Molly Kitty in memoriam

My cat Molly was hit in front of our house yesterday. She was 13 years old, and acted like a kitten her whole life. This cat had sass and a feistiness that was relentless.

I was in my last year of college when I adopted Molly. I had been going to the SPCA on a weekly basis, looking for a kitten that would be able to hang out. After weeks of looking, the assistant had told me there were a new litter of kittens that just arrived. They had been found in a tied pillowcase, that was thrown over the fence and into the dog yard. It was a miracle a few had lived through the ordeal. She opened the cage, and this little black and white kitten jumped out onto my shoulder and perched there. I sat on the floor and she curled up in my lap and fell asleep. This was my cat. I brought her home that same day, with a bag of toys to welcome her into her new place. The first evening I had her, I found out she was very ill. She had a stomach virus, ear infection, and upper respiratory infection. We went to the vet and an obscene amount of money later, back home we went with various meds and instructions. It was touch and go for the first few days. I had classes to finish and term papers to write, so I left Molly with this stuffed mouse that was almost as big as her to keep her company.

And Molly got better. In fact, that was the last time she had any illness at all. When she got better, I realized that this kitten was not the type of kitten to just hang out. She bounced off the walls. She soon grew larger than the mouse stuffed animal, and we'd play fetch with that thing forever. I would carry her in my backpack to friend's houses and parties. She ran around and socialized with everyone. She had to be the center of attention, which proved to be a trait she would hold on to.

I moved around quite a bit after I graduated from college. My parent's babysat Molly a lot...sometimes for an extended stay. The stuffed mouse moved around with her. Sometimes between visits, I would forget to bring the mouse back home. She would caterwaul for that mouse all night, until the next day priority mail came with the mouse safely tucked inside, thanks to my Mom.

People that didn't like cats liked Molly. She would specifically go to the people that didn't want her near, just to prove to them that they would love her if they only gave her a chance.

When Sophia was born, I worried a lot about how Molly would take to her. Anyone that knew Molly, also worried how she would handle the new addition. She was not one to share attention. But she proved us wrong, and took to Sophia like she took to all people. She was actually even a little gentle around Sophia.

All Molly really demanded was attention and love. She was such a presence in my daily life and although she could be annoyingly affectionate at times, she will be dearly missed. We buried her in the backyard behind the garden yesterday afternoon, with her mouse stuffed animal to keep her company.