Obituary

Our Precious Flower

/ rachelgoes262 / 4 Comments

Flower Sunday Anderson passed away on August 14, 2026, in her loving mom’s arms after a long, dignified battle with numerous health issues. Flower was born on April 9, 2010, and her Gotcha Day was November 3, 2024. Flower was outside for at least 6 years before she decided to trust a human enough to be trapped and loved.

Flower is survived by her mom, Rachel, siblings: Simon Freckles Anderson and Jolene Mamba Anderson. Flower is predeceased by her brother Jude Raymond Anderson. 

Flower was an American bobtail. She looked like a skunk from the back and a cow from the side. Her name came from the movie Bambi. The first time I saw her, I thought she was a skunk. Flower also mimicked some baby skunk behaviors, including her infamous Flower Stomp that she would do towards her siblings in an act of play.

Flower’s middle name comes from the fact that she was trapped on a Sunday. She also enjoyed the song “Easy” by The Commodores. She listened to her song as she passed away. Flower truly was easy like Sunday morning. She was so easy to care for and love. 

Flower does Flower things. This is a famous phrase used to describe Flower, along with Flower lives in her own little world. Flower was unlike any cat I have ever known. She was grace under pressure. Despite the cruelty she experienced in her life, Flower was gentle and loving. There was not a mean bone in her body. I will miss her little chirps for breakfast and seeing her play with her favorite catnip toys.

Flower was loved by thousands across the globe. As part of the Hedgewatch team, Flower’s job was Senior Santa Tracker. Flower loved to watch Santa on NORAD on the laptop on Christmas Eve. In socializing Flower, she would watch videos on the laptop. 

Another key part of Flower’s socialization was her bedtime story. Every night, I would read her a book so that she could look at the pictures and have mental stimulation since her mobility issues limited her ability to play. Flower’s favorite stories were the Frog and Toad books and Goodnight Moon. Flower knew when it was bedtime and would walk up her ramp and get into bed to wait for her story. 

Flower knew baby sign language and was carrier trained. She is one of the smartest cats I have ever known. It is truly one of the greatest honors of my life that she chose me as her human. I told Flower I would not leave that house I was in without her and I kept my promise. We were able to get to a place of safety for Flower to live out her final year.

Flower loved sun puddles. She liked the heat to help with her arthritis. Flower loved her warming mats, warming disc, and had a friend make her a customized cape for winter without arm sleeves due to her arthritis. She loved her cat beds and blankets. Her favorite toys were her catnip banana, catnip pumpkin, and catnip peppermint. She would often rub herself on things as her way of playing. 

Flower allowed all handling and it was my honor to provide all her grooming in her final months including brushing, ears and nails. Flower loved to be brushed and would purr and lean into it. 

The family would like to express our gratitude to the numerous people who have helped with Flower – from the person who bought her very first cat bed, to the person who handmade her blankets, the person who handmade her cape, and the many, many people who provided other ways of support. Most importantly, thank you for your joy and delight in watching Flower these past few years. It is your emotional support that has been invaluable. Flower was so loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to your local library “In Memory of Flower, Who Loved Story Time,”  Since Flower loved story time and children’s books were so integral in her socialization. You are also invited to continue the tradition of Flower Day on April 9 and do a random Act of Kindness in her memory to combat all the evil she experienced in life. 

It was truly an honor to have been chosen by Flower to be the human that she trusted. It was the greatest gift of my life. Thank you to everyone for sharing in her story. 

If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. 

End Of Watch #Hedgewatch

/ rachelgoes262 / 4 Comments

Jude Raymond Anderson passed away on July 21, 2025, in his loving mom’s arms after a brief but brave fight with cancer. Jude was born February 14, 2012, and his Gotcha Day was February 14, 2014. Jude was adopted from the Humane Society of Rome in Rome, NY. 

Jude is survived by his mom, Rachel, siblings: Simon Freckles Anderson, Jolene Mamba Anderson and Flower Sunday Anderson. Jude is predeceased by Kitty Molecule Anderson and Kip Quark Anderson.

Jude truly embodied his name and “took a sad dong and made it better.” He came into our lives after the passing of Kip to be Kitty’s companion. Jude was with Kitty for three years, and for most of those, Kitty fought his own cancer battle. Jude was strongly bonded with Kitty. I know Kitty is welcoming him in Heaven and they are cuddling in the sun.

While Jude is loving and accepting of everyone, (even winning over poor traumatized Flower!), Jude’s strongest bond in his life was his time with Kitty. To Simon, Jude was a mentor and an amazing big brother. Jolene is in charge but would still let Jude be man of the house. Flower accepted Jude as her protector, and he was the first of the trio to win her over.

In his Hedgewatch duties, Jude was head coworker. He helped his mom through grad school and supervised writing of the thesis. He would sit in the cat bed in front of the window next to the desk for the past six years of coworker duty. Jude made friends all over the world as part of Hedgewatch. The family would like to especially thank our Hedgewatch family in the UK for your love and support during Jude’s illness. 

Jude loved to talk. He always wanted treats and would often get his siblings to join in his shenanigans to try to push up dinner time and get more treats throughout the day. Jude was extremely intelligent and easily trained. He was carrier trained for all meals and was also well trained in the tornado safety plan.

In the apartment, Jude would cling to the screen on the sliding glass door, earning the nickname “Spider Cat.” Jude would go out on the porch to look at birds and could be trusted to not jump off the porch. We were going to travel the world together. 

Jude slept in the bed with me every night. 

Jude was my best friend. He was there for me at the worst times of my life. He was there for me at the best times of my life. Jude was so full of love and life. He genuinely had an easy-going personality. He never met a stranger. Jude won hearts – everyone he met and everywhere he went. 

All you need is love and a cat. Jude was more than a cat. He was a beautiful soul. He gave me so much more than I deserved. It was an honor to be his mom for the time we had. Jude will always be my valentine. 

The family would like to thank the staff at Adana Veterinary Clinic for their compassionate and expert care over the years. They are truly the best cat hospital around. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to your local no-kill animal rescue In Memory of Jude. Or, if you prefer, save your donations for when we can move to a safe location and are able to accept help with the move. 

If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.