She was always MY cat. I picked her out at the SPCA here in St. Petersburg. She was so beautiful and she reached through the cage to me.  She loved everyone and was sweet and affectionate with all of us, especially little Adam.  He giggled every time she plopped in his lap and he learned to be easy and gentle with her.  However... 

Her personality changed after toddler Adam decided she needed to go swimming.  She DID NOT LIKE THE WATER. 



 Then we brought in two kittens.  She HATED them.  She NEVER wanted to mother them so she always hissed and ran away.  Oreo and Treble were adorable, but Treble decided to go live with a neighbor and Oreo remained.  Once she got bigger, she always chased Murphy and intimidated her.  I often thought Murphy would leave us...but she always stayed around.  She would be very affectionate for periods of time.  Then all of sudden - pow!  She'd hiss or smack your hand and she was off!



She loved Granni especially.  When Mother first came to live with us, she was kept busy by both cats with door duty.  But Murphy really knew how to get her attention.  They had a special bond, I think.  And if Murphy was in the house, she would often sleep on Mother's bed.  As Mother's illness progressed, both cats would sleep at the foot of the bed.



When Mary came to stay with us, Murphy parked herself on that bed or in the same room.  Oreo would stay on Granni's bed and Murphy would be on Grandmother's.  



Many of the neighbors knew Murphy well.  Murphy enjoyed treats and affection from many of those who walked regularly.  



When we brought home our sweet Quibble, it appeared she might become friends with him.  But I guess he was too quick and puppyish for her.  She kept her distance and he respected that, though he longed to play chase with her. 



When we lost Quibble last November, Murphy seemed to sense my sadness and she kept close.  Oreo would often end up on the bed only to find Murphy was there first...

Sometimes I would hide Oreo under the covers, so Murphy would come up on the bed.  It was a constant battle between them, yet they shared the same dishes and just took turns.



When we brought the puppies, Sumo and SoFille, home later in November, she sniffed but stayed away.  She seemed to be getting more like an old lady and she just slept out front on the patio, under the cars, or inside on the dining room chair.  At night she usually wanted to be outside.  She had favorite yards she would hang out in...but never seemed to venture very far.  The funniest thing was how she started following when we walked the puppies.  Then Oreo discovered the fact that we walked and sometimes, we'd have the whole menagerie walking down the street.  I will miss that.



So now, having one kitty will be very strange. Oreo seems to be watching over the puppies today, more closely than usual.



And Winn and I have never lost a pet to old age.  Burying my Murphy was so difficult.  Winn had not been here when I had to bury Quibble, and our friend Mark had made that so much easier on me.  But Winn and I just sobbed like little kids.  Oreo stood off at the center of the yard and meowed at us.



We placed Murphy next to Quibble.  We now have a true family Pet Cemetary :)  Yin and Yang, Fred and Barney...Adam's Hermit Crabs.  Sweet little Quibble, the coolest dog.  And now Murphy Brown.



Grandmother and Granni can now take turns petting Quibble and Murphy.