Billy the Kitty, Portrait, 2008Billy the Kitty was Karl’s cat, and a lovable and beloved presence in our home. Billy lived a good life for seventeen years, and was well cared-for by Karl, myself, and for several years, by Karl’s mom. He was the elder pet in the home, and he easily won the respect of our puppy Miss Honey, with a swish of his furry and fierce clawed paw. A Maine Coon, he recently weighed-in at seventeen pounds large. He was a presence. He came when called by his name, “Billy,” and he would offer his paw, if prompted. Most days he lounged around on the living room sofas (as you see in the portrait I took in 2008, at Karl’s mom’s home). Billy modeled well the practice of resting, and stopping. We didn’t allow him adventures outdoors. Here’s a selection about Maine Coon cats from Wikipedia:
The Maine Coon is a large and sociable cat, hence its nickname, “the gentle giant”. It is characterized by a robust bone structure, rectangular body shape, a silky flowing coat and a long, bushy tail. The breed’s colors vary widely, with only lilac and chocolate disallowed for pedigree. Reputed for its intelligence and playful, gentle personality, the Maine Coon is often cited as having “dog-like” characteristics.
I personally will miss holding and hugging this fuzzy, cuddly, charming, sweet beast.
Moving forward with a listening heart,
vision, inquiry, and action,
~ Mary
