Rusty's Story

"When I started this blog for Roxy, Barney & Haimish - Alexander wasn't even in the picture yet. There were other critters who were fortunate enough to come live with us as part of the family. I am going to tell Rusty's story and Holly's later."


Rusty when she fisrt arrived from The Big Marsh.

Rusty came to stay during the summer of 1976. As time goes by, one's memory is not as good as it used to be. I cannot remember why we were visiting Tom and Mary Huntley in The Big Marsh, and it really doesn't matter why. At one point Tom took Edie and me to see some kittens. There were 5 kittens, all being the same color and Rusty was the runt of the litter. We decided on the runt.

It was awhile since we had a cat living with us. We went through the early part of the 1970's without a cat as part of the family. And the trip to The Big Marsh that Sunday we really weren't thinking about another cat coming to stay. But after seeing the kittens, we picked one out and waited for the kitten to get a little older.

About two weeks later, the phone rang and it was Mary saying Tom was bringing the cat in and to meet him at the mall when he dropped Mary off. Mum and Mary worked together at the Met at the Mall, Mum was a cook and Mary was a waitress. The exact date of when Rusty came to stay is long gone into memory.

Dad and Rusty, Rusty was Dad's special cat.

Rusty would be a special cat who would become Dad's cat, even though it was Edie who adopted her. She was the first cat to be fixed and to have all her needles. She was also taken to the veterinary whenever she got sick. Our trip to Chateauguay for Christmas in 1976, she boarded at the Clinic and took over and brought joy to all who worked there.

Dad used to say Rusty was his $60.00 cat. She was terribly spoiled and wanted for nothing. She could go in and out whenever she wanted and if it rained and she got wet, Dad would grab one of Mum's clean towels and dry her off. If she wanted to go back out in the rain, she could go. Mum used to call Rusty Blossom as she would come in with the smell of Strawberry Blossom in the spring.

When we made our trip to British Columbia in 1980 to visit family, we boarded Rusty again at the Clinic. We weren't off the train 10 minutes getting home and Dad had someone drive him to the Clinic to pick up Rusty. She had to be home with us and not at the clinic a second longer.

Dad used to be up at the first ray of light in the morning. Rusty would be up right behind him. While he made his breakfast he would be feeding Rusty and talking to her. I swear she would talk back and answer him. Rusty also brought home gifts for Dad and would leave them on the doorstep. She would bring home a mouse she caught and leave it for him. After my Dad died, I think a part of Rusty died also as things would never be the same.

Rusty having a break on the Neighbours Picnic Table.

Rusty lived with us for 13 years. She was good company and after my Dad died, she became Mum's cat. After Dad was gone, Rusty didn't get her way as often as she once did. She would go out and in whenever she wanted and if it rained, Rusty still expected to be dried off if she was wet. She did get dried off, but didn't get the chance to get back out until after the rain stopped.

Rusty was a type of cat who had to like you before she would even entertain the thought of coming by to visit. Rusty was also the type of cat who hated to be made to do something when she didn't want to. One things she did like to do was sit in a window and look out. She loved summer and sitting in the window getting the fresh breeze she could smell things in the air.

Rusty enjoying the Summer Breeze

Rusty had a good life and had the house to herself until Mum adopted a dog which we named Holly. Rusty never did accept Holly and she resented having to share the house. In her later years she would sleep in one chair and catch the warm rays of the sun coming though the kitchen door.

In 1989 after Mum died, I tried to keep things going and took care of both Rusty and Holly, but needed to get away for awhile and planned on moving to Halifax. Rusty was a country girl and wouldn't like living indoors all day. She was also getting older and old age was starting to creep up on her.

Rusty very much at home.

I decided the only thing to do was to keep her in the West River. She wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else, so on a warm Summer's day in 1989, she was put to rest under the tree she liked to watch. Dad had bird feeders in this one tree and Rusty liked to watch the birds come and feed. Dad had the feeders suspended from the branches in a certain way that Rusty couldn't get to them.

Rusty is now buried under the tree she used to watch over. She is also re-united with the one person who loved her most and they are together again sharing the early mornings and breakfast.

God Bless

"The Old Fart"

Remember - We are All God's Creatures, Lets Be Nice to Each Other.