A Tribute To Bubbles

This is  a tribute to my cat Bubbles, a ginger whirlwind of loyalty, olives and love. 

The Day I Fell For Bubbles

Many years ago, I worked at a grain company and spent most of my days in the office with two other women, Heather and Sandra. Heather had a soft spot for strays. Every other week, she’d rock up with another cat she’d scooped out of the factory yard. She had a big heart and ensured the females got spayed so we didn’t end up overrun.

One day, she walked in with a box of kittens. And just like that, I saw him. A tiny, light ginger fluffball, staring at me like he already ran the place. I was done for.

With a little help from my daughter Cameron, who was deep in a Powerpuff Girls phase then, we named him Bubbles. And it just fit.

Bubbles, The Cat Who Thought He Was A Dog

But Bubbles wasn’t your standard-issue cat. He came when you called him. You’d say his name, and he’d come tearing in like a furry orange missile, tail in the air, eyes full of trouble. He liked my husband and Cameron, too; he’d play and roll around and pounce on things like he was auditioning for a cartoon, but it was always clear who his person was. He was loyal like a dog, and that dog was mine. Wherever I was, he wasn’t far behind. And then there were the olives.

The Olive Obsession

Bubbles had a full-blown obsession with them. Anytime Sandra and I sat down with a glass of wine and a bowl of olives (as you do), he’d show up like clockwork. Sometimes, he’d wait politely. Other times, he’d go full-paw-dive into the bowl like it was his birthright.

He’d give you a little nibble if you weren’t giving him attention. Not mean. Just a “hello, excuse me, I’m here” kind of bite. He was cheeky like that.

We had Bubbles for a couple of good years. He was part of the family, quirky, needy, completely lovable. Then one day, while I was away visiting family in Zimbabwe, he tried to cross the road and got hit by a car.

The Sudden Goodbye

My husband called me to make the decision. I wasn’t there to hold him or say goodbye. I remember standing in the heat, phone in hand, heart sinking, knowing what had to be done. It still stings, not being there, but I knew he was going to kitty heaven, where the olives are endless and someone’s always up for a cuddle.

I still remember the quiet in the house that first night when I returned home without him. No little paws padding behind me. No warm lump curled up on the sofa; just space where he should’ve been.

He was just a cat, sure. But to us, he was something else.
He was comfort. He was chaos. He was family.

He was Bubbles. And I miss him every day.

Remembering Bubbles Years Later

Years later, Sandra and I are still the best of friends. She lives in France now, and I’m in Spain, but we chat all the time over WhatsApp calls.

The other day, we were reminiscing, and she brought up Bubbles, his cheeky little face, his olive obsession, and I couldn’t stop smiling and crying all at once.

So I wrote it down.

For Bubbles.

For the love he gave.

And for all of us who’ve ever lost a furry little soul that made our world feel bigger.

✍️ Author Acknowledgement

This tribute was lovingly shared by Heidi Hein and remains their original work.
© 2025 Heidi Hein | Published on Tails of Tribute. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce without permission.

For more heartfelt pet tributes and “tails” of love, loss, and the animals who leave imprints on our hearts, visit our Tributes Page