I had been visiting the local humane society for months looking for a new companion. I had just moved into a new apartment with my fiance, and since we didn't want children, we decided to get a cat. I held a few cats before I decided on Zell, but none of the others felt right. Zell was calm and collected, and he let me hold him and pet him for a long time. I immediately took him home. Over the next year, he was my best friend. He would watch movies with me, sit with me in the bathroom, wait for me by the door, and he would follow me all over the apartment, even if it meant he would have to get up from a nap. Then things took a turn for the worse. First he began scratching at his ear and the vet said he allergies. Then two weeks later, I noticed he had labored breathing and was dry heaving. I knew I needed to monitor him to make sure things were alright. Then this morning, I woke up and he wasn't in the bed with us, and I knew something was wrong. After calling his name and searching for him, I found him laid out in the kitchen floor moaning. He was limp and cold. He had also thrown up three or four times in the apartment. I rushed him to the vet. They told us that he had eaten something, maybe yarn, and it had blocked his intestines. Whatever it was, it was a substantial amount and would have required surgery, but even with surgery, he had only a 5% chance of surviving. I broke down. I knew I didn't want him to suffer, and I wanted to save him, but I also did not have the income to even attempt to cover the costs. I couldn't bear to see him in pain, so I allowed them to put him to sleep. I miss him soo much, but I know he is better off. I'd like to think that I gave him a better life, but in reality, he brightened MY life. He kept me sane. I know I'll never find another Zell, but I know he would want me to make another cat just as happy as I made him. He was only a year and half, and his life ended too soon, but I am confident that God placed him in my life for a reason and a season, and it will always be one of the best experiences of my life.