Allister - you showed up one cold night in the Fall, a kitten clinging to our window screen. We took you in, a small bundle of black fur, the same age as our daughter Katie. You put up with a baby pulling your tail and laying on you... we called you "Katie's familiar" and laughed. You watched over her through her childhood and followed her in the yard. You were the cat that curled up on her bed and held her down in her chair, begging for her to cuddle you. You snuggled us all, always wanting kisses and pets and you always assumed anyone who walked in the house was a new friend for you to love.



You fought your last battle with dignity, but for all we and the vet could do, we finally realized it was a battle you couldn't win. We didn't want to say goodbye to you, but when you became so sick you couldn't eat anymore, we knew it was time for you to go. You died peacefully in my arms at the vet... I wasn't going to let you go into that good night alone.



I will miss you curling up under my arm at night and waking up to find you nose to nose with me. We will all miss your loud howling when you wanted food, the way you clawed at us if we didn't pet you. Katie will miss her TV watching companion and having you constantly on her lap. Dad will  miss you curling up with him too when he sat on the chair and even how you took up so much room on the bed! I'll even miss tripping over you in the kitchen and the way you sat on the stool and clawed me for attention when I did the dishes or was making shrimp scampi. Randy will miss petting you... and pushing you off the couch! And all the visitors to our house will miss being greeted by you soon as they came in!



 You now sleep by the garden where you will be covered in flowers in the spring. Thank you for being a great cat,  for being Katie's "familiar" all those years and being a member of our family. You were loving and loyal to the end.  We will always love you and miss you.