4 years ago this beautiful white cat showed up at my doorstep. "Shoo kitty, go away" I would say. I was a dog person; had dogs all my life growing up. All of my married adult life we never had any pets. So at first I tried to shoo him away but there he was the next day when I got home--sitting & waiting for me. After 2 months of him at my doorstep, I started to get attached to him. I couldn't wait to get home to see if he was there. Now winter was coming and it was getting cold & rainy. I had wanted to take him in but hubby wasn't too sure. The cat was full of fleas. Long story short, hubby finally gave in. We took the cat now named Maggie to the vet for check-up, shots, etc. Then finally, the cat was allowed to enter into our world. I opened the door for Maggie and the cat walked all through the house, checking each room out. I took Maggie back for another check-up 2 months later and the other vet advised me that the cat was actually a male. Hence, Maggie was now Mickey (renamed by my dad). That was 4 years and 2 months ago. I come to realize that Mickey was a gentle, friendly, social, and loving cat. He was my pride & joy. He was "my boy". He was very loveable. Each and every day of his life I gave him many hugs & kisses. Sometimes he would run from me when he saw me coming. I'd say "Mommy needs hugs & kisses" and off he'd go. He'd hide under anything he could to get away from me. But then he'd eventually come out and I'd grab him and get my hugs & kisses. He was a joy to behold. Even family & friends who really weren't "cat people" liked Mickey.

4 months ago, I noticed him losing weight. He usually weighed between 9 & 10 pounds. After 4 months and 4 visits to the vet, Mickey was still losing weight. I called my sister & she suggested taking Mickey to her vet. That was last Tuesday. Her vet examined Mickey and said he didn't think the outlook was good. He thought it was cancer. He wanted me to leave Mickey there that night, but I wasn't prepared and couldn't leave him. The vet said okay, but bring him in the next day. Mickey would need an IV since he was dehydrated and the vet would run tests. Hubby took Mickey in last Wed. morning. I visited Mickey after work on Wed. and again on Thursday afternoon. I wanted to spend as much time as I could with him. I think in the back of my mind, I knew it wouldn't be long. Mickey's weight was down to 4 lbs. 7 oz. Even though he still had his wonderful personality and let me still hold him & hug & kiss him, the last week or so I could look in his face and see it in his eyes that he was suffering. On Friday morning (12/2), surgery was scheduled. The vet wanted to go in & open him up to see if it was, in fact, cancer, and how bad it was. We got the call that it was very bad. Mickey had cancer throughout all his organs. The vet said the humane thing to do was to put him to sleep. Even though I couldn't bear to lose Mickey and God knows I wanted to be with him when it had to be done to hold and comfort him, we had him put to sleep. Last week was the worst week of my life. I loved that cat so much and have missed him every day. After he was put to sleep, I stopped at the vet's on the way home to get papers signed and make arrangements to have Mickey cremated. I asked to see him one more time and they let me. He looked so small. I held him and kissed him and told him how much we love him and thanked him for all the love and happiness he brought to us. I hated to let him go. I miss him so much. I miss his greeting every afternoon-first in the window watching for me and then his little pink nose at the door when I'd come home from work. I miss his greeting in the morning; meowing for his food and morning treats. Even the way he'd sit by the table at dinner time and him begging for food; I miss that. I miss petting his soft fur and the smell of him. I had one of the girls in the vet's office cut off some of his fur for me. I held his fur last night just so I could feel near him. Mickey filled our hearts with so much love and joy and now there is an empty spot. He is missed everyday.

I know one day when I enter the gates of heaven, Mickey will be there to greet me. And I will run to him and pick him up and hug & kiss him and say "Mommy's here, Mickey. And she needs hugs & kisses from her boy".

My beloved gentle Mickey. He is forever in our heart.