November 2004 to July 15th, 2023
You and your sister were two parts of the original one orange cat we went to adopt, quite honestly my earliest memory is seeing you in the little hammock they had in your kennel and knowing then and there that you were coming home with us. I still remember parts of that car ride home and some of your first days at our home, you were quiet and reserved back then which is funny considering the cat you would go on to become.
I was a loud and rambunctious child, I had love in my heart for all of our cats, but they would all scurry away as I ran up to them, you on the other hand would just flop down on the floor waiting to be pet. Despite all the poking and prodding you would always lay there and purr and even rub up on my legs, it was a very special feeling knowing one of the cats loved me back.
I remember as a dumb child I would hold you by your upper body and walk you up and down the hall trying to train you to walk on two legs. It never worked of course, but looking back on a time where we were the same height standing on our hind limbs is a fond memory.
I remember the first time you sat on my lap, you had never sat on anyone’s lap before, despite everyone’s efforts. One day, however, you simply walked over and laid in mine and I’ll always remember how ecstatic I felt that you trusted me enough to sleep on mine. You would go on to be quite the lap cat, and even though I would come to find the added weight a little uncomfortable and the drool you’d leave on my leg itchy, I still cherish every time you laid on my lap.
I remember when you would sleep at the foot of my bed before you stopped being able to reach the litter box in time: It made me so happy to have you there with me even if you’d have much rather slept behind the crook of my neck or had me be awake to pet you. You would always leave to eat breakfast in the morning before I got up, but sometimes, very rarely, you would still be there when I got up, which was always such a great way to start the morning.
I could go on and on talking about my memories but perhaps my time is better spent describing you in particular.
Your personality was something I could never truly describe before, it was honestly like you were pulled straight from a cartoon, not only in how exaggerated all of your quirks and mannerisms were, but in how you held yourself. Your posture looked more like a stylized depiction of a cat then one a real cat would have. Your stare deceived your easy going nature, with such an intense glare and a tail that had a mind of its own you were easily the sassiest little woman in the room, but any disgust that could be read from your body language would melt away when you would affectionately walk up making your iconic Mehs and Mers. None of your vocalizations are so etched into my mind as your purring though, you would purr so loud you could hear it from anywhere in the room and you would do it near constantly. If you added up all the hours that I have spent listening to your purring it could easily add up to years of my life and despite that I never got tired of hearing that, it was a sign of how truly content you were with your family.
When I say easy going I really mean it. You were never an active cat; you’d chase a laser pointer but only so long as you didn’t have to get up to do so. No, you’d much rather lay in a sun spot, never curled up but rather as stretched out as you could get yourself, stretched out even down to your little toes. It was in the sun actually that we learned what we thought was our black cat was actually a chocolatey brown cat. You were not just one solid color however; nothing seemed to stand out more about your coat more than the white spot on your chest, always complimented by the singular white whisker you’d always seem to have. As you grew old of course you grayed and the white relegated to your chest spread throughout your body, this is not to say you didn’t age well, quite the opposite gray really suited you.
Your last two days with us will always bring me pain, it’s hard to deal with the fact that someone you love’s life is coming to an end. I spent as much time as I could with you, even if you weren’t fully there, even if watching you die was one of the hardest things I’ll ever do. You lasted longer than we thought you would, though time was taking its toll. We came to the conclusion that maybe you didn’t want to pass in our presence so we left you for some time, when I came back I had thought you had passed, as I cried and pet your body you chirped at me one last time and started breathing again; maybe I wasn’t paying attention to your breathing before hand, and maybe I don’t have many reasons to believe this, but I like to think my love for you was so reciprocated that you felt the need to continue on for me despite yourself and while I would have much preferred you pass without any suffering, I am thankful for the gesture.
By the time of writing this you’ve already passed a while ago and I really don’t know what to do with myself, my life is much more gray now and I’m already missing the presence of my special little kitty. I don’t know if what I’ve written is really enough considering the impact you had on my life. I’ve never been very good with words, so I’ll simply leave this off by saying this.
You were the best cat a person could ask for and I’m grateful for the time we had together. I will always cherish your memory. I dread the thought of having to spend any days without you, but I wouldn’t feel this way if you hadn’t given me so much to look back on with fondness and joy. Even with all of the annoyances and pain we’ve had in our time, I would easily go through it all again and again just to experience your love one more time.
I love you Magick, I always will.