Kiva

My former neighbor in Park Slope, Brooklyn–who was a veterinarian–insisted I needed a second cat. Someone in the neighborhood had found her when she was just a few days old, abandoned by her mom. According to what the vet was told by the woman who found her, she was splayed out on her belly, hardly able to move, and covered in fleas. She was a sickly little kitty and I took her home when she was feeling better and a few weeks old. She was meant to be a gift for by boyfriend at the time, who had addiction issues and turned out to be a poor choice for a partner. Once I kicked him out of my apartment, I knew she was mine. Then September 11th rolled around and I was grateful to have two kitties to come home to for comfort. After 2 years I moved to Portland, Oregon with my boyfriend (now husband) and she lived here until her death. To be honest, she was not the most friendly or engaged cat until she began to age. Over the last few years she began to finally sleep with us on our bed! She finally enjoyed attention and being pet! Our kids eventually grew to love her even more now that she was receptive to their attention. Eventually Kiva was diagnosed with renal failure and may have possibly had cancer towards the end of her life. We made the difficult decision to have her pain taken away forever on October 31st, 2018. It is the first time in 26 years I am without a cat and miss her so much!
A donation was made in Kiva's memory and the memorial was created on November 21, 2018.