Pudding

2016 - 2024

My small, fluffy, opinionated, sweet baby girl.
I remember bringing you home. The shelter locked me in a room with a bunch of kittens and you were a cute little thing with a stupid tail chewing on my purse. I remember putting you in the cardboard box and bringing you home. I remember you immediately opening yourself up to me the second I brought out a bowl of food. I remember you learning to open cupboards so you could eat a hole through your food bag. I remember you knocking over our first Christmas tree. I remember us moving into our first safe place alone together, and that first night together after weeks apart. You were a happy pile of cat in bed with me. I remember when my apartment had a fire, and driving 100+ mph the whole way from olympia to Puyallup to make it home and make sure you were alright, and spending hours freaking out looking for you just to sit on the bathroom floor alone at 1am sobbing because I was sure I lost you forever. Only for you to meow at me and pop out from behind the shower curtain. Then the weeks we spent living in a hotel together after the fact. We’ve been through so many firsts together, you’ve unconditionally loved me and been there for me through every shitty low, you’ve remained a constant in my life.
You spent so many days sunbathing on apartment patios, I was so excited that we finally got a real house for you to explore. I got you an AirTag collar in hopes that you’d finally get to explore outside. We never made it that far before this happened. I’ve never stopped loving you, never forgotten that you’re my baby girl, and never forgotten any precious moment I’ve had with you.
You turned 8 last month, and you’re way too young for this. I’m way unprepared for this. But just as you’ve been beside me for every low point in my life, I’m right beside you now. Whatever I can do to make you a happy girl in your last few days on this earth (even if that means leaving you the fuck alone tonight because you’re tired and sore and grumpy) I’m here for you, and I love you, and I’ll always love you with every ounce of my being. You’re my original baby and you’ll keep an irreplaceable spot in my heart.