Missing YUU Monday

#1 here. This is a time of year that is bittersweet for us at Poupounette Central. Three years ago in early October, our sweet Yuu-Chan came to live with us, and two years ago in late September, he left us for the Bridge. I cannot believe it has been two years already. His presence is as great now as it ever was, and I miss him more than I can say. The Poupounette is made up of some very special cats, but Yuu-Chan was special among the special, and the void he left will never be filled.

There are two words that describe Yuu-Chan thoroughly: sweet and soulful. He was the gentlest of souls, always ready to make friends and look after those who needed some extra care. And he had the most amazing eyes that looked straight into your soul. Those eyes were captured marvellously well in the portrait that Kathleen Coy did of him after his death:

Anyway, in order to once again celebrate his short life, here is a selection of photos of Yuu-Chan.

Baby Yuu-Yuu already had those soulful eyes:

He quickly made himself at home when he arrived at Poupounette Central:

He and Sei-Chan (who was only a few months older) quickly became best friends:

He loved to snuggle with me:

He watched over our short-term foster, Tora-Chan, before he was adopted by friends:

He grew into the handsomest of mancats:

He was kitten Bibi's mentor and best friend:

Always there to lend a helping paw"

He loved to wrap himself around my hand:

He loved to hang out in the garden with Tommy:

And to visit his friends, the donkeys:

The dreaded FeLV hit him like a sledgehammer, and he was gone, aged 15 months... This is one of the last photos I took of him:

Gone but never forgotten. Your sweetness will always stay with us, Yuu-Yuu.