Cleo walked into our lives 12 years ago when I was on my way to work. I was working the graveyard shift at UPS, and as I left for work at midnight this small dark grey kitten came bounding out from under a car and up to me mewing for my attention. I looked around as if I was expecting an owner to come out of nowhere and claim her. She remained in front of me, staring up at me with those golden eyes.

My then boyfriend and I had talked about getting a second cat.. He said no, always, every time I had asked, so I knew that I wouldnt be able to keep her. However she had come up to me cause she needed help, and I was going to give it. I scooped her up easily and brought her inside. I quickly proclaimed to my boyfriend "Ill take her to the pound in the morning." She was a very friendly and cute kitten, she would have no problems getting a home. After setting her in the bathroom with some food and water I ran out to work.

When I got home from work I bathed her and went right to bed, fully expecting to take her to the animal shelter when I woke up. I didnt expect that when I woke up I would find my boyfriend laying on the couch with the kitten in hand, petting and loving on her. "We have to keep her.. She hasnt stopped purring since I picked her up." From then on, she became our cat.

In the beginning she couldnt stand being alone. She followed my boyfriend and I everywhere around our tiny apartment. When we left the kitchen and turned a corner and she couldnt see us anymore, she would cry until we called out to her, letting her know where we were. She would then come running up to us for love and attention. For 12 years she has remained ever loving. She has never swatted at us, tried to bite us, and has remained the perfect purring machine. She has loved everybody she has come in contact with. She was the most wonderful and loving cat I have ever known of.

Anybody who tells you that all cats are selfish creatures were proven wrong by her. She wanted cuddles, she wanted to love on you.. And her forever soft and fluffy coat was a pleasure to lose yourself in whenever you had a bad day. She was a people cat, and gosh darn it, if you were in our home you needed to pet her. She loved cuddles so much that you couldnt even pull your hand away. She would catch your hand and bring it right back to her face for more scratches.

Cleo was a treasure.

We lost her this week after making the choice to put her down. We have been battling some pretty serious breathing problems for over a year and a half.

I will miss her dearly.