22 January 2023
You were so much more than ‘just a cat’. Working for yourself at home can at times feel lonely. This week we have sadly and very suddenly had to say goodbye to my faithful assistant, my confidant, my companion. Many of my friends and clients will recognise Tilly. She loved to join our online calls or gatherings around my kitchen table. Never too shy to say hello, she was my little shadow. Here, I share my very personal story with you.
Dear Tilly
You were my little girl’s dream come true. For as long as I can remember, all she’d asked for was a cuddly little tabby cat called Tilly, just like you.
Just a month shy of your second birthday, you died so very suddenly, leaving our hearts broken in two.
Her story of a little tabby cat became so much more when she chose you. You stole our hearts with your constant purr, and we poured our love into you.
You were an indoor cat, so we made our garden secure. We did our best to keep you safe and give you room to explore.
We miss you chasing butterflies and watching the little birds play. We miss your zoomies with your sister Milly and finding you cuddled together throughout our day.
We miss the way you greeted us and how you loved to play. You loved our golden retriever, Maisie, learning to put your claws away.
We miss you when we go to bed and think of you night and day. We imagine you throughout our house and feel your presence in every way.
We chose your things so carefully; fluffy wands and balls, we gave you special blankets from when our little girls were born.
My papers are piled too neatly. No one steals my pen. The silence makes my office lonely and seeing your small basket empty, breaks my heart all over again.
Your bond with Milly always strong, it hurts to see her struggle. We try to fill the role for you and give her plenty of cuddles.
The shock of losing you so suddenly hit us to the core. They said your heart was much too small, but the love you gave was so much more.
You covered it so well; a tabby heart shaped patch on your chest was all we saw. Your heart and small white mitts made us adore you all the more. You brought us so much fun and laughter, we couldn’t have foreseen the pain. We didn’t have time to say goodbye, we wanted you to remain.
It wasn’t the ending we had for you. Your story grew so much stronger. If only you could sit with me and write a new chapter that was longer.
‘Tilly Mitts’, thank you for the time we had and all your kitty love. We feel you close when we think of you and wish you were not dead.