Miss Penny Lane

Is she really writing a blog post about her cat?

Yep, she is.

I grew up with a cat for most of my adolescence. Natalie was a super snuggle bug that would pass out on your chest for hours and drool in your hair. Spring Break my sophomore year, I was home from college and 15-year-old Natalie was sleeping more than ever and we knew it wouldn’t be long. I spent my time with her, giving so many cuddles and love, She made it through the entire week of spring break before passing, almost as if she knew she had to make it through the week just for me. I knew I had to find another cat just like her.

Five years ago, this little cutie snuggled her way in my life and my heart. I found her picture on Craigslist and instantly fell in love—her name was Penny and she had the most adorable little face, I couldn’t believe she was still available. I drove three hours to spend an afternoon with her and even though she was nervous to be with a stranger, I could hear her purr the entire visit. A few days later, her foster parents drove out to my apartment so we could have a sleepover trial weekend.

Immediately after the fosters left, all hell broke loose—Penny was gone. My sister and I ran around our two bedroom apartment, checking every nook and cranny possible only to find her squished between my dresser and the wall. Hiding would become a common occurrence for my little girl. She ended that first night under my bed and stayed there for the next 10 days. Some people might have given up, decided it wasn’t worth the trouble, but every time I reached my hand under that bed to pet her, she purred louder and louder.

Penny slowly made her way out of her hiding spots and became a major fixture in my life. She wakes me up with a paw to face most mornings, is extremely clumsy, and sleeps most of the day away. Penny snores and purrs like a fiend.  She makes the silliest noises and probably the quietest meow you’ll ever hear.

The best thing she’s given me is her undying love and comfort. Its been proven that animals can detect when you’re sick, when you’re depressed—cats are sensitive and empathic creatures. Having Penny these last five years has been life saving. Going through my brain surgery, radiation, and chronic pain, I can’t imagine how I could have gone through that without having that face greeting me every morning. Through the loneliness of moving, the depression and anxiety I face every day, I have her love and her snuggles to keep me sane.

This may make me seem insane, like the crazy cat lady that I’m slowly morphing in to, but I don’t care.  So yeah, I am writing a blog post about my cat, but dammit, she’s more than just my cat—she’s my fur-baby, my best friend.