Today is a very hard day. We had to put our cat to sleep. That sounds horrible doesn't it? But it's really not. Pollyanna is in a better place—so much better than where my husband and I are right now. The house is so empty. It's funny how one little 18 year old cat can fill a house with warmth. I loved my Polly and had a good cry today, but my husband is taking it harder. Polly was daddy's little girl. She followed him around the house and always found a welcome lap to sit on. She sat on my lap too, but not as often as the daddy lap, where she was most comfortable.

When we moved from Long Island to Pennsylvania in 2004 we had four cats; Tomasina, Ali, Polly and Mushie. We adored them. They were the children we did not have. After our dog Benji died in 1996 they were the next pets on the roster. The absence of Benji in our lives prompted us to go out and get Tomasina and Ali (our first two). A year later came Polly and the following year came Mushie. They are all gone now, but their presence is still felt within the confines of our home. They were indoor cats and very pampered. Each had her own personality (all female) and there were a few head butts now and then. Polly stalked Ali and Ali hid under the bed and in the laundry basket. But all in all they lived very happy lives here with us. They brought us so much happiness over the years and we cherish each and every moment they were in our lives.