Every Cat Has A Story: True Stories Exploring the Spiritual Connection of Felines with Their Beloved Owners. Jasmine Kinnear

continued to learn all that I could about the breed and communicate with the original breeder during those long years. Twenty years later when I finally finished my youthful travel, I happened upon a Maine Coon breeder in my area. She had just had a litter of kittens (two!) and asked me if I was interested in visiting. She told me the kittens were not available, as she was going to keep both, but I could visit. And visit I did! Several times.

      At about four weeks, the little male decided that I was a good substitution for his littermate. I did not know it at the time, but we were bonding; there was a magic between us, a spark. Luckily, the breeder was aware of this and she agreed that I could actually have this kitten! The day this breeder brought him to my house for his first ‘visit’ he curled up in my lap and purred. When it was time to go (it was only a visit), he dug his claws in and hung on to my jeans for dear life. Though he was only ten weeks old, she let me keep him then and there. She said, “He has made his choice.”

      And I did feel chosen! For the next ten years True (that was his name) sat with me, ate with me, slept on my papers when I was trying to work and hid my paintbrushes while I painted. He was the cat of my heart. When I experienced massive self doubt as I began to show my paintings professionally, he stayed near me in my studio every day while I painted. He actually posed for his own painting and wouldn't let me quit. He would vocalize if I didn't go into the studio to paint. I have photos of his furry self posing for his painting on my studio table. More than anyone else in those first years, he encouraged me to keep going, keep painting. I know it sounds odd, but you try to ignore a 25-pound cat who is wrapping himself around your ankles, gently herding you toward the studio. It is rather impossible. His quiet persistent presence while I painted was exactly what I needed to continue.

      During the recent tainted pet food epidemic, he developed Liver Failure in response to tainted pet food he ate. We both fought our hardest. He was fed lovingly by tube every hour for almost three months. In the end, I had to let him go. He was so sick. True crawled up onto my lap and spent his last hours there. Just as he had entered my life, he exited in the same manner. I miss him still. We both tried, and even though I am supposed to be the one ‘in charge,’ in the end I could not save him. Letting him go was the toughest decision I ever made. I question myself every day about what I should have done differently. I miss all 25 pounds of him sitting on my lap. Although he never went to a cat show, he was the cat of my heart and my True Champion.

      True in his garden ‘helping’ Sande write her dissertation

       May you leave this life knowing you were well loved; May your steps away from me bring us closer in heart; And May you walk, my friend, Freely, In Peace

      True (aka King True)

      Born October 12, 1997 - Died April 20, 2007

      You will always be my bunny-furred boy.

Rusty and the Pilot

       - by Jasmine Kinnear

       People that don't like cats haven't met the right one yet.- Deborah A. Edwards

      In my first years of breeding I encountered several couples where the wife loved cats unconditionally while the husband merely tolerated them. Such was the case with the pilot and his wife.

      During the placement of Tara's second litter of kittens I had the pleasure of meeting Beth. With grown children no longer at home Beth was experiencing ‘empty nest syndrome’. After some pressuring, her husband had reluctantly consented to a kitten’s presence in their home.

      During her first visit to the cattery Beth stayed for over an hour watching Tara’s kittens at play. She finally selected my favourite kitten, a little Red Tabby male who she would eventually name Rusty.

      Rusty

      When selling a kitten I would normally request a standard deposit to consider the baby sold. However Beth provided payment for her kitten in full. Without words being exchanged, I knew she felt more secure by fully purchasing her little male. Beth was determined that her husband would not have an opportunity to change his mind before her kitten’s homecoming.

      Prior to Beth leaving I advised her to come back as often as she was able to visit with her new kitten. She sighed and thanked me but confided that her husband didn’t care for cats saying, “I’m sorry but we've been looking for a while and he’s never even come in to see any of the kittens.” Sure enough, I looked out the window to see Stephen sitting in the car passing the time by reading a book while he waited for his wife.