Today, I lost you. I will never forget the day I found you. I went to the SPCA looking for a young adult cat. They had none, but I peeked into the kitten corral before I left. You walked right up to the edge, put your little paws up and said "hey, get me out of here." A cute little black and white ball of fur with a pink collar. You were a girl. You didn't fuss when I held you, just looked up at me with those huge green eyes. I fell in love with you at that moment, and I never stopped. When I got you home and opened up cardboard box, you jumped out and started purring loudly. It was one of the most wonderful feelings I have ever experienced.

You were a playful kitten, and you did funny, funny things. I used to give you pieces of shrimp until I realized why you were always running over to the sofa afterward. Apparently, you liked to hide the shrimp in the sofa, so that you could "find" it and "kill" it before eating it. You had a lot of energy and tore around my little apartment like nobody's business. I had to start keeping the lid to the toilet seat down after you managed to land in it a few of weeks after I brought you home. You were soaking wet and terrified, and we bonded as I held you in a towel until you were dry.

You were a really smart kitty, and people were always amazed that I had a cat that was trained. Occasionally, when you were in a forbidden spot you really liked, you would complain in a way that almost sounded like a sheep's bleating as you begrudgingly got down. It made me laugh every single time, and I liked having a pet who was both obedient and sassy.

You loved to play rough, and I'd wrestle you with a little stuffed teddy bear that was at first a little bigger then you, then exactly your size, and then finally you grew up. You still liked to play rough, and you'd launch sneak attacks on my legs. I decided maybe you needed another kitty friend to play with, but I struggled with this decision. My apartment was so small, and there were already two of us in it. Then one day I went to the pet store to get some food, and all the little kitties were sleeping in pairs.

I thought I wanted the grey and white kitty with patches like you, but he was fussy. His bedmate, on the other hand, seemed like a sweetie. I brought him home for you. You hated him. You hissed at him so much I took him into work with me because I was afraid to leave him alone with you. But, somehow on the fourth day you started to warm up to him, on the fifth day you were playing, by the end of the week you were cleaning him, and after that you were curled up sleeping together every single day.

It was never again just the two of us, and part of me missed that special bond, but I think you had a better life for his companionship. Sometimes he was a brat, and he'd steal your food or attack you, but you were a pretty tough kitty, and you held your own. I remember getting mad at him when he'd pin you down and bite the back of your neck until I realized this was a mating ritual. Even though he was fixed, he was still sort of a randy cat. Twice, I remember, you got him pinned down and paralyzed with the scruff of his neck in your mouth. It is funny to recognize human emotions in animals, but when you sat up straight afterward, wide-eyed, it was unmistakable that I was seeing pride while he scurried off humiliated.

You loved the sun, and you liked to be outside. That balcony was your favorite part of the house, and you knew the words for "outside" and "inside," although one of them you tended to ignore until I chased you in the door. I think in your heart, you were an outdoor kitty, and you'd watch out the window and wish you could go after the birds. When I get back, I will take your ashes someplace where there are a lot of birds and things to chase.

You came to me at a time when I needed some love and some cheer in my life. I had a special bond with you that I don't think can ever be duplicated in another animal. You were my first love. You had beautiful green eyes, and you expressed so many emotions with them. I cannot believe I will never again be able to see the happiness and love in your eyes when I tell you what a pretty girl you are and how much I love you.

You left me after only eight years. I went on sabbatical for a few months, making sure to give you a checkup to be sure you were 100% healthy before I left. Now, I am 7000 miles away, and you're suddenly gone. I never got to hold you or comfort you. I know your caretaker came to visit you even in your very last moments when you were in a coma, to talk to you and try to wake you up. But, I will forever be heartbroken that I left my sweet, furry, playful baby and came home to a box of ashes.

Mimi, I love you so much, and you will always be missed.