The LaPerm Cat Club
Special Feature

Each month this page will feature a breeder or owner of a LaPerm Cat or variant.

Rufus’s Tale

 As told to us by Erica Ritch.

In April 2006 we decided to go for a long weekend to our caravan in Kenmore, Loch Tay. The weather was to be beautiful and I was looking forward to some family time. We also invited my mother-in-law, Pat, as it was to be a year since Jim had passed away and knowing that this would be a difficult time as I had lost my father the previous year, I was going to be there as a listening and comforting ear.

We arrived on the Friday tea time and after everyone was fed and settled we had an early night. As Pat was staying in the caravan too we decided to buy a large cage for the cats and for the first time ever they would be sleeping in the awning with the children. In the middle of the night I felt the tiny paws of Bijou, our Devon Rex, walk over me, crying out, and for a second I thought that’s fine she has come for a cuddle. Then the awful realization dawned on me… Where was Rufus, as they were both outside? I got up straight away waking Alan in the process telling that she had escaped and we had to find Rufus. No sign of him in the caravan or the awning. Panic set in and after waking the kids to help find him I got dressed, throwing my clothes on and out I went into the darkness of the night. Torch in hand I thought he would not be far and I would catch his eyes in the light. It was not to be. I stayed up until first light and then let everyone on the camp site know he was missing. Surely he could not be that far away.

Into the following night we went and I sat up all night outside the caravan shaking his biscuits and calling him. Tears were constant. Where oh where was my boy. Alan was upset and the kids were asking will he come back?

We had to let everyone know that he was lost so after using the local post office computer from pictures of him that we had on the lap top and the printer from the timeshare development we managed to print off 50 posters. Everyone was so kind and everyone was looking for our boy. My heart was breaking and the weekend which had been so well planned out to cheer up Pat had gone right out the window. I realized that I had hardly spoken to Pat and been worse than useless. Every time I came back to the caravan for something to eat and drink I had been in tears. Although Pat had said that it was ok and not to worry I felt guilty about letting her down too.

We had to leave on the Monday morning without Rufus and get back home but it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  I drove all the way with tears in my eyes and Alan and the kids upset to.

The weeks went by with advertising in the local paper and radio. The local primary school used Rufus as a project and all the kids over about 50 miles or rural Scotland were looking for him to.

A few sightings were made but when driving the 1hr to get there we met every single cat on the whole of Loch Tay, but not Rufus.

6 weeks went by and Bijou the girl that was left, was pining for her pal at the door every day. She just sat there waiting …….

We came to the hard decision that we had to get another companion for her and went back to Kate to get another LaPerm. Would she let me or trust me again with another one of her babies? Of course she would. It could happen to anyone and from the phone calls and kind e-mails that we received ….it did. Never give up hope Elizabeth said. And I never did.

I knew he was there somewhere… I just had to be patient and find him. Every weekend we went back up looking for Rufus and every weekend we came home empty handed. How sad the house was with our boy not home with us. Part of me was missing and I am sure any cat owner will know what that felt like even when you manage to misplace one!

However, the day after the Northern Counties show, which had been a wonderful day for my Mum and Kate, I had a phone call from Lady Duncan-Miller who said; “my man has your cat”

Rufus had been found and caught in one of the many cat traps that we had placed around where we thought he might be. This was in an area around the other side of the Loch and right beside a fish farm too.

I drove like a maniac with tears in my eyes all the way. Hope, despair and the thought that maybe it wasn’t him, leapt frantically through my mind.

I arrived pleading with Angus and his wife “please tell me it’s him!”

He drew back the covers of the cat trap and with one shout of Rufus he was there in the cage crying for me like a baby.

Oh joy! Tears from everyone and I must have said thank you about a million times. It was him. He had been missing for over 4 months having a great time on holiday and driving us all mad! He stank of fish of course and everything else but I didn’t care. He was back with me and I felt content and complete.

I found out later, when I thanked everyone with flowers and a wee drop of the good stuff, that the only reason that he was alive and not shot by Angus the game keeper, was that he saw his picture on a poster at the local Post Office, 6 miles away.

How lucky and blessed was I. Rufus cried so much that he had no voice when we got back home. After a few days of tests and rest and tlc we then introduced him back to the other two. Bijou was indignant- where have you been??? And Keiller looked at him like he was a new big brother. We are very lucky that they get on so well but we did it carefully with Rufus being introduced slowly. Now they are bestest buddies and the family is whole.

Alan is happy that he has his boy back and the kids are busy giving him 4 months of kisses and cuddles and Pat is delighted too.

Me… I have never been happier and would say to anyone in a similar situation… do not give up. I knew he was alive; I just had to find him.

He will be back showing hopefully this year doing his bit for the breed and for Scotland and did really well in the voting for LaPerm Cat of the Year.

I wish to Thank everyone for caring.

Coming Soon:

The history of Cloudborn
A week in the life of a Show Cat

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