His bones have been laid to rest at the Rattray Vogt residence on Capitol Street in the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood of Indianapolis. He is buried right next to his brother, Vinnie, amidst the tall trees in the forest through which he roamed each day. In his last few days, he could be spotted lounging on the porch, chasing rabbits, and wildly running up the first five feet of the maple trees next to his home. Images of Wassie's can be seen at the blog "The Lost Boys of Placita Vergel." He is also featured in the video: "Oh, Sookers" where he can be seen frolicking with his adopted sister, Sookie (Stackhouse) Vogt.
Wassie was a cat of the highest caliber. He exhibited the dignity of his distant tiger cou-
sins while being one of the most friendly felines around. Though not inclined to beg for attention, he became part of neighbors' households as much as his own home. In fact, in both Tucson and Indianapolis, he would often spend just as much time with neighbors as with his family: Nick, Wendy, and later Iris and Zaya. Wassie loved to sit on people's chests and, in particular, to be petted into the evenings.
Like his brother Vinnie, Wassie lived in at least 8 different homes and four major cities: Santa Monica and San Francisco in California (3 years), Tucson (~8 years), and Indianapolis (3 years). After spending his early years in small
apartments, he took to an outdoor life with relish in the heat of the Sonoran desert. Despite the heat, Wassily spent a great deal of time in the desert landscape chasing lizards, mice, and the occasional rabbit. I'll never forget a few days before we moved from Tucson to Indianapolis, I found Wassie a few blocks away at a stranger's house. After speaking with this unnamed neighborhood, it turned out that Wassie had been spending so much time with her that she sort of considered him her. I had to disabuse her of that idea, particularly since we were moving in less than 48 hours.
We'll miss how fiercely affectionate he could be even as he was such an independent cat. His neighbor Dan will also miss him, as they spent many mornings hanging out.
Things he loved: chasing rabbits, squirrels, and birds; eating fancy/stinky/expensive cheeses; eating wet cat food; sleeping on his parents' legs at night; scrambling up the tree bark at high speeds.
Things he didn't care for very much: driving in the car from Arizona to Indiana; staying in the house for more than a day or so; tiny babies that cry; vegetables; kitty litter boxes.
With pets, it's a little easier to play favorites--I'll admit that Wassie was mine. Nick
