Black cat laying down and looking at the camera

Violet's sparkling golden eyes, round as the moon, brimmed with love and life. Born on the streets in 2008, she and her siblings were rescued and although they were considered feral and were judged by a vet to be around 5 months of age, everyone involved wanted them to live normal lives in homes, rather than difficult lives outdoors. We offered to socialize them even though 5 months is considered way too old to be socialized (according to most). But we proved them wrong, and just a couple of months later Violet’s siblings went off to OHS to find homes. Violet, though, was just too fearful and full of “tooth and claw” (I had to pet her with a stick!), so we decided to keep the shy and charming little gal. On the day that we dropped off her siblings at OHS, we returned home to Violet, alone for the first time in our “kitten room,” and the change in her — after being left alone for a couple of hours — was amazing: She rubbed my legs and wanted to be picked up! And when I did, she was all purrs and sweetness. And that was the beginning of the love affair with Rick and I that we never wanted to end.

Besides being gorgeous, smart and sweet, she was spunky. For example, one day after she had jumped off our deck into our backyard, she met up with a neighbor’s cat, who would come into our yard just to pick a fight. But when he saw Violet he became enamored, and approached her as if all he wanted to do was gaze into her luminous eyes. Courageous and feisty, she wanted none of it and slapped him in the face, sending him running back to his yard with his tail between his legs! She also wanted to be one of the Boyz and actually sprayed with the best of them when we were having territory issues in our house. Another thing she liked to do when my legs weren’t covered with pants was to gently bite my calf to try to speed up her meal prep. Ouch!

Violet went through many awful health problems beginning at age ten, including polyarthritis and finally, a rare form of cancer. But she put up with vet visits and pills and had gained weight just a year ago. The last few years she enjoyed being carried around the garden on sunny days, climbing the stairs to the second floor, and, with the help of a mini-stairway we made for her, landing onto our bed at night for cuddles and kisses. She had the most adorable voice and we loved her deeply. Brave and beautiful to the end, she will live forever in our hearts.

Vi, we never wanted to say goodbye and watch you leave. Each day with you was a treasure. We miss you more than words can say and will never forget you. Thank you for loving us.

(Photo: Miss June of the 2012 Cat Lovers Against the Bomb calendar.)