This week we lost our cat, Emma. While getting the paper, my husband found her weaving her way to the front door and thought this isn't good. After an exam, blood work, and an ultrasound, it was clear we'd be commemorating another pet with a perennial in the garden. She’s the fourth cat we've said goodbye to since my husband and I have been together.
Emma, our Siamese cat, as a youngster.
Emma was the only cat I ever bought, and because she was socialized, a bit more remarkable than the strays we've adopted in the past. I questioned purchasing a cat but went with my intuition. At the time, we had a stray cat named Leon, our first poodle, Belle, and we'd just lost the second cat. As a family, we were out of sorts, and I just felt things would be better if we had another cat plus, I've always liked the idea of two cats and a dog.
Here she is being her cat self, in my bag, in my sock basket, and under the lamp.
Emma did make things better. She taught everyone how to get along. She showed the older cat that if he didn't run, the dog wouldn't chase him; she taught the dog how to play with her—frequently using the dog's wagging tail as a toy was one of Emma's most charming antics. Her overwhelming friendliness and willingness to be held by family and friends helped heal my husband's heart, broken by the loss of his long-time cat. Emma blessed us for fourteen years. We will miss her.
Emma with our first poodle, with Leon who passed about three years ago, and with Gem, our current dog, a couple months ago.