Rest in Peace, Sweet and Sassy Louie
He was an engineer – always thinking, thinking, thinking with his ingenious cat brain.
He was an observer – always watching, watching, watching to see what his next move would be.
He was feisty and mischievous – always looking, looking, looking to see what “trouble” he could get into. He would have said it was always good trouble!
The countertop? Off limits according to mom Jeannette and dad Don! Not to Louie, though. He’d boldly leap right up – with mom and dad in the same room, for heaven’s sake — and help himself to anything yummy left behind.
The glass coffee table in the family room? Off limits according to mom and dad! Not to Louie, though. When mom and dad were away and the pet-sitter was in charge, he’d plop himself down smack dab in the middle as if thumbing his nose and saying, “Hah! Look at me. She lets me lie here, mom and dad.” And yes, the pet-sitter did let him lie there, erasing all traces of cat hair and pawprints before mom and dad returned!
But once Louie was very bold and vaulted onto that coffee table when mom and dad were sitting right there! He wanted to taste the lemon cake!
He also developed a penchant for toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper! It had to be taken off its roller and hidden away or Louie would eat it.
Louie was a “foodie” through and through.
Often right before meal preparations he would reach up with both paws on your legs as if to say, “I’m here! Hurry up!” He also did that when he wanted to be lifted into dad’s arms too.
Meals were devoured and bowls polished clean. He often tried to swipe some of brother Andy’s meals too. So, humans had to serve as referees for mealtimes. But Louie was fast! Before you knew it, he’d swooped in and snatched a mouthful from Andy’s bowl.
Louie also loved his treats. When they were tossed across the floor he’d reach out with a big paw and smack them down better than any NHL goaltender. He quickly learned how to use his puzzle toy, opening compartments to find the treats hidden inside. Once, when both boys were offered a piece of freeze-dried chicken Louie smacked Andy on the head in an attempt to get both pieces. So much for brotherly love!
But Louie did love his brother. Very much. He was a staunch defender of Andy and where one was the other often could be found. They often curled up together to sleep, nestled like two spoons. And they would while away the hours grooming each other as if to say with each gentle stroke of the tongue on the other’s head, “I’m here, brother. I’ve got your back. It’s all good.”
When the two Maine Coon mix siblings were adopted by Don and Jeannette on August 8, 2019,at the age of 13 it didn’t take long for Louie to claim Don as his own and Andy to make it clear Jeannette was “his” person. The brothers came to Golden Oldies Cat Rescue in July 2019 when their family could no longer care for them.
Louie and Andy bonded deeply with their new humans. The love they had for each other and their human subjects was obvious and deep. The little rascals were family!
The boys ruled their new kingdom and established favorite spots for playing, sleeping, eating,and being petted.
They discovered which windows had sunshine at what hours and basked in the warm rays.
Louie and Andy were gifted five cloth fish of varying sizes which they loved and prized above all other toys. When either of their human subjects left the house, the fish were deposited in places they identified for that human. Sometimes that was even in the water bowl!
The brothers quickly won the hearts of their human mom and dad and everyone who met them.They greeted and entertained house guests, and if you arrived and opened the front door just a crack from the outside the first thing you often saw was a little pink nose and a pair of emerald eyes peering at you, It was Louie!
Louie earned the nickname Crab Louie in honor of his feistiness, and Andy was bestowed the moniker Andy Pants for his svelte walking style and fluffy pantaloons.
As the years unfolded and the memories added up, both boys began to show small signs of aging. They were slower to get up. Slower to move. Slower to jump. Louie’s smackdown of tossed treats wasn’t quite as quick.
But they both maintained good health until Louie was diagnosed with kidney failure on May 29, 2025. Sadly, there was no path to overcome the diagnosis.
Louie crossed the Rainbow Bridge May 31, 2025.
Andy, Jeannette, and Don feel the loss of Louie deeply.
Now there is just one bowl to fill. One soft kitty to cuddle. One soothing purr.
And Don’s lap has lost its companion!
RIP Little Louie!
Don, Jeannette and Margaret
