Five years ago, I was the proud owner of my Junglebob cat, Rambo. I remember going to get him as I flew him to Cleveland from Florida. On our introduction in the car, he bit me and my finger bled. I knew from that moment on, he was going to be a wild man. From that point in time, Rambo lived up to that expectation. He would open doors, get on our roof, knock out screens, break lamps, chew things to death, eat my kids toys, pant like a dog, drool when he got overly excited, chase golfballs, sled ride with my children and most of all he used to curl up in my lap like a baby. I made a mistake as a pet owner of letting Rambo and his best friend, Yoshi to go outside. Once Rambo, got a taste of the outside, that is the only place he wanted to be. He used to climb so high up in trees and run like a cheetah through our field.
He was like Houdini breaking out of his harness or any other mechanism I tried to keep him safe. He started to go to the bathroom in our house by the doors. My husband said we needed to get rid of him as he was ruining our house and cost us lots of money but I could not part with Rambo. I had to make this work. My husband built an outdoor cat enclosure with an insulated house that was big enough for two people.
We had logs for him to climb on and bails of hay. People who drove by our house would often ask if we were housing a gorilla as it looked like something from the zoo. Our Bengal cat and Rambo’s best friend, Yoshi would stay out there together. When it would get too cold, they would come in the house or just so we could spend time with them. When we were in the yard, I would let them out to roam. I know most people would say I was stupid for letting them out but I could not just pen these cats up their whole life. It was not until recently that I was having an afternoon get together at my house when I told my daughter to let the cats out as it was the last day of decent weather in Ohio since
the forecast was calling for snow.
I asked my little girl if she let them out and she said yes. She said Yoshi ran out but Rambo just kind of sat there. I remember thinking that was odd but did not think much of it. People began to show up at my house and with two young kids, my house was very hectic that day. I went outside a couple time to call Rambo in so my friends who never met him could meet him and he was no where to be found. Again, did not think anything of it. Yoshi wandered in.
Everyone left and still no Rambo. I searched and searched for him, checking his house, the shed, all the other areas where he went. I walked the field for hours, I put out 30 fliers in local country mailboxes. Still no sign of Rambo. Wednesday morning, I was going into work a little bit later and decided to put Yoshi back out to potentially have his scent call Rambo back in if he was lost. I wanted to check out the house and make sure no raccoons got in the house
as we left the enclosure door open.
While walking to his house, I noticed that the igloo where I housed the litter box for Yoshi that Rambo barely ever went in, was my wild little boy. Rambo looked as if he was sleeping buried in the back of the igloo but to my astonishment was dead. I can seriously say without hesitation that this was one of the worst days of my life. I held Rambo and sobbed telling him how sorry I was. We buried him in two baby blankets and I held him for quite a while before I put him in the ground.
Today, I sit here and feel so empty and sad inside. Rambo was a huge part of my daily routine and life. I did everything to make his life comfortable considering we hit road blocks on his wild nature throughout our time. He followed me around always. I do not regret giving him what he wanted in life and the chance to roam and be wild. I know deep in my heart if it came down to life or death, that little guy would have taken a day of running free verses a
10 year life of just living in a house.
That is just how he was. As the obnoxious rambunctious dog Marley in the story Marley and Me, Rambo was my Marley. He was full of mischief but full of life. It makes me feel better to write this. I have been through major losses of relatives in my life and my heart is as shattered with my Rambo as before.
I believe he is in a wonderful place now and running free. If he could talk, he could never say that he was not loved. We will love you forever Rambo and I will never forget you. Tears and hugs to our “bobo” as my little Allie would say and “rainbow” as my other daughter Ashley would call him. May you rest in peace little guy!
Fly with the angels, we love you Rambo!
| Judi Kizzen |