Bijou Saar Richardson, Aug 1998-3 February 2011

Born in Beverly Hills, Michigan around August, 1998, Bijou was found and rescued with her sibling by a local veterinarian. She was given as a gift from a Mr. Gordon Rutkowski of Warren, MI, in October 1998. It was supposed to be a surprise, but her tiny mew through the phone gave it away. And she was as big as her meow. Being able to fit ones hand around her rib cage, she was a tiny little fighter, able to crawl up pant legs in a single bound. She would then sit on the person's shoulder like a purring parrot.

She also had a love of all things plastic, from cheese paper to grocery bags. She also loved to eat plants and mashed potatoes, the former she would then regurgitate onto the floor.

She lived in Ann Arbor, until 17 December 1999, when she was moved to Chicago. Along this trip, her owner locked her in a 1990 Grand Am while stopping at a Wendy's in Chesterton, IN, to use the facilities. All attempts to get Bijou to unlock the door failed. The local police were quick on the scene to rescue the unaware cat. The car never lost its heat.

Living in Chicago was pretty uneventful. Aside from drinking out of the sink and sitting in windows to enjoy the view of Fullerton Ave, there wasn't much excitement. She was visited by several cousin cats, including Mickey and Maui and Checkers. She survived her owner's bout with chicken pox. Snuggling up on the other side of the bed while her owner slept was the high point of her days. That and breaking into the catnip.

In May 2006, Bijou moved again, this time into an apartment with her new step-brother, Loki. Tension mounted as the two struggled to get along. New rules were put in place to prevent late night skirmishes. But she persevered and eventually came out of hiding.

Her last three years were lived out in a condo on the north side of Chicago. She enjoyed disappearing in the closet or on top of the cabinets to sleep. She also liked sleeping in the bathtub and drinking from the faucet. Diagnosed with kidney disease in March 2010, she lived her life to the fullest until the end. Always willing to warm a lap, no matter how small she was, always able to purr like the little fuzzy diesel engine she was, she was feisty little Bijou until her last day.

She is survived by her owner, Kim; Food Guy, Scott; and her step-brother, Loki. She has touched many lives throughout her travels, including her aunts Shannon, Kristin, and Annette; and cousins Bailey, Sadie, and Lucious. She is preceded in death by Checkers, Samantha, Montey, Micky, Maui, and Prancer.

You lived a good life, kid. You will be missed dearly.