Kitty the Mixed Breed (Other) Cat

Published on Jan 1st, 2008

By Carol Riedel (Location Unknown)

I've enjoyed writing stories about some of my animals, but there is one special animal that has a place in my heart that stands out. I shared my life with this little creature for 17 years, which is half of my lifetime. She took me through my teens into my thirties before she passed away.

I was seventeen years old and living in England. The next door neighbor's cat had kittens and I went to look at the newborns. I picked out a kitten and waited the usual six weeks. The kitten I picked was a creamy fawn color with little duffs in her ears. I named her "Ms. Kitty" and she always came to me when I whistled a special way. Ms. Kitty was about a year old when I took her back to the states with me.

Ms. Kitty was a very haughty cat as a youngster, covered with soft, fluffy fur, and impeccably groomed at all times. Ms. Kitty's most prized feature was her beautifully plumed tail that she proudly displayed while walking around the room. She maintained herself very well up until the last year or two of her life. One other distinct feature that Ms. Kitty had was a mane of hair that surrounded a small-featured kitten like face.

In 17 years, a lot can happen in someone's life. I told all of my secrets to Ms. Kitty and countless times cried and sobbed all over her. If I were sick, she never left my side. She always slept with me and would put aside her vanity when I held her like a teddy bear.

In my early thirties, I became a single parent. I really enjoyed my pregnancy but circumstances were difficult at times and during those times, I had a heavy heart. I became ill the last two months before giving birth and moved in with my parents, Ms. Kitty in tow.

I guess this is the part that makes my heart weep, I can still see her little face looking up at me and hear the sound of her purr. I got through the days, but at night, the sadness would come, and so Ms. Kitty lay would offer herself as a comfort to me.

When I went to the hospital to have the baby Ms. Kitty was very upset to be left behind, and the first time she heard the baby cry she was horrified. She eventually took it in stride and in her advanced years did very well with a toddler. She knew that the child was mine and she became "Granny Kitty".

Ms. Kitty passed away a couple of years ago, just a few months after my mother died with cancer. I had purchased a book written by Billy Graham about death. One of the stories Mr. Graham told in his book to illustrate his point was about a child that died and went to heaven and there she saw a kitten that she had loved very much. Mr. Graham's point was God provides everything we need to be completely happy in heaven. I found comfort in his words and picture Ms. Kitty young again, able to play, and free of the fetters of old age.