Kate moved in with us in October 2009, just before Baby Dumpling's second birthday. I saw her early one Sunday morning walking in our backyard, she looked like she hadn't eaten in a while so I put some food out. She quickly ate it then disappeared. Later that day she came back so I gave her more food. This went on for several days, then she started taking a few steps inside the house but quickly ran outside when she heard the Pug.
It didn't take long, maybe a few weeks, before she made herself at home and started to not be afraid of the Pug. Kate and the Pug became great friends.
Kate was sweet to my wife and Baby Dumpling. She would let Baby Dumpling pick her up and carry her around without complaining or scratching. I thought that was unusual because most cats that aren't use to someone or a child, won't want to be picked up, carried or have their tummy tickled.
As the months passed Kate became more and more comfortable. She knew how to come and go using the dog door. She would catch mice outside and bring them in to eat or and sometimes they got away. Basically Kate was a normal cat. One day she disappeared and we thought she had become someones dinner, but about 5 days later she reappeared at the back door. My wife let her in and gave her food. Kate slept for a very long time after that, not because she was sick or hurt, just because she was tired. After Kate's return things got back to normal, with the exception of me locking the dog door so she couldn't bring in any more mice. Kate didn't seem to mind that much, she seemed happy to stay in at night. During her 5 day disappearance Baby Dumpling always remembered her during prayer time and was very excited that Kate came home.
Kate really did fit in with our family. It's just too bad that she started loosing the fear of the garage door and that loss of fear is why she is no longer with us.
To this day, several months after Kate's passing, Baby Dumpling still remembers her. Baby Dumpling remembers what she looked like and remembers that Kate was her cat and still includes her at prayer time. She still tells people that she has another cat called Kate, because to her Kate will always be her cat even if she had to say good bye. The old saying applies, "Gone but not forgotten."
