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Shannon
"Shannon was a real cats' cat and went about life with purpose and determination. In his youth, he was awesome to see in action. He had incredible jumping ability and terrified me on a number of occasions with his death-defying leaps; no small feats for a cat of 18 pounds, at his prime. To belabor a pun, he had no small "feets," either. They were like furry baseball mitts, and armed with razor-sharp claws. After he lost his best buddy, Arthur, he discovered the human half of his family, and became my best friend. He was my inspiration for this site for many years, sitting on my desk by my side, his noble profile pointed toward dreams of the future, occasionally nodding off to sleep, then waking and reminding me with a gentle pat on my arm that he needed attention too. Our relationship deepened even more during the last year of his life, after he was diagnosed with FIV. On his 18th birthday, July 4, 2000, I challenged him to make it to age 19. Stout old trooper that he was, he did, but at great costs to his strength and spirit. Shortly after his 19th birthday, he offered gentle hints that he was ready to leave; hints I couldn't bear to acknowledge. Finally, on July 13th, 2001, he let me know with no doubts that it was time to say goodbye. Shannon earned his own section on my web site, with his steadfast devotion and inspiration.
I still can't believe that he is gone. I love him and miss him so very, very much.
- Franny Syufy
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Coping with Loss
You may submit photos of your own special cat to be memorialized, using the guidelines on the Photo Submittal page. Be sure to write a paragraph or so about the cat, and use "Memorial Photo" as the subject of the email.
Photos used with permission of their owners and slaves.
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