About a boy

We hadn't met Inigo before we decided he'd join our family, he came from a breeder in Auckland.

We'd looked at a lot of pictures of Ragdolls online at various breeders, and we knew he was the right boy for us the moment we saw him. He was such a sweet kitten - his eyes were like the sky, and the little patch of white on his nose... we were hooked.

Who can resist this face?

We spoke to his breeder quite a bit on the phone before he came, nervous first time parents and all... when we first asked what he was like her response was that he was a lovely boy, and he 'made best friends with everyone he met'.

He flew out here from Auckland, and when he arrived the flight attendant commented that he saw a lot of cats fly in, but that Inigo was the sweetest boy he'd ever seen - he didn't mew at all.

Young Inigo displays a talent for mixing tunes

Young Inigo was such a sweet and sunny boy. We kept him in one room at first, but he wanted none of that - he wanted to roam around and take over the whole house!

He loved to be loved. For the first few weeks Rumbledad brought his cat tower in every night (and this is a big, heavy tower!) so that he'd be comfy and watch over us. Rumbledad would then bring his tower back out to the lounge for the day, so Inigo could sit in the sun. This went on for almost a month, poor Rumbledad! But he wanted Inigo to be happy, and he never complained once.

Inigo on his beloved cat tower

Rumbledad and I very rarely fight, but we had one big one once when Inigo was about one and a half ( I honestly can't for the life of me recall what the fight was about) I remember how the fight finished -  Inigo RAN in between us and mewed his little heart out - I swear he was saying 'don't fight! don't fight!' as he looked up at us with such worried eyes. It's impossible to stay cross  when you're confronted with such cuteness!.

As he got older, it was really clear that he needed a friend. Whenever we left for work, he'd cry at the door for us... you could hear him in the hall and right up to the elevators! And so we got him a brother.

Less than an hour after they met they're best pals

Rumbles and Inigo were fast friends, within hours little Rumbles had demanded to be let out of the room we'd kept him in so he could see what was outside the door. If we were at all nervous that Inigo wouldn't like his new brother that was very quickly put aside - they were playing in their cat tunnel almost immediately.

Rumbles adored his big brother. Anything Inigo did, Rumbles did too. I laughed so hard the first time I saw Rumbles the Maine Coon do the 'Ragdoll flop'

Me and big brother, we do STUFF!

One of Inigo's very favorite things? Kisses on his head. He purred like a car motor if you leaned in and kissed his head... Rumbles figured this out early, and would wash his head whenever he wanted a cuddle with his brother.

If kisses on his head were number one, number two was defiantly cuddles. Whenever I was sick, or sad... he just knew. He'd curl up beside me, with his head on my pillow, and I'd cuddle him like he was a teddy bear.

I love Thwack cuddles!

Rumbledad and Inigo had a special bond. When Rumbledad was on his computer in the spare room, he'd jump on his lap and the two of them would have 'boy time' The spare room became 'The Boy Room'.

When Rumbledad plays on his computer, I keep warm next to
him and the heater!

Inigo has made me so happy every single day since he came here. Four years of unconditional love and gentleness.

He'll be going to the bridge tomorrow at four. His heart, the biggest one I've ever seen on anyone human or animal, has tried so hard to keep beating for us... but he can't do it any more. He's developed a secondary condition with his liver, and it's time to let him go.

The kitty cardiologist will help him to the bridge, Inigo loves her and she him - we asked if she could please do it. I'll be taking Thwack to go with him and to be cremated with him so he won't be alone.

Thank you all for your kindness and support and for letting us share his life with you.