This is Sophie the Sofa Loaf asleep on my shoulder last winter.
When we got up this morning it was a beautiful summers day, our routine was the same: I fed the cats, and prepared Sophie’s dish, but sadly it is still on the counter untouched, because Sophie died in the night last night.
Because it is summer I did not worry when she didn’t come for breakfast; we had our tea in bed and started to get ready to take the Welshies for their haircut. As Rich looked out of the window he saw Sophie lying in the road, just outside our house. He called her, and she didn’t move, and we knew, we knew that our little Nitty Nutty Nora had left us.
I ran out and there she was, with a little bright red blood coming from her nose onto the road. Her tongue was hanging out of the side of her mouth, as it often did when she was happy, but her eyes were open, and sightless. Rich came out and lifted her up so gently, my big gentle husband had tears in his eyes, he loved the pretty little cat who had such a difficult life.
I wrote about Sophie last year when she nearly got run over, and then lost in a derelict house in her panic, you can read about it Here
As I have written before Sophie was a French feral cat, and someone before us had adopted her, prevented kittens and loved her. But somehow Sophie ended up alone, someone found her, and they handed her over to Rich when we moved here.
We believe that she may have been loved by an elderly French person and when they died she was just put out into the wilds to fend for herself.
At first she was a difficult cat, but over the years she knew we would not hurt her, she loved being warm, and she loved us.
One of my favourite things to say to her was ‘are you happy Loaf?’ When she stretched out like this, without a care in the world.
More than anyone she loved her Dad, she would ride around the garden on his shoulders, she would run to greet his van when he come home, and she would hug him, tightly.
Sophie had always had a cough, we asked the vet when she first came to live with us and they did not know what was causing it. We knew it could be anything so we decided to make her comfortable and give her a good life and love. We didn’t know what had happened to her in her life, and we didn’t know how long she would live so we gave her lots of love; and what a difference that love made: She went from a cat who would claw you, to a cat that would let you stroke her and rub her belly; I said to her only the other day ‘what a difference love makes Sophie, look at you now’. And now she has gone, and we are heartbroken.
No more Sophie climbing into bed with us at every opportunity in the winter, no more Sophie meowing as she runs down the kitchen, and tonight she won’t be lying on the garden table with us trying to knock our wine over.
No more Sophie eating my chicken sandwiches, as she did last Thursday! Or taking on the Welshies (she was fearless).
No more shoulder cuddles.
This little cat, who serendipity sent our way, made a bigger impact on our lives than we ever thought, Rich is bereft. I have cried all morning, even in the shops! Being me I have looked up the circumstances of her death (there were no signs of trauma and it happened in the night, we live in a dead end road and no cars have been here in that time), and taking into account her cough, the small amount of blood and that she didn’t eat last night (not like Loafy) I believe she died from a heart attack.
We have buried her in the garden, near to where we sit, and planted a rambling rose on top of her. It seemed fitting that Sophie will make the flowers grow, and they will ramble freely just as she has.
I have found myself singing this to her, because she is no longer in pain, and she will make the flowers grow.
Don’t you fret, M’sieur Marius
I don’t feel any pain
A little fall of rain
Can hardly hurt me now
You’re here, that’s all I need to know
And you will keep me safe
And you will keep me close
And rain will make the flowers grow.
‘A little drop of rain’. From Les Mis
I like to think that the person who had before, was waiting to greet her and take her home. We were just her guardians for a short time.
There will be more tears, for the little French rescue cat; poor Rich, it’s his birthday on Monday.
Farewell my nutty little cat, I am glad you had four years of happiness and love. We will miss you so. But I know if you could you would tell us this.
We will miss you just the same.
❤️
Mummy and daddy.
Rosie’sFrenchAdventuresandIrish Shenanigans.com 
Am in tears reading this. Sophie loaf was so special and so loved. Sending you both big hugs ❤️😢
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Read this to Rich, we knew you would react, he has tears in his eyes. ❤️
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Oh, bless you both for having taken her in and letting her finish her life with so much love. They all have their distinct personalities and gifts. One can never replace another. What a special little love she must have been. Take consolation in knowing how happy you made her last years.
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I do my friend, I just feel so sad, she never seemed to get a break. But as I said to someone else perhaps life wanted her to find peace, love and contentment before she went to the bridge. It just seems so quiet here without her. ❤️
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So very sorry. You gave her a wonderful life, find comfort in that… xoxo Dolly
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Thanks Dolly, we are, but have decided that today is her day, start again without her tomorrow. Thank you my friend. ❤️❤️
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Oh Mois, I don’t know what to say she was such a lovely little cat. I still remember the first time I met her and taking her to your new home in the cardboard box on my lap. Sleep well my pretty little girl ❤️
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Thanks Mary, we were just giggling how she shit in the box on your lap. We knew you always had a soft spot for her. Definitely think it was a heart attack, or haemorrhage. It seems so strange sitting here without her being a pain in the arse! Down to 3 cats now 😢😢
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I’m so sorry.
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Thank you Anna, we find ourselves humming the tune from les mis. We kept her safe, we kept her warm, nothing can hurt her now and she will make the flowers grow. ❤️
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I’m so sorry for your loss. You and Rich gave Sophie a good and loving home in her final years. I hope that brings you some comfort in the coming days.
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Thank you it does, we just feel immensely sad, and the house seems very quiet, she was such a nutty Nora. ❤️
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We have six cats. The loss of any of them would be heart-breaking. You did all you could for Loafy.
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Thank you, I know we die, I just feel an overwhelming sense of sadness for the little cat that never seemed to get a break. She lived with us and was happy and then she died. Perhaps that’s what life wanted her to find peace and love. I like to think she is now with the person who loved her before. I think they died, and someone must have loved her before us because she loved a cuddle. ❤️
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I’m so sorry for your loss. It has been one year since we lost our beautiful green-eyed Chloe. She was the master of the house and I still feel like I see her sometimes, sitting on her favorite ottoman, or peering at me from around a corner. I miss her every single day, but the memories are precious. Much love. xo
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Thank you, weirdly last night the dog snapped at something at her food bowl, but there was nothing there. Lofa did like to steal her food! I think perhaps she’s coming back for a visit. ❤️
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[…] I am going to enjoy this Indian summer, my H, my cats (Sophie the sofa loaf taught me that), my beautiful dogs, my flowers with their new found lease of […]
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You made me fall in love with your Sophie cat. (Is that why I have tears in my eyes now?) What a sweet, wonderful tribute. You have a beautiful soul and I believe that you will see her again someday.
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Thank you, of that we have no doubt, we still hear her even today. She was our nitty nutty Nora. ❤️
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[…] Sophie died suddenly in July we took her in for four years she had a difficult life but for the last years of her life she was loved, more than ever before. RD still misses her riding on his shoulder as works in the […]
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