I can’t believe that Thursday will mark six years since I had to let Ruby go. Some days, it seems like it was just yesterday. Losing a cat is always hard, but it can be especially difficult when it happens during the holidays. Buckley died the day after Thanksgiving in 2008, and Thanksgiving has always been bittersweet since then.
Memories help. Ruby loved Christmas, so I thought I’d share some of my Ruby Christmas memories with you today.
Every Christmas Eve, I gave the girls a little taste of (non-alcoholic) eggnogg. Of course, that meant that the rest of the holiday season, I had to fight them off whenever I had a glass!
This photo is from Ruby’s first Christmas. I love the expression on her little face. “Are all of these for me, Mom?”
She was always a big help when it came to wrapping presents.
This is one of my favorite Christmas photos of the girls together. And in case you’re wondering, neither of them ever showed any interest in the tree beyond occasionally batting at some of the ornaments close to the dining cabinet.
Of course the girls got showered with gifts every Christmas. Most years, the wrapping was far more interesting than what was in the packages, but one year, I struck gold. They both loved the Cat’s Meow toy*. They played with it for a long time after it came out of the box, and for hours and hours in the days and weeks that followed. The video quality is poor since I didn’t have a great camera back then, but it still warms my heart.
This post was first published in 2021 and has been updated.
*Purrs of Wisdom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.
I never thought to give my cats eggnog. And this is the season and I drink lots of it.
So let Allegra indulge in the egg nog
Silvia
Well, it’s probably not great for cats, but a few licks never did any harm to my girls 🙂
I always enjoy a Ruby flashback, she had so much personality packed in that wee body. Thank you for continuing to share her ❤️
It’s comforting to me that her memory lives on for others, too.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories!
I love sharing Ruby memories!
Wonderful Christmas ⬛ pictures of the girls, and their gifts.
Those are happy memories. Have nice holiday season, Ingrid & Allegra. Ruby will be there too.
Milo, Hamish, Nan
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, too, Nan, Milo and Hamish!
It sure doesn’t feel like 6 years has passed. Time is going fast. I love reading your memories about Ruby. I know how much you miss.
I love sharing my Ruby memories. I know, hard to believe it’s been 6 years.
I love watching the videos of the girls. Thank you for sharing memories of Ruby they bring back memories of Pandora and Salem (18 and 20 years old) who both pasted in 2021.
I’m glad this helped bring back memories of your Pandora and Salem, Sandra.
Oh, yes, we can’t forget our Ruby and the Christmas tree; that reminds cat lovers everywhere of their own ‘now passed on babies’. Remember everyone, but don’t cry too much and forget to prepare for this Christmas of 2021. Sometimes memories take us too far back and we don’t feel like coming back to the present.
Beautiful Ruby. Sure miss seeing her. I am having a hard time with losing Tubby and Mitzi. Christmas will not be the same this year.
I’m so sorry, Sue. I’m sending hugs!
Thank you
The feline love of my life, Boo, lived with me for 13 years. He started life feral and I spent a year making friends with him so that he could feel comfortable coming into the kitchen to eat when the weather got cold and wet. From the kitchen he ran around the house checking it out, then coming back to the kitchen where he got comfortable enough to sleep on the makeshift bed of a folded beach towel. You guessed it, he gradually moved in. He always had to have a way to go out, and I promised him I would never lock him in, so I had to put a catflap door for him in the kitchen door. …I always felt he was a very special friend. He had asthma and the only way we could control it was with daily oral prednisone. He developed congestive heart failure, but he made it to 15-16 years old and died on my (our) bed the week end after Thanksgiving. I was grateful to be able to be with him, but sorry the vet wasn’t available to give me anything to ease his last hours. Thanksgiving will always be colored with memories of Boo.
I’m so sorry, Cheri. Bob sure sounds like he was one of those soul cats.
Such a beautiful girl Ruby was. When I read one of your posts about her, I always end up crying. I can’t imagine being without my precious Tortie, Sophie. She napped on my lap this afternoon and she will cuddle by my side in bed tonight. Her nearness brings me such peace. Blessings to you, Ingrid. Hold Ruby close to your heart.
Thank you, Connie.
These are such beautiful memories. All of your cats won the “kitty lottery” when they found their forever home with you. Sharing heart and tears with you. Christmas–make that all holidays, in my opinion–can be so bittersweet. Hugs to you and Allegra
P.S. I just ordered the Cat’s Meow toy. It looks like great fun!
Thank you, Nancy. I hope your kitties enjoy the Cat’s Meow!
Thank you, Ingrid, and Merry Christmas to you and Allegra!
Sending you (((hugs)))))) I LOVE those photos! Thank you for sharing those special memories. Sending much love today and always!
Thank you, Caren, and right back at you!
Beautiful memories of a beautiful girl. I know how you feel, Ingrid. I lost my cats; momma back in May, and just two days after my birthday this month, my Hudson followed his mother. Both unexpected and rather sudden. I’m left with the two remaining littermates, a boy and a girl, both just twelve plus years. Thank you for posting these pics of Ruby.
So much loss in such a short time, I’m so sorry.
I lost my Juliette on Christmas day 4 years ago. You can only make the holiday better for yourself and Allegra by celebrating each other and remembering the good times of the past. Wishing you and Allegra a beautiful Christmas and Santa leaving a lot of toys for Allegra!
Theresa & Tasha
Allegra and I wish you a beautiful Christmas, too, Theresa.
It is the memories that keep them part of our life. Even when they have left us. The pictures are wonderful too. Allegra & Ruby had the best Mom!
You & Allegra have a Happy Holiday. Thank-you for sharing Ruby & Allegra with us.
Grayson, Milo, Hamish & me
Happy Holidays to you, too, Nancy.
I am happy Ruby left you with so many great memories to hold on to. She sure was a sweet and beautiful girl.
Aww, these were lovely memories. The holidays are hard sometimes, and having sad anniversaries makes them even more difficult.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Ruby. She was so lucky to have you as her special person, and she definitely knew that. She had a beautiful life with you and Allegra. May she rest in peace.