by Laurie M.
(St. Paul, MN)

Pippin was truly a once-in-a-lifetime cat. A blue point Siamese, he entered our lives in June of 1993. He distinguished himself from the rest of the litter by his antics and his sweetness, but I think the thing that clinched it was the teensy little kink right at the tip of his tail. That little flaw endeared him to us immediately, and his decision to let us be his people was most fortunate for us.

He was truly the kindest, most benevolent cat I've ever known. He was playful in his youth, leaping several feet up walls to try to catch a string on a stick. Of course he was very vocal as well! He was with us through the losses of several of his friends, one of whom he obviously mourned very deeply, but he always prevailed. I'd like to think we meant as much to him as he did to us, and that's why he chose to stay with us for another two and a half years after being diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney failure.

Pippin, I will always miss you and have a special place in my heart for you. I miss the click-click of your toenails as you came into my bedroom to sleep in your favorite spot - the crook of my arm (with your 'paws on the pulse,' as my friend liked to say). I miss the effortless way you leapt onto the bed, even when you were getting weak. I miss the way you torpedoed your pointy face into my armpit, and picked at the covers with your claws (gently, of course) until I let you under. I really miss your purr, which started the instant you came into contact with anyone, whether or not you were being petted.

You were brave up until the very end, and I'm so sorry I couldn't set you free at home where I wanted to. But you had your own timetable, and I had to respect that. You never lost your dignity up until the end, and I'm glad I didn't wait until you were incontinent, or blind, or having seizures to let you go.

The night that you let me know, and I took you to the emergency vet, was one of the saddest in my life. When I drove home alone, there was a tiny sliver of moon in the sky and fireworks going off everywhere. This holiday will never be the same for me again.

I hope you are in a wonderful place now.