My buddy Murray passed away this week. He had been loosing weight for about 6 months and the vet couldn't figure out why. We tried everything, but in the end, his digestive system shut down, and he didn't make it.

Murr was the first cat I adopted with my now-husband almost 13 years ago. We went to the humane society, and this sweet gray furball got in our laps and just passed out. The white on his face reminded me of a Skull, so I suggested we name him after Murray the Skull from Monkey Island. My husband, being a huge fan of that series, was pretty much sold.

He was such a cuddle buddy from the second we got him home. He LOVED to sleep in our laps at night after dinner, and he would usually end up between our pillows when we would go to bed. Any time I ever sat still for more than a minute, he was there in my lap purring up a storm.

Murr also earned the nickname "Kujo" from my family because he had a mean streak when he wanted to. If one of the cats started yowling when I had to do something like give them medicine or trim their nails, he'd bite my leg. He also wasn't much a fan of the dog. It's what inspired me to put up the Valhalla quote. He definitively was a warrior.

But he also had his soft side. Aside from me and my hubs, his favorite nap buddy was my other cat, Lita. They loved to snuggle with each other. It always amused me seeing this big tough cat cuddled up with the tiny, dainty floof. I think she misses him as much as I do.

Murr was still such a sweet baby though. Bedtime just hasn't been the same the past week without him purring up a storm on my pillow. Miss you buddy.