Dressed For The Occasion

I'm not ashamed of being an eternal cat lover. After being introduced to Vinnie may mean I now favor tuxedo cats.

We adopt them because we know how beneficial they are to our lives and mental health, and growing the family with a pet becomes a decision that lasts a lifetime. Let's not forget how amazingly adorable they are and how they ultimately become the best companions.

The day I adopted Vinnie is similar to many experiences, I'm sure. Our eyes met across the room; an adorable tuxedo kitten with long white whiskers, a highly defined fur vest, and just a touch of white on all four paws. I walked over to him and gently placed my finger on the glass. He raised a front paw and placed it on his side of the glass, right where my finger was. Instant love.

He began exploring his forever home, and we started learning about each other. He was loving, strong, cuddly, playful, full of spunk, and by far the smartest cat I’ve ever met. He cuddled with anyone who allowed it and would purr to welcome me to the room. He had unmatched confidence, and he enjoyed eating raw vegetables. Playing with him meant tossing a ball to him to catch in mid-air while lying down, of course, and he would roll the ball back to you. Chasing the laser pen was also an undeniable favorite.

He always kept me company, whether I was working, cooking, cleaning, or sleeping, he made himself present. However, my chances of a cuddle increased if I was sitting in the sun.

There is one thing that Vinnie loved more than anything; when I made tuna casserole for dinner. It is on the menu regularly, and the recipe uses three cans of tuna. Vinnie loved it because he knew he was going to get his favorite treat, the water from the tuna cans. I would gently drain the water from the can into a small bowl and let him devour it. He knew the sound of the small cans being placed on the kitchen counter, which is slightly different than a standard can. It was like an alarm went off when they hit the counter, and without fail, he would gracefully appear on the stools on the other side of the counter to watch. As soon as I opened the cans, he would sniff the sweet tuna-scented air wafting his way. He was usually finished with his treat within about a minute once it was served. This has to be one of the best memories I have of him.

He was 16 years old when he died in his sleep, and, like all of our pets, he has a special place in my heart. One of the most significant things he gave me was unconditional emotional comfort. I've always understood the role and validity of an emotional support animal, and recognizing it in my life didn't happen until it was no longer present.

I adopted him right about the time I started dating my ex, and he died about a year after our marriage ended. The thing is, my marriage was not a healthy and loving experience, and Vinnie was with me to offer the emotional support my marriage was lacking. This only became clear in hindsight. I’ve never experienced a karmic connection on that level, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have shared that time with him. It has left me to wonder, who rescued who?

Making tuna casserole for him as a special treat was probably my subconscious way of thanking him for being in my life when my ex-husband failed to be. It was, and still is, on the menu every week and I’m positive I can feel him in spirit every time I make his favorite dish.