Not very many people understood you, including me, when we first met on September 4, 2004. I hadn’t been volunteering long and had not yet had much experience with feral cats. Next thing I knew, there you were. After all this time, you still had the most expressive eyes I have ever seen. It was you who showed me that feral cats had a purpose, feral cats could be socialized and it was you who taught me not to give up without a fight. You showed me how to work with a feral cat just by being so expressive with your eyes. You could be aggressive, if you felt the need, but you always gave me a chance to back off first. Your sister came around before you did and was adopted several years ago. You seemed happiest at the center and no one knew that better than those of us who knew you best.
You gained a level of trust for some of us and we learned to respect what you were and what you weren’t and we were rewarded for that by being able to hold and cuddle you. I have pictures of four of the volunteers holding you and we will all treasure those moments for they won’t come again. Sadly, not everything is in our control and your loss was certainly not in mine. I will remember you always for exactly who you were; an independent, loving cat who had more ‘cat-atude’ than any other cat I have ever met. It’s only March 2010 and way too soon to say goodbye to the girl that taught me nearly everything I know about socializing feral cats. More than 40 of my foster cats owe their new loving families and homes to you. I love you and I miss you dearly.
Dear Donna,