What Was The Most Affectionate Cat You Have Ever Had Like?

[I_Wuv_Kitties]

Just curious. I personally think that stray cats are the most affectionate because they are love-starved and know how bad things can be if you weren't taking care of them.

So what was the most affectionate cat you've ever had like? What did he/she look like? Where'd you get kitty from?

 

[DeweytheLion]

Funnily enough, my most affectionate kitty was a stray. I had her when I was probably 13, so it was quite awhile ago, and my mother had to move and left her behind.
She was a beautiful calico and I remember her most pronounced feature was her face, and her whiskers. Half white and half black, exactly.
She loved to cuddle, she was probably 3 months old when I got her, she followed me everywhere I went, even to the bus stop, and ate everything I ate. (Her favorite was potato chips and cheetos) I know now that I'm older, with more experience with cats, that's probably not an ideal treat lol. Her name was Layla and she was adored by everyone.

 

[maggiedemi]

My most affectionate cat was Mally, short for Marshmallow. He was a male black & white tuxedo cat. He was just wonderful, loved to sit on laps and cuddle. If I had a friend over he would climb into their lap, even if he didn't know them. We got him when I was a kid from a lady who advertised free kittens in the newspaper. He lived to be around 10-15 years old. He was an outdoor cat, but us kids would sneak the cats in. His son Butterscotch was really friendly too, an orange & white tabby. Butterscotch got hit by a truck, I don't know what age he was, my parents didn't keep any records!

 

[mightyboosh]

Probably one of my current monsters - Oliver - but I won't include him here, I'll go back to about 1991 when we acquired Bomber. His official name was Chantelle Bombardier. He was a blue Persian that we bought off a local breeder who was selling because she said he wouldn't 'stand.'
For quite a few months he was very unfriendly and basically lived behind the sofa. He was an outdoor cat and one night he came back in an awfully scared and bedraggled state with muck and detritus covering him from head to tail. We assumed he had been attacked by a dog so feared the injuries we would find when we cleaned him up. However, there wasn't a mark on him. It's as if he had an epiphany moment because from then on he was super friendly and cuddlesome.
My daughter was a young child at the time and she used to dress him up in her outgrown clothes and push him around in a buggy. He didn't mind a bit and waited around for her to do so it appeared. He was a very gentle and affectionate creature after his 'moment.'
He lived to about 19yrs and my daughter still misses him and says that no cat will ever replace him. Oliver comes a very close second with her though.

 

[Katie M]

Belle and Beau were an early Christmas gift when I was fourteen. Someone's Persian had kittens by a street cat. Belle was the runt, and her mother abandoned her. She turned out neurotic, but I don't know if she was born that way or if it was because of the abandonment. I feel like I was the only one who was truly nice to her. No one abused her, of course-they just tended to ignore her. I became "her" human very quickly, and I was the only one she was really affectionate with.

Beau was affectionate with everyone, even strangers. If he saw you sit down, he'd immediately come over and jump in your lap.

ETA-I forgot to describe their appearance! They were both grey and white tabbies. Belle had gold eyes, while Beau's had more green. The biggest physical difference was that Beau inherited their mother's coat length. Same colors and patterns, just different coat lengths. Cat genetics is weird

 

[neely]

With the exception of our present cat, Carleton, (whose middle name is Affectionate),the second most affectionate cat we ever had was a rescue. It was many years ago and I still remember going to the shelter like it was yesterday. The very first cat who approached us was a large long-haired gray male with golden eyes. Hence, my golden boy! When we entered the shelter and he lovingly glued himself to me I told DH i wanted to see all the cats at the shelter. But obviously he knew something I didn't know, i.e. he was the one for me and we took him home that day.

Unfortunately soon afterwards he became very ill and the vet recommended seeing a feline specialist. I remember it vividly since it was New Year's Day and the specialty vet met us at the cat clinic. She took exceptional care of him, giving him IV's around the clock and transfusions from one of her resident cats. Several days later we brought him home and he lavished us with affection.

 

[Boris Diamond]

Herschel was the first pet I had, besides fish. I lived with a bunch of students, male and female, who liked animals and he was the only pet in the house. He was welcome on any of seven laps as he was growing up and he learned to be a very loving guy! He was a big tuxedo that my brother's girlfriend had gotten for me. He was eight weeks old when I got him. He was a great lap cat, never bit or scratched, and would roll over for belly rubs! I still miss him. He was such a lover!

Boris, Seal and Leo are/were great lovers, but I give it to Herschel by a whisker!

 

[abyeb]

Charlie

He's a shelter rescue, and my first cat, so naturally the most affectionate!

 

[DreamerRose]

The most affectionate cat I've ever had was Tiger, a brown tabby stray. She stuck to me like glue, hopping in the chair to be with me. She smiled at me and purred all the time. One night, I went to bed without telling her, and a few minutes later, she came racing through the house, jumped in the bed, and scooted under a pillow to give me a love nip. She slept with me every night, cuddled up next to my stomach. She was a love bug.

Unfortunately, I only was able to keep her for a few days. I located her owners through Animal Control and had to give her back to them. It broke my heart. I loved that cat.

But every cloud has a silver lining. I grieved for her so much, I went to the humane society and got Mingo, and then a year later, got Lily from another rescue. Mingo is a fun-loving, entertaining cat, and Lily is nearly as affectionate as Tiger. I'm sure Tiger is happy to be back with her owners, and I am very happy with the two cats I have now. I wouldn't have them if it hadn't been for Tiger.

 

[sargon]

It depends how you define affectionate. If you mean sweet and loving, Freya is an easy win. She likes being carried, learned to say some human words to better communicate with us (or possibly, because Siamese cats will do anything to be praised for meowing... )follows me around like she's on a tether, sleeps against me most nights, etc, and is the lickiest cat ever. She also loves beign brushed and will purr like a chainsaw when she's brushed.

She isn't all that fond of laps, preferring to lay next to people rather than in laps a her age, but i expect that she'll be climbing in laps like crazy in a few months.

 

[kashmir64]

The most affectionate cat I have ever seen is my son's kitten Onsa. She has to be touching me at all times. She is either on me, against me and she sleeps on my face. If I go outside, she gets in the window and starts squeaking (she doesn't meow). I call anything, like my dog, and she comes running.
She's there when I sleep, when I wake up, when I move or when I sit. She drives me nuts sometimes. I think she's a bit insecure.

 

[daisyd]

Lovely posts ! I can't comment yet as have only ever had Gracie . She doesn't like to be touched however has to be close by at all times which I think is her way of showing affection . She hates being cuddled however I pick her up and hug her when I get in from work - I think she is even starting to like it now

 

[Purr-fect]

The most affectionate cat ive ever had is the one (of the two), ive got now....Arnold. Greg is Arnolds brother and greg has his affectionate moments......but Arnold....is unbelievably friendly. (All our cats have been friendly, but arnold is exceptional).

He sleeps (spoons) with me pretty much every night. He shares my pillow with me. In the middle of the night, he will awaken, rub the top of his head against my chin and face for several minutes and then go back to sleep.

Every night he comes downstairs and cuddles on the couch while we watch tv. He will alternate back and forth between me and my wife. He flops heavily on us (he is 22 lbs, so you really feel his weight and presence, warmth, purring ect). He will cuddle into my side and look up into my eyes. His face seems to be smiling when he cuddles with us. When we pet him, he rolls onto his back, paws bent at his side, tummy completely exposed. He exudes love, trust and affection. He has never hurt us...ever.. (neither has greg). Arnold has a sweet gentle nature....unless he is hunting something in the yard. But even if he catches something and i take it away, he wont hurt, bite or scratch us. I cant say enough about him. I rush home from work to see him...and greg. Not a day goes by that we dont count our blessings for being so lucky to have them in our lives.

Arnold was not friendly when we adopted them. Ironically he has become the most affectionate of the two.

Ive never been so close to a cat. He will be 4 this xmas, so he should have a good many years left....most our cats live into their late teens and we feed arnold and greg only the best food. But we have never had cats as large as Arnold and greg, 22 and 17 lbs (summer weight), so their expectancy might be less. Already I wonder how I could possibly manage with out arnold....greg would be a great loss also, especially as arnold and greg are brothers

, have always lived together and play together.

We were told they are likely mainly norwegian forest cats. Whatever they are, they make our lives so much better and happier.

Arnold is in the back ground, greg is in the front.

 

[Boris Diamond]

The most affectionate cat ive ever had is the one (of the two), ive got now....Arnold. Greg is Arnolds brother and greg has his affectionate moments......but Arnold....is unbelievably friendly. (All our cats have been friendly, but arnold is exceptional).

He sleeps (spoons) with me pretty much every night. He shares my pillow with me. In the middle of the night, he will awaken, rub the top of his head against my chin and face for several minutes and then go back to sleep.

Every night he comes downstairs and cuddles on the couch while we watch tv. He will alternate back and forth between me and my wife. He flops heavily on us (he is 22 lbs, so you really feel his weight and presence, warmth, purring ect). He will cuddle into my side and look up into my eyes. His face seems to be smiling when he cuddles with us. When we pet him, he rolls onto his back, paws bent at his side, tummy completely exposed. He exudes love, trust and affection. He has never hurt us...ever.. (neither has greg). Arnold has a sweet gentle nature....unless he is hunting something in the yard. But even if he catches something and i take it away, he wont hurt, bite or scratch us. I cant say enough about him. I rush home from work to see him...and greg. Not a day goes by that we dont count our blessings for being so lucky to have them in our lives.

Arnold was not friendly when we adopted them. Ironically he has become the most affectionate of the two.

Ive never been so close to a cat. He will be 4 this xmas, so he should have a good many years left....most our cats live into their late teens and we feed arnold and greg only the best food. But we have never had cats as large as Arnold and greg, 22 and 17 lbs (summer weight), so their expectancy might be less. Already I wonder how I could possibly manage with out arnold....greg would be a great loss also, especially as arnold and greg are brothersView attachment 197199 , have always lived together and play together.

We were told they are likely mainly norwegian forest cats. Whatever they are, they make our lives so much better and happier.

Arnold is in the back ground, greg is in the front.

Incredibly beautiful cats! I'd be jealous if I did not have some beauties myself...but to tell the truth I've always wanted a smoke cat. So I'm still a little jealous.

 

[daisyd]

The most affectionate cat ive ever had is the one (of the two), ive got now....Arnold. Greg is Arnolds brother and greg has his affectionate moments......but Arnold....is unbelievably friendly. (All our cats have been friendly, but arnold is exceptional).

He sleeps (spoons) with me pretty much every night. He shares my pillow with me. In the middle of the night, he will awaken, rub the top of his head against my chin and face for several minutes and then go back to sleep.

Every night he comes downstairs and cuddles on the couch while we watch tv. He will alternate back and forth between me and my wife. He flops heavily on us (he is 22 lbs, so you really feel his weight and presence, warmth, purring ect). He will cuddle into my side and look up into my eyes. His face seems to be smiling when he cuddles with us. When we pet him, he rolls onto his back, paws bent at his side, tummy completely exposed. He exudes love, trust and affection. He has never hurt us...ever.. (neither has greg). Arnold has a sweet gentle nature....unless he is hunting something in the yard. But even if he catches something and i take it away, he wont hurt, bite or scratch us. I cant say enough about him. I rush home from work to see him...and greg. Not a day goes by that we dont count our blessings for being so lucky to have them in our lives.

Arnold was not friendly when we adopted them. Ironically he has become the most affectionate of the two.

Ive never been so close to a cat. He will be 4 this xmas, so he should have a good many years left....most our cats live into their late teens and we feed arnold and greg only the best food. But we have never had cats as large as Arnold and greg, 22 and 17 lbs (summer weight), so their expectancy might be less. Already I wonder how I could possibly manage with out arnold....greg would be a great loss also, especially as arnold and greg are brothersView attachment 197199 , have always lived together and play together.

We were told they are likely mainly norwegian forest cats. Whatever they are, they make our lives so much better and happier.

Arnold is in the back ground, greg is in the front.

They are gorgeous!! I'm a tad envious. Just looked a Gracie who is sitting at the window - I swear she just gave me a filthy look haha .. count your blessings

 

[Winchester]

Banshee, the Queen of the RugCats (aka The Queen B), and the feline love of my life, was the most loving kitty we've ever known.

She came to us when she was about eight weeks old. And when she was a wee little girl, she had lungs bigger than she was. We had no idea what her name was, until, one night, she was lying in my arms, just meowing away at the top of her lungs and our son said, "Mom, she screams like a Banshee!" And that was how she told us her name.

Banshee was a bit on the cranky side when she was young. She would play with Whisper (her adopted mother) for a while, but when she was tired, she would come to me, meowing and crying. Like any mom would do with a cranky baby, I'd pick her up and we'd head to the rocking chair. She'd curl up in my arms and she'd drop off for her nap. We used to sit in that chair for hours because, once she fell asleep, there was no way I would disturb her.

She went everywhere with me. If I went to Mom and Dad's for the day, I'd pack her Banshee-bag with toys, food, and water, put her litter box in the car and away we went. My parents had Ebony, their black Cocker, and Ebony and Banshee would chase each throughout the house. When things got quiet, I'd go back to the bedroom where they were lying together on the bed, sound asleep. She went to Rick's family reunion; I remember Rick's "old aunts" were none too happy to see a cat at the reunion. So Banshee and I sat alone at another picnic table and ate our picnic meal. After dinner, Rick, Banshee and I walked on the trail in the mountain.....she was very well leash-trained.

She always got her picture taken with Santa Paws every year, from the time she was a kitten. One year, we were in the pet store and I had her wrapped in her blankie; I think people thought she was a baby. Well, there were some birds flying around in the store. She heard the birds and, with a chirp, her head popped out of the blanket. One of the women walked over and said, "My god, it's a cat!" I explained that we were waiting for her Santa picture. She was so very well-behaved.

It got to where I would say, "Ready to go, Baby Girl?". I'd jingle the car keys and she would meet me at the door.

Banshee slept, wrapped in my arms, every night. She loved snuggling with me under the covers. Rick used to tell me that, during the night, if the covers fell off her, she'd pat my neck, trying to awaken me, to tell me she wanted covers. I'd reach out, draw her back into me, put the covers back up, and say, "Go back to sleep, Baby Girl." All without waking up. Or if I had rolled over in my sleep and she was alone, she'd sit up and pat my neck. Again, I'd roll back over, gather her up, and she'd go back to sleep. I never even woke up.

When my butt hit the couch, her butt hit my lap. When I'd lie down, she'd be right there with me. The first time I really left her alone was when I did my internship. I lived in Harrisburg during the week and came home on weekends. That first Friday night I came home, Banshee met me at the door. When I said, "Hi, Baby Girl!" and reached down to pick her up, she stood up.....and turned her back to me! I was devastated. Believe me, I did some major groveling that night before she forgave me. She eventually got used to me being gone through the week, but Rick would tell me that she got "funky" around Wednesdays because I had been gone a while. And if I went to NY to visit a GF for a weekend, I could always expect a phone call Sunday morning: "Your girl is getting funky" and I'd talk to her. Rick said she knew it was me.

Her birthday was September 20. When I was interviewed for my Planning position, the director asked me if I had any questions. I told him I would need every Sept 20 off from work, that I would take it as a vac day. He asked me why; I told him it was my cat's birthday. Oh, he roared with laughter. But I was serious. He hired me anyway. That first September I was there, he came into my office and asked, "So you want the 20th off?" I did. And I took off every Sept 20 until she passed. We spent the day together and I catered to her every whim (not that she had many). It got to the point where every Sept 20, Banshee and I hit the couch together; I watched a mini-marathon of the last season of Supernatural, while she slept curled up on my hip...that was our day.

Banshee ruled the cat clan of the house and we used to say she ruled with a velvet paw. Back then, all the cats were from the same family, except for her and Hydrox. The RugKittens grew up with their Aunt Banshee and we'd always find a clump of cats, all sacked out together.

When we'd go to the vet for her check-up, she'd sit on my lap in the waiting room. The dogs would come in and they'd be hysterical. Cats would be meowing. Not Banshee. She took it all in her typical Banshee-stride. One dog walked over to her and sniffed. She looked at the dog, she looked at me. And you could just see her saying, "Seriously? I'm expected to deal with this?" And she looked down at the dog. And sniffed disdainfully.

She went with me to my Public Speaking class in college. We had to give an instructional speech. Mine was on How to Groom a Cat and Banshee was my model. We were in front of the class and I was combing her, speaking the whole time. And then I stopped dead and said, "Baby Girl, you are just gorgeous!" After my speech, we had to go outside so a student could demonstrate something with his car; I bundled her up in her blankie and we went out. She was perfectly behaved.

She did have a bit of an attitude though. If she didn't like somebody, she would slap their cheek with her paw. A woman came to our house one time; this was a woman that neither Rick nor I particularly liked, but she was with a friend of ours. She would not leave the Queen B alone. Banshee kept moving away, but the woman kept after her and I kept telling her she was going to get smacked.....the Queen would only take so much. Finally, when she tried to pick her up, Banshee reached a paw out and.....slapped her face. The woman was shocked. But that was the Queen.

We got into the habit every night after supper of going for a bit of a walk around the yard, following by sitting on the back deck together. She'd watch the bugs, chirp at the bunnies. She loved the fireflies. One afternoon, she and were lying in the hammock. I fell asleep. So did she. I awakened, thinking she was gone and how stupid it was that I had fallen asleep. But she was right there, flopped on my chest.

I could go on and on. But I guess I've talked enough. Rick and I always said that we could have a thousands cats in our lifetime. But there would only be one Queen B.

These are four of the original RugCats: In the back, BooBoo, his mom Whisper, his Aunt Booster. Banshee is the one flat on her back. She trusted those cats; she knew they wouldn't do anything to her. She was usually sprawled on her back. We called the pictures of her belly "BellyWaves".

Banshee at the pillow, Bootser and BooBoo trying to get as close to the Queen as they can, Whisper, and Ms. Pepe.
The RugCats always slept in clumps; we rarely saw just one cat sleeping alone. All of those cats are gone now, except
for Pepe. And now she sleeps alone. We don't have kitty clumps anymore and we really miss them.

 

[Purr-fect]

They are gorgeous!! I'm a tad envious. Just looked a Gracie who is sitting at the window - I swear she just gave me a filthy look haha .. count your blessings

Thank you daisyd. To me, they are even more beautiful on the inside than the outside.

 

[Purr-fect]

Incredibly beautiful cats! I'd be jealous if I did not have some beauties myself...but to tell the truth I've always wanted a smoke cat. So I'm still a little jealous.

Boris, they shed enough that I might be able to make you a "smoke" cat and send it to you....lol

 

[Purr-fect]

Banshee, the Queen of the RugCats (aka The Queen B), and the feline love of my life, was the most loving kitty we've ever known.

She came to us when she was about eight weeks old. And when she was a wee little girl, she had lungs bigger than she was. We had no idea what her name was, until, one night, she was lying in my arms, just meowing away at the top of her lungs and our son said, "Mom, she screams like a Banshee!" And that was how she told us her name.



Banshee was a bit on the cranky side when she was young. She would play with Whisper (her adopted mother) for a while, but when she was tired, she would come to me, meowing and crying. Like any mom would do with a cranky baby, I'd pick her up and we'd head to the rocking chair. She'd curl up in my arms and she'd drop off for her nap. We used to sit in that chair for hours because, once she fell asleep, there was no way I would disturb her.

She went everywhere with me. If I went to Mom and Dad's for the day, I'd pack her Banshee-bag with toys, food, and water, put her litter box in the car and away we went. My parents had Ebony, their black Cocker, and Ebony and Banshee would chase each throughout the house. When things got quiet, I'd go back to the bedroom where they were lying together on the bed, sound asleep. She went to Rick's family reunion; I remember Rick's "old aunts" were none too happy to see a cat at the reunion. So Banshee and I sat alone at another picnic table and ate our picnic meal. After dinner, Rick, Banshee and I walked on the trail in the mountain.....she was very well leash-trained.

She always got her picture taken with Santa Paws every year, from the time she was a kitten. One year, we were in the pet store and I had her wrapped in her blankie; I think people thought she was a baby. Well, there were some birds flying around in the store. She heard the birds and, with a chirp, her head popped out of the blanket. One of the women walked over and said, "My god, it's a cat!" I explained that we were waiting for her Santa picture. She was so very well-behaved.

It got to where I would say, "Ready to go, Baby Girl?". I'd jingle the car keys and she would meet me at the door.

Banshee slept, wrapped in my arms, every night. She loved snuggling with me under the covers. Rick used to tell me that, during the night, if the covers fell off her, she'd pat my neck, trying to awaken me, to tell me she wanted covers. I'd reach out, draw her back into me, put the covers back up, and say, "Go back to sleep, Baby Girl." All without waking up. Or if I had rolled over in my sleep and she was alone, she'd sit up and pat my neck. Again, I'd roll back over, gather her up, and she'd go back to sleep. I never even woke up.

When my butt hit the couch, her butt hit my lap. When I'd lie down, she'd be right there with me. The first time I really left her alone was when I did my internship. I lived in Harrisburg during the week and came home on weekends. That first Friday night I came home, Banshee met me at the door. When I said, "Hi, Baby Girl!" and reached down to pick her up, she stood up.....and turned her back to me! I was devastated. Believe me, I did some major groveling that night before she forgave me. She eventually got used to me being gone through the week, but Rick would tell me that she got "funky" around Wednesdays because I had been gone a while. And if I went to NY to visit a GF for a weekend, I could always expect a phone call Sunday morning: "Your girl is getting funky" and I'd talk to her. Rick said she knew it was me.

Her birthday was September 20. When I was interviewed for my Planning position, the director asked me if I had any questions. I told him I would need every Sept 20 off from work, that I would take it as a vac day. He asked me why; I told him it was my cat's birthday. Oh, he roared with laughter. But I was serious. He hired me anyway. That first September I was there, he came into my office and asked, "So you want the 20th off?" I did. And I took off every Sept 20 until she passed. We spent the day together and I catered to her every whim (not that she had many). It got to the point where every Sept 20, Banshee and I hit the couch together; I watched a mini-marathon of the last season of Supernatural, while she slept curled up on my hip...that was our day.

Banshee ruled the cat clan of the house and we used to say she ruled with a velvet paw. Back then, all the cats were from the same family, except for her and Hydrox. The RugKittens grew up with their Aunt Banshee and we'd always find a clump of cats, all sacked out together.

When we'd go to the vet for her check-up, she'd sit on my lap in the waiting room. The dogs would come in and they'd be hysterical. Cats would be meowing. Not Banshee. She took it all in her typical Banshee-stride. One dog walked over to her and sniffed. She looked at the dog, she looked at me. And you could just see her saying, "Seriously? I'm expected to deal with this?" And she looked down at the dog. And sniffed disdainfully.

She went with me to my Public Speaking class in college. We had to give an instructional speech. Mine was on How to Groom a Cat and Banshee was my model. We were in front of the class and I was combing her, speaking the whole time. And then I stopped dead and said, "Baby Girl, you are just gorgeous!" After my speech, we had to go outside so a student could demonstrate something with his car; I bundled her up in her blankie and we went out. She was perfectly behaved.

She did have a bit of an attitude though. If she didn't like somebody, she would slap their cheek with her paw. A woman came to our house one time; this was a woman that neither Rick nor I particularly liked, but she was with a friend of ours. She would not leave the Queen B alone. Banshee kept moving away, but the woman kept after her and I kept telling her she was going to get smacked.....the Queen would only take so much. Finally, when she tried to pick her up, Banshee reached a paw out and.....slapped her face. The woman was shocked. But that was the Queen.

We got into the habit every night after supper of going for a bit of a walk around the yard, following by sitting on the back deck together. She'd watch the bugs, chirp at the bunnies. She loved the fireflies. One afternoon, she and were lying in the hammock. I fell asleep. So did she. I awakened, thinking she was gone and how stupid it was that I had fallen asleep. But she was right there, flopped on my chest.

I could go on and on. But I guess I've talked enough. Rick and I always said that we could have a thousands cats in our lifetime. But there would only be one Queen B.

View attachment 197252

View attachment 197253

These are four of the original RugCats: In the back, BooBoo, his mom Whisper, his Aunt Booster. Banshee is the one flat on her back. She trusted those cats; she knew they wouldn't do anything to her. She was usually sprawled on her back. We called the pictures of her belly "BellyWaves".
View attachment 197254

Banshee at the pillow, Bootser and BooBoo trying to get as close to the Queen as they can, Whisper, and Ms. Pepe.
The RugCats always slept in clumps; we rarely saw just one cat sleeping alone. All of those cats are gone now, except
for Pepe. And now she sleeps alone. We don't have kitty clumps anymore and we really miss them.
View attachment 197255

Lovely story....thanks for sharing.

I sometimes feel a bit sorry for people who dismiss cats as cool and aloof....as they dont know the happiness and joy they are missing.

 

[uhmkyrstin]

My most affectionate was my kitten, Bubba. We took in a stray and she happened to be pregnant, and she had four kittens. There was only one boy, and he would hiss at everyone so they wouldn’t play with him. But I saw through his defense and worked with him until he became comfortable. Eventually, he was the sweetest animal I’d ever known. He would wait by my door at night and I’d call “Bedtime Bubba” and he would run and jump in my bed, and cuddle by my head or in the crook of my bent legs. When I’d wake up to get ready for school, he’d kiss my head (little licks) and I would tell him “A new day Bubba,” and we’d walk to the bathroom. He would sit in the sink and I’d turn the tap on to drip and he’d play with the water and watch me do my makeup. Then he’d follow me to the door and watch me on the front porch as I left for school on the bus. In the afternoon, he’d meet me by the door and follow me around while I did chores and homework. We’d play outside with sticks (he was an outdoor and indoor cat, during the day he mostly stayed on the screened in porch to watch birds). One day we came home and he was gone. We think he squeezed through the screen door’s mesh, where there was a tear from raccoons. He would always go into the woods to chase butterflies, and I’ve always been scared that something happened to him there... Regardless, he was my baby and always will be in my heart.