) to jump onto my head, to snatch my glasses and toss them across the room, and to insist on having his chosen seat on the climbing tower. The other cats loved him and put up with all of his antics, usually better than I did. He wanted to be held and petted, to be the center of attention - and if there was no attention he'd manage to stir up some!

Rest in peace, sweet kitties - we'll see you at the Bridge.