On 5-14-22 we lost our warrior Finn. Finn McCool, Finnegan, Finny Finn Finn. Our big orange, loving, confident tabby cat. Our forever buddy. The strongest guy we know. When Finn showed up at our doorstep in April 2018, desperately looking for help, we easily took him in. Finn was already neutered, not microchipped, full of ticks, starving and terrified. Although we searched for over two months for his owners, we eventually figured he was a dumped cat like so many we have dealt with over the years. He had some real fears in the beginning as if he was abused. We could tell he was grateful to be inside, and on his first night with us, he curled up on Kevin’s lap as if he was finally safe. We brought Finn into our house where he quickly became a fixture in the home helping Kevin and Dave renovate the entire house. We joked that Finn went from homeless to homeowner pretty quick. After a hard days work helping the guys build something or tear something down, Finn would curl up on Kevin’s lap while the guys ended the day watching sports and having a beer. Finn brought life into our house and made it a home. He motivated us and gave us purpose to complete projects because in the end I think we were renovating it for him. I would tell Kevin that I felt like Finn was Mrs. Patterson’s cat. The woman whose family originally built our home in the early 1900s. I felt like Finn was a ghost cat from the past having been in the home before with how comfortable he was. I often wonder if Mrs. Patterson had fed a big orange Tabby cat in 1910 on the property. Maybe I will have to read her diary a little closer!During the reno process, we even saved a mother cat (our Sophie) and 5 kittens from the woods and brought them in too. It was a crazy time trying to renovate and care for all these cats. Finn helped raise Sophie’s kittens. We jokingly called him Uncle Finn. When all the kittens got adopted, Sophie was beside herself but Finn helped her by keeping her company, and wherever Finn went, Sophie would follow. They were two peas in a pod. Finn was the king of his castle, the Lord of the Manor, as Kevin would tell him daily. Every day Kevin left for work hed say to Finn you have a good day buddy , watch over the house, daddy will see you later. Finn had such a big personality. He waited for you in the window when you went to work and as soon as you entered the house, he would greet you at the door chirping and meowing to tell you about his day. He loved visitors and would rub against anyone’s legs and if you petted him too long he would be sure to let you know that was enough with a quick swat or bite. He also LOVED to eat and that was his thingto get lots of extra feedings during the day AND NIGHT of wet food. In the evening he would curl up on Kevin’s lap while he watched TV and there was something so perfect and comforting about that time we looked forward to it everyday. Finn would then head to bed with Kevin where he would lay on his chest and purr so quietly. He would head butt Kevin in the night to remind him he needed a nightly snack which he always got. When Finn stopped eating it was the hardest thing to watch. We could feel him slipping away and we tried so many things to keep him going but in the end cancer won. Our cat Max passed away suddenly from a heart attack about 2 years before Finn showed up. Max was only 4 when he passed. Max was Kevin’s lap cat and we honestly never thought we would ever find another cat like Max again… that is until Finn came along and eased that pain. Finn was with us for only 4 years too. He passed when he was just 6 we think — way too soon. I remember the pain in losing Max and how badly it hurt…the only thing that made me feel better at the time was whispering to Max, find your way back to us And as crazy as that may sound, I think Max brought us Finn. They were so much alike. Since the time we found out about Finn’s cancer, we tried everything we could think of to extend his life. But the cancer spread all too quick. For me personally, I have felt defeated in this battle those closest to me know my relentless ways. And as a cat rescuer, that is what I do…I RESCUE and save. I could not rescue and save Finn from his cancer and that has been the hardest thing for me to come to grips with. I wanted to save him for us but mostly for Kevin so he could have his buddy a long time and grow old with him. Today our house is quiet and sad and feels more like a house than a home. It will take time to breathe life back into a space which just feels very uncomfortable. The memories of Finn will live on forever but for me the comfort of words again whispered at the time of passing, please find your way back to us…we will be so glad to see you” is what is bringing peace at this very painful moment. until we meet again we love you forever, our Finn.