An Open Letter to my Cat

Dear Annie,

This October we will have had you for five years. It's crazy to think that we've had you this long. I remember when you were just a tiny kitten. You were so small and liked to play constantly. In fact, you were so young when we got you that we had to use cat milk formula to feed you. Though it may have been a little insensitive, I joked that you were "little orphan Annie," due to the fact that you were found with no mother. We ("C" and I) liked that you had a little bit of both of our hair colors, orange and brown, like you were meant to fit right into our family.

I will never forget how I never felt alone at home when C was at work because you were always there. When I worked graveyards and had to stay up all night during my nights off, you were there to cuddle with me on the couch while I watched television. I had so much fun teaching you tricks and you loved getting little pieces of cheese as a treat. Weirdly, you don't like cheese or any other treats anymore and won't eat anything other than dry cat food.

A good memory that I have of you is when I first met you. I came home in the morning from working a graveyard shift and you were shut in the bathroom so you wouldn't get lost in the house. You were so tiny and were still sleepy. You were the cutest little thing I had ever seen. Even though you had been given a bed to sleep in, you were sleeping in the sand of the little box of litter that had been set out for you. I picked you up from the sand and put you into your cat bed. You never did come to like sleeping in a cat bed and always chose to either sleep on the floor or in the bed with me and C.

Now, you are a full grown cat, very fluffy, and have very short little legs. I would also say a little chubby but C insists that it all is fluff. Although you didn't like "A" when we brought him home from the hospital, you have grown to be patient and love him. He definitely loves you too and gets excited when you allow him to hold or pet you. You are a perfect member of our little family and I am excited to watch you and A continue to grow up together.

Love,

M