Thread: Beloved Samantha

On Friday the 13 2011 I lost the light of my life my beloved Samantha and 2 two and a half months later I still cry when I write about her.

I fell in love with her from the moment I first lay eyes on her 15 1/2 years ago and I felt it was privilege to have been own and loved by such a lovely creature.
I got Samantha after my beloved Meme passed away that a story for another day, a friend had told me about the magnificent giant cats called Maine Coons and I wanted to treat my self to something special.
I did my research, I bought a book at my local Petsmart called "This is the Maine Coon Cat" and I quickly read it from cover to cover, it dispelled some of the myths I'd been told, like I was unlikely to get a 30lb monster cat, but I was intrigued buy the chapter on temperament and behavior, it spoke of how dignified and gracious the females were and I was sold.
My local news paper had a number to find breeders, this was pre internet for me, I called and they gave me a number, I called that breeder he'd didn't have any kittens for sale but gave me the number of a breeder who did.
That's how I met Susan Dorey owner of Amazing Tails Cattery, she no longer breeds cats, she interviewed me over the phone I told her about Meme passing away and she found me worthy, she had 4 older kittens available, 3 red siblings 8 months old and a Blue Torbie 6 months old, they also had a Black Tortie that they were keeping.
My book had a picture of a Torbie that was beautiful si I was very interested.
That Saturday my lady friend and I drove over there to pick out a kitty, when I arrive the father gave his approval by lying down on my bag which had pictures of Meme, I wanted Susan to see that I was a cat lover.
All the cats were beautiful, healthy and rambunctious, but Samantha was just stunning, she was just breathtakingly beautiful, I was in love but she was indifferent to me, her half sister Blondie who Susan still owns was very interested in going home with me.
But I chose Samantha, I figured she'd warm up to me she just needed to be spoiled rotten.
I was right about that, once I got her home she hid under the couch but soon got out to eat and explore.
The way I figured it, in a house full of cats she just didn't get the one on one attention she needed, she wasn't a needy or demanding cat and never was.
At first I was a little disappointed that she wasn't the lap but I accepted her for who she was and we bonded and that bond grew until that terrible day when I had to let her go and she died in my arms, she knew her Papa loved her.
We spent 15 1/2 years together, from frisky 6 month old brat kitty to 16 year old lovely lady.
I can say truthfully that even on the day she died she was the most beautiful cat I've ever seen and her sweet gentle nature surpassed her beauty, she was kind to strangers but somewhat aloft she allowed small children to gently pet her but her devotion was reserved for her Papa, when I moved into my house when she was 4 1/2 she would always sit on the kitchen table and look out the window at the world, we lived across the street from a daycare center and there lots of comings and goings.
Whenever I would pull into my driveway She would always be there watching for me, when I got out of my car and walked to the front door I would always hear her cheerful welcome home Papa and my troubles would leave my mind, my beloved Samantha was glad to see me, I get a cold drink and sit in my chair and she would jump on the arm and I would pet this lovely creature who loved me above all others and I would just be awed and humbled.
She's gone and my heart still aches, Little Chiquita has been a great comfort to me.
I'll always own or be owned by cats, as much as it hurts when they go they give us so much.
Someday when my living situation settles and if Chiquita permits it I want another Maine Coon Cat maybe a pair male and female, they're just glorious creatures who teach us o much about living in the moment.