Dear Jude Friend,

Jude and I wish you a happy 2025 and hope it is a good year for you.

Jude’s little family keeps growing! The people who asked Tabby’s Place to take Jude’s brother, Gus (you will remember I talked about him last month), asked if we could take Gus’s sister, Gaia. We did take Gaia, and I brought her home as a forever foster, to be reunited with her brother.

Gaia has very similar medical issues to Gus and can’t do much for herself. She isn’t quite as affected as Gus by the CH (cerebellar hypoplasia), but she is still pretty wobbly. She also needs help going to the bathroom, eating, etc.

For the first few days, Gaia hissed at Jude and Gus and didn’t want to be friends. But she got over the stress of the change, and now she really likes Jude (and her brother).

Gaia will play with Gus and do the usual kitten things (very wobbly kitten things, but still kitten things), but she also likes how calm Jude is. I took these pictures of the three of them for you.

You are Jude’s friend, and supporter, and I need to tell you some sad news.

Jude is starting to decline, and it’s ripping my heart out. In the past few weeks, I have noticed a difference in several ways. She is more “neurological,” so she isn’t moving around much these days. She is also becoming muscle-wasted around her hip due to the lack of motion.

Her little hip bones are visible now, but her belly is still nice and round. The medical team said this is due to years of seizures, and the brain can only take so much. Jude was never expected to be with us long at all, and she has exceeded all the specialists’ expectations.

She needs my help to eat now, or she will fall into her food. I pad around her with towels while she eats, to support her. She doesn’t actually like me holding her, and she’ll growl at me.  But, she likes the towel support. She is eating really well, as always, and is still enjoying her food very much.

There is literally nothing else medically we can do for Jude, because we are already doing everything possible.  But she is not done yet, and we know our little Jude is a fighter.

There are still many things she enjoys, such as eating, snuggling in a sunbeam for a nap, and receiving a nice chin scratch (when she’s in the mood).

As long as she is still enjoying life, and wanting to fight, I will be right there alongside her. I am sorry for the sad news, but I want you to know what is going on. You have stood by Jude, supported her, and made it possible for her to have everything she needs.

Jude has been enjoying being “tucked in” at night. I started covering her with a blanket at bedtime, and she really loves it! She snuggles down into the warmth and seems very content. I even made her a little pillow for her head, which she uses all the time. I had to share a picture of her all snuggled into bed, it’s the cutest thing in the world!

Please know I will do whatever I can to make Jude happy, and as comfortable as possible, every single day. I love her with my whole heart.

Thank you for everything you do for our little Jude—it is so appreciated.

Your correspondent,
Karina