Cats Bring People Together by Mirusia

Cats Do Bring People Together

Mirusia is a soprano and has been performing for almost four years with André Rieu. Since she travels all over the world, she is therefore not able to keep any cats herself. Fortunately she can enjoy the cats of her fan and Majesty (Magazine) reader Suzy.

Dear Majesty, my name is Mirusia. I am a Soprano songstress from Australia, who for almost four years has been performing with André Rieu. I would like to tell you a nice story which might also be of interest to your Majesty readers.

For almost four years now I have lived in the Netherlands, after having lived in Australia, where I was born, my entire life. I grew up with Siamese cats, which we also bred. When I moved to the Netherlands, I felt sorry having to leave my two tomcats, Sascha and Joey, behind in Australia. To be able to perform all over the world with André Rieu was for me super important, and also very nice. I have been touring with André since 2007 and have a lot of fun with my work, and also together with André recorded a number one platinum record in Australia. Last year I also published a solo CD "Always and Forever", which is now number one on the classical list, and has in the meantime also been released in the Netherlands.

But one thing was not so nice: every time I returned from tour to my cold and empty apartment in Maastricht, I missed my cats. When I returned to Australia for a couple of weeks a year, I could see them again. They were starting to age, and Sascha passed away a week before I was to return to Australia in May 2010. Joey was alone and you’d notice he was grieving.

During my vacation in Australia, my Mum and I were walking through a shopping center and saw a pet store display case, filled with darling Ragdoll kittens. Only one came to us, a fluffy little tomcat with a big black spot on its nose. He sort of resembled a koala. I named him "Blinky Bill" after an Australian cartoon featuring a koala. After having gone back to the store four times, I took my Mum there on Mother’s Day to buy "Blinky Bill" for her as a present. She was so upset over Sascha’s death, and we expected that his left behind brother would soon pass away too due to grief.

Blinky was the best present I ever could have given my Mum, because a week later we actually had to put Joey to sleep. He was so despondent and ill.

Australian Songstress Misses Her Cats ...

After a few weeks I returned to the Netherlands to tour again with André, but I missed Blinky very much. Since I have been touring with André over the entire world I have acquired a lot of fans. I try to stay in contact with them as much as I can, but at times it is impossible to answer every e-mail, although I do read each and every one.

One day I received a very nice e-mail from a lady, who also happens to be living in Maastricht. Her name is Suzy. She knew some of my colleagues, and the reason she wrote me was that she had read about Blinky on my Face Book website. She wrote me that if I was missing Blinky so badly, I could always come to her house and cuddle with her ragdoll cat, Ollie.

We’ve had lots of contacts via the internet, and then one day, I finally had the time to pay her and Ollie a visit. And not only Ollie, but also her other three tomcats! It was very nice to once again be surrounded by cats, and also to finally meet Suzy. She is so kind towards her animals and her four tomcats are really beautiful. She has a Ragdoll, a Siamese, a Maine Coon and one she rescued from the streets. We have a lot in common and talk about cats and the funny experiences we encountered with them. So we have developed a nice friendship. I am always welcome at her place to cuddle with her cats which I like very much. She loaned me your Majesty magazine, and thought it would be nice to share this story. Cats do bring people together ... Mirusia

Thanks to 'Suzy' for sending this article to us and John for ©Translating it.