theladysnarkydame | Sylvester (1991-1993?)

We named her Sylvester because my mom refused to allow my brother to call her Stimpy. At the time I thought it was hilarious that she had a boy's name, but I had plenty of time to get used to it. Eventually I would be a little surprised when people commented on it.

She was never my cat, not like her sister Chloe was -- she was the family cat, the one who insisted on sitting on my dad's paper and my mom's books. The one who came out and said hello to company.

She used to follow the dogs around, twining around their legs while they stood stock still, staring down at her in befuddlement. She'd be purring up a STORM, all loud and rusty sounding.

When I moved out, I took Chloe first, but I took Sylvie a week later -- my mom had other pets to deal with, and it felt right, taking the both of them. So we spent more time together. I was Chloe's and Chloe was mine, but Sylvie was family, and I was very fond of her.

She was so much tougher than I ever would have thought. She outlasted her sister by almost two years -- weathered to skin and bone, and crankier and crankier with the rambunctious boys, but she stood her ground, and got what she wanted, and her eyes were clear and proud. And while her purr got quieter, it never really quit, until the end.

Bye, Sylvie. I'll miss you.