We had a lovely babysitter on Crookhorn Road in Montross who one day asked us if we knew anyone who…read morewanted the friendliest kitten she had ever met. About that time, Fluffy started pawing at her front door.
We plopped her in two-year-old Avery's lap in his car seat where she rode home without stirring. Our barely verbal toddler christened her Fluffy and she was immediately family.
She endured aggressive baby hands, our frisky little dog, and a penchant for getting lost in dark spaces with her characteristic, lifelong calm.
She once went missing for nine days and April and I were sure she was gone, but Avery announced, unsurprised, "Fluffy's back" when he saw her trotting down our road, leaving no doubt about where her home was.
A neighbor later told us that a beautiful grey cat had streaked out of his garage when he had returned from vacation.
When she did not appear immediately upon any of our arrivals home, we always knew to check our crawl spaces, closets and sheds. As much as she liked people, she also really liked dark corners. I like to think that makes her a complex soul.
When our little ones cried, she would huddle near them. When someone was sick or sad, she positioned herself gingerly beside them. If you sat down, no matter where (or who) you were, your lap was fair game. I never read a book in the hammock that she did not find her way between my legs. People who don't like cats adored Fluffy and her unconditional, unobtrusive affection.
Through 18 years, I don't believe she ever learned to hiss. She never scratched anyone or remotely considered biting anything other than her food. She was excellent at projecting love, spreading warmth, and simply being close to whomever she met.
She slowed down, as we all must, this last year, but if it took a few extra lunges to get into the chair or bed, never did she complain. Even when walking got hard the last few days, she still found her favorite sunbeam and languished in it.
The wonderful folks at Fork Union Animal Clinic helped us say goodbye. I thanked them for doing what must be the most difficult part of their job, but the veterinarian looked me in the eye and said that it was much easier when the people were emotional, for then they knew that the animal was truly loved.
She was.
