4 months ago today I lost my beloved and adored cat Bogus Khan, whom I had for 12+ years. I have his tribute posted here in the section "Residents of Rainbow Bridge" and also at a website called "Rainbow Bridge Tributes to Dogs and Cats" along with his picture. Please feel free to go and read it. He and I were so very close that when I lost him, I felt as if my heart had been ripped in two, and my world shattered. I never dreamed that I would be so lonely or would cry such a river of tears. I also belived with all my heart that I would never want another cat. I was so wrong. This afternoon I went to pick up my youngest son from elementry school. We were walking home(our usual route)coming up the street to our house, when my son spotted this white and cream colored young cat with deep blue eyes. He had one deformed ear. We both said hello to him and he called back to us. I am convinced that some kind of bonding took place with my son and that adorable young cat, because he started following us the rest of the way home.(We were only 2 blocks from the house.) It was when we crossed the second street that was a busy one for a small town, and put us only 1/2 block from our house that it became very clear that he wanted to come home with us. He stood there at that corner, watching us cross to the other side of the street and begain to cry sorrowfully and started looking in both directions to be sure that the street was clear. One car passed then the street was clear and he quickly crossed the street, caught up with us and followed us on to the house. When my oldest son opened the door to let us in, that young cat walked right into our house as if he belonged there! He stole our hearts within minutes, even my husband who has been grieving very hard after losing Bogus. I took my pull along grocery cart with me, walked to the store and bought some much needed house and food supplies as well as a bag of cat litter and cat food. When I returned, the family helped me unload and bring it inside. After putting the groceries away and getting dinner served, I quickly set up the cat litter box in a discreet place in the kitchen. He went right to it as if he knew exactly what it was and what it was to be used for. My youngest son named him Cloud and that is the name he will have till the day he draws his last breath. We are all so attatched to him that the idea of not keeping him is inconcievable even if he should by some chance happen to belong to someone else which I hope with all my heart that he does not. Somewhere between 6:00 and 6:30 pm it begain to snow heavily and Cloud made it very clear that he has no desire to return to the outside. When my husband asked him if he wanted to go back and live outside, Cloud looked at him as if he were stupid for asking such a question and violently shook his head no. What's really spooky to me is that this young cat is showing some of the VERY EXACT behaviors and mannerisms that Bogus had! I find it heartwarming and yet eerie at the same time. I am finishing up this post at the exact time 4 months ago that I was going thru the longest and saddest 8 hours of my life, sitting vigil with my beloved furbaby as he was leaving this world and preparing to cross over to Rainbow Bridge. Darn! I have tears in my eyes just writing this part. I don't know how long Cloud will be with us, but I can promise that he will be one very pampered and well cared for kitty for as long as he has been given to us. He's sleeping in a chair on a green flowed pillow as I finish this.