This lovely lap cat, a Russian Bleu and Calico mix, lived to be 18 years and 4 months. She was taken in as a stray when she was a kitten by a wonderful lady, who named her Angel. The cat was adopted by our teenaged daughter for her grandmother, who had Alzheimer's and lived with us. Our daughter had christened the new family member Cleo. It soon became apparent the kitten was extremely playful and loved humans. At first, she did not bond with my mother, who was more of a dog person, but they became good friends over time. During Mom's final weeks when she was bed fast, this feline friend pressed her body close to Mom's and would not leave her side. We believe she knew Mom's time was short and was offering comfort. Eventually, Angel Cleo came to adore the man of the house, who called her "Kitty Girl" and let her sit on his lap for hours every night watching tv. A more gentle and loving creature would be hard to find. When my husband and I were experiencing "empty nest syndrome" after the children had moved out and my mother was gone, Kitty Girl would sit up tall in an empty chair at the breakfast table to make our home seem less lonely. We are mourning the loss of this beautiful creature, who took daily IV's and special meds for nearly four years for kidney disease to stay alive and enjoy an excellent quality of life. She was a trooper, but the kidneys finally shut down completely. During one of those final days when she could no longer walk, she heard my husband's voice in the basement and was seen eagerly dragging her body toward the top of the stairs. She wanted to go down and sit on his lap as he watched tv like she had done for so many years. Family and friends are sure this angelic friend is now in Kitty Heaven romping through the fragrant flower fields and bringing joy to everyone around her.
Thanks to Edith J. Bruner for sponsoring this memorial!