I had to say goodbye to my truest friends and companions within 9 months of each other. Nala was my soul cat. I got her when I moved out for college, and she went through it all with me. She was always up for an adventure - not once did I see her be scared of anything. She loved to take naps in the sun and to sleep under the covers in our bed. She’d gently push me with her hind paws in the middle of the night so I’d give her more space. She also hated vets with a passion.

Dante, her son, forever terrorized Nala by stealing all the best nap spots around the house. He became an incredibly cuddly boy in his old age. He was a true romantic - loved to hang out in his cat tree and just watch the rain, sunrises, sunsets, and the stillness of the night.

Dante left us first, at 16 years. Nala left us shy of a couple weeks of turning 18. This is the first time in my life that I don’t have any pets. I love hanging out with cats, but I don’t know that I will ever love again the way I loved these two.