Something About Raven

In 1998 I was suffering from a heartbreak that I thought would never happen. When an acquaintance called saying that he was moving and couldn’t take his cat with him to his new home, I immediately perked up and said yes, I would take the cat. It was symbolic, in some ways, because the person who had broken my heart had severe allergies and could never live in a household with a cat. In some ways, my bringing this cat into our home was my way of permanently locking the door he had merely closed behind him.

Raven arrived on Christmas day and was supposed to be the family cat, albeit mostly my family cat, if you know what I mean. However, he’d been raised by a group of men and he did not immediately take to either me or my daughter. Instead, he hovered around Joe and Marc, even going to sleep in their room. Marc is not a cat person by nature and was simply too loud, too energetic, and all around too boisterous for poor Raven.

In the meantime, Rei had been talking to Raven in his own language, responding to his meows with an echoing cry of her own. So attuned to Raven’s call was she that sometimes I thought he was the one making all the racket when it was actually the two of them singing together. Over time, Raven’s loyalties shifted and he became my daughter’s cat.

I did have the comfort of his presence when she left for college briefly. He would spend most of his time in my bedroom and I had the pleasure of his snuggling up beside me at night. He was definitely a cuddler! If I shifted in my sleep, creating even a couple of inches of space between us, he would shift to be closer until once again he was up against my back or hip.

And he snored. Loudly. I know that most people snore more loudly than Raven did but honestly he could give some people a run for their money.

I grew up with cats and although I may be biased, I always thought that Raven had a remarkably pretty face for a short haired cat. He was very expressive with his features but most remarkable was his almost canine like loyalty to my daughter. He would follow her around the house, trying to gain her attention, and lie wherever he could easily see her when he wasn’t immediately lying beside or even on top of her.

He was a wonderful kitty and a wonderful friend to my daughter. He was deeply loved. He is already sorely missed.

Raven

born ?

died 21 April 2009

loved forever