Kelli's Tribute Page

Since she was integrated into our home, Diane and I always felt that she didn't "fit in" too well with the rest. Kiki used to chase her around the house. He hated her for some reason, and went out of his way to antagonize her. Kelli became the "cranky cat", probably more for the sound of her meow than the fact that she showed little tolerance for the other cats. Her meow was like a nasal "naaaaahhhh!" than a meow.

Kelli liked me best, and always let it be known. Except when it rained. Kelli hated the rain. For some unknown reason, when there was even the slightest hint of rain, Kelli would huddle in a little ball in fear at the base of the stairs until Diane walked by; then if Diane would stay near her, she would come over to her, and huddle at her feet while she tried to console her. Often we wouldn't even know it was raining until we saw how Kelli was acting.

Kelli also loved to drink water. She insisted that the water be fresh. If the bowl of water on the kitchen floor hadn't been changed lately, she would walk away into the dining room, circle through the living room, then back into the kitchen to see if it had been changed. More often than not, Diane would have noticed her behaviour, and obligingly changed it. Then it was acceptable, and she would drink. She also used to like to drink from the bathroom faucet if a small stream of water was allowed to flow. She'd stick her head under the faucet, to drink, and usually wound up with a wet head in the process. When she started getting pretty sick over the last few weeks, she would jump up on the kitchen counter, and look for water to drink from the kitchen faucet. Unfortunately it was too far away to get a good drink. Diane found that by putting a large vase in the sink with the water running into it, that that was acceptable, and she'd drink from the vase as she crouched on the counter. We just recently bought a kitty water fountain that recirculates water through a filter, and makes a constant flowing stream of water. Kelli only had the opportunity to use it a few times; now Minni uses it.

When Biffy was undergoing chemo treatments, he would walk right up to where Kelli had her head in the water bowl, and stick his head right in the bowl right along side (and oblivious to) Kelli. Fortunately, Kelli decided to allow this activity, and let him in have it (the water, that is!). She wouldn't have stood for that from anyone else.

Cats almost always like to lay on whatever papers are lying around. I'm not sure how it started, but we've been putting 4 sheets of computer paper in front of the coffee table for years (obtained from the recycle bin at work). Kelli liked to lay on it there. It was "her spot". Once in a while, one of the other cats would lay there, and she'd give 'em the "stink eye": she'd walk right up to the offender, and just stare at him/her until s/he got the hint and walked away, saying to him/herself, "uh, I was just leaving anyway...". Biffy, however, was oblivious to the stare, and would just ignore her. Eventually Kelli would give up on Biffy, and find another place to lay down. I guess in her mind, Biffy was the exception to her "rules". I guess Biffy had a special place in all our hearts, even hers.

It can be a terrible thing to be human, to love so deeply, and to endure to trauma of such losses; but what a wonderful thing to have been a cat in your family. Fluffy, Biffy, and Kelli were lucky cats indeed. Their illnesses were tragic, but their lives were so much more than their final months and days. From the day each of them found you they were blessed beyond feline dreams. Their lives with you were joyous and golden. They didn't anticipate the ends of their lives and so, even though they were sick, they still delighted in life because they were living it with you.

You two made miracles happen for these cats. Even Fluffy's terrible ordeal was lessened for him by your efforts on his behalf. You gave him much more time and a higher quality of life than many of us would have been able to achieve in the hit and miss treatments you were forced to try. In the end, though you were separated, I know his spirit was not in that operating room...he was with you.

In the moments you let Biffy and Kelli go they felt from you the intensity of all your love for all their lives. Though your pain was, and is, unbearable, they were overwhelmed with joy for the love of you.