Most folks thought Merlin was the shyest cat who ever lived. A big old scaredy-cat. But if you heard his story yourself, you just might think Merlin was the bravest cat in the whole wide world. So let me tell you about my cat Merlin and then you can decide ...

Nobody knows exactly how, but a little grey and white boy kitten with big round green eyes landed at the Humane Society in New York City right under the 59th Street bridge. And so did a very beautiful striped tabby girl kitten. She had a beautiful white fur bib. He got named Merlin and she got named Summer. Another thing we don't really know for sure is how they came to be roommates. Did Summer spot the handsome Merlin and prance over to him, brushing her white whiskers against his curly grey coat. Was she thinking she finally found the friend of her dreams. Or did Merlin spot this very lovely-looking shy little girl and run over to her promising to protect her from the dogs who barked so loud. Or from the hundreds of strange people who kept coming in looking them over and sticking their fat, skinny, pointed and polished fingers in the cat cages. What we do know is that both Merlin and Summer were terribly shy with everyone else and that once they found each other they loved and loved and loved each other for the rest of their lives. Day after day, year after year they lived in the same small cage. They happily lay in each other's arms until -- the very sad day came when the shelter people put hem in different cages. The shelter people hoped that if Merlin and Summer were apart, they would get less shy. Then each one of them could get adopted into a good home.

Not long afterwards an older couple came to the shelter. They were looking for a cat to keep their cat Callie company. They adopted Merlin. But Callie would not play with Merlin. Besides, Merlin missed Summer. So Merlin spent many a month hiding under the bed. Finally, the wife Lucy got Merlin to trust her and he left his hiding spot for Lucy. But Lucy wasn't well and passed away six years later. Merlin, an older boy by this time, was returned to the shelter. Sadly his beloved Summer wasn't there any more. Maybe she missed Merlin and died of a broken heart?

But there was a volunteer named Carolina who knew and loved Merlin and Summer very much from the old days. Carolina decided very quickly to take Merlin home.

Merlin was still his very shy self. He spent most of his days under the bed. He came out only to pass a little time with Carolina's cat, Tara, or to eat his dinner. Tara was okay, but she really wanted the place to herself. And let's face it, as pretty as Tara was, well, she just wasn't Summer. So under another bed became Merlin's new house.

But something soon seemed very strange. Merlin came out for his meals, for his litterbox, for his water and was he -- Merlin -- limping? He wouldn't step on his front right paw. So somehow Carolina got him into his catbox and whisked him off to the Animal Hospital. What an unhappy day -- the doctors said that shy little Merlin had cancer. He came home and life went on. Merlin limped along, holding his paw, but still always came out for his dinner. He loved his dinners, licking his chops after a particularly tasty meal. And lo and behold, along with Merlin's cancer came something else. Could that something else be courage? Nothing could hold Merlin back. His dinners were special to him and he never missed a meal. He came out every night after Carolina got into bed and stayed for hours by the side of the bed, getting his head rubbed and his back stroked. The weather was getting warmer and it must have been hot under the bed. Merlin came out and even jumped on the window sill to catch a breeze and get some sun. Was this the same shy little Merlin? He had cancer and he limped, but everyone thought Merlin was a pretty brave cat to keep on going and try new things. Especially his hip-hop vet tech Mo who came to give him his medicine to make him feel better. His cat doctor who came to see him at home sang songs about animals in a band called Pet Rox. And wouldn't you know it, Dr. Levy's band dedicated a song to Merlin at the 9th Avenue Food Festival. The song was called "Hound Dog" and Merlin thought that was silly of Dr. Levy. Didn't he know I'm a cat and not a dog. My song should be "Hound Cat". But Merlin was still very very very proud and happy to have his own song sung at the Food Festival. He was kind of famous. In fact Merlin felt like a rock star!

But early one Tuesday morning it seemed Merlin was just too sick. He lay down by side of the bed bravely breathing slowly. Carolina stayed with him telling him not to be scared. She kept petting him and telling him that Summer was waiting for him in heaven and was asking him, "Merlin, what's taking you so long?" So Merlin took his last breath and quietly and peacefully passed away to join his beloved Summer where they would be together forever more.

Pretty brave for a shy little cat ...