I just heard about this from my friend, who was his slave, that Igor, Frank's nephew, had to go on his last trip last summer.

Igor was a wonderful, fearless, loving cat who was friendly towards everyone - maybe overly so at times. He was a very dominant cat, and his roommate, Laura, was quite a timid and shy lady (who has come out of her shell now that Igor is gone). Igor was born to my sister's cat, Matilda, as her only kitten. Since she had milk enough to go around, Laura was taken from another litter and put in with her, and Matilda adopted Laura right away, so Igor and Laura became litter mates. They were then adopted by my friend. My sister went out to the island, taking Matilda with her, and left the kittens in her apartment. I went there and spent the night. Typically, Igor was all over me when I came in the door, but Laura was nowhere to be seen. After being there for half an hour, I discovered a bump on the bed, and there was Laura, hiding under the covers. The next day, my friend came to fetch them and took them home.

Igor was sleek and black, with a neat white cross on his chest. He was always in your face. He had no shame and no fear. He would pick food out of his slave's mouth, if she was eating something that he wanted. When you went to visit, the minute you came in the door, he would climb up in your lap, before you were even sitting down. He was the most forward cat I have ever known, and a very charming chap at that.

Last summer, Igor's slave knew there was something wrong with Igor, the way we all know when there is something wrong with the furry ones. She took him to a vet, who ran all kinds of tests, and then said there was nothing wrong with him. After arguing with the vet for some time, she finally took Igor to another vet, who declared that one of his kidneys had failed completely, and the other one was going fast. My friend had to make the toughest decision of all, but by this time, Igor was in so much pain, it was evident that he would have to be given the ultimate gift. Though he had started shunning everybody else, he clung to my friend for comfort. When her three little girls has gone to sleep at night, he would crawl up in her lap after keeping away for the whole day. He had gotten so sick that he hurt every time anyone touched him.

The last day of his life, Igor was let out into their little garden, where he was happy to lay around in the sun. The following day he was taken for his last ride.

This extraordinary cat will be missed so much, by his family and by everyone who knew him. Rest in peace, Igor.

In Loving Memory of Igor

Copyright © Marina Kurten
December 21, 2002