We met at Lowe’s In October 2008. She was roaming in outside garden and a coworker knew I liked cats, so he called me to come get her. She was al scraggly and unkempt and looked like an older kitten. We drove home (my parents’) in my Ford Taurus, and she parked on my lap for the whole 15 minute drive. My dad wasn’t thrilled, but my mom assured him I’d keep her in my room and we’d find her a home. My mom named her Mia — she thought she was a mom cat. We also had recently seen “Mama Mia” with my grandparents.

A ton of MySpace posts later, and an attempt at the Michigan Humane Society, she was still with me when our trip to Florida came up (early 2009 at this point), and we didn’t know what to do because she still lived exclusively in my room. So she went to stay at my grandparents’ who are not pet people!

After that, my gurl was integrated into the house (3 others at the time) and dad didn’t say much else about her because she was my sidekick and didn’t bother him.

One night, my sister, boyfriend and I had a little too much fun at the bar. My boyfriend and I slept in my room at my parents’, in my old twin bed, and I woke up to Mia finding a way to wedge herself next to me. It melted my heart because it was like she was accepting him. (She ended up spending her last few months with him in our new house.)

She loved to park on me, and park for hours. She liked to lay in between my legs, especially in the bed. She’d park before I was comfortable, because she was ready for bed when she was ready, and I’d have to maneuver around her. How does an 8lb cat take up so much room?!

We would sneak naps together when work from home first started. We’d sleep in too long on weekends. She’d watch whatever I wanted on tv. She never ate my food, or tried. She thought people food was below her. She loved all the toys I would get her, but hated all the kittens she met throughout her life. She put up with me dragging her back & forth between our apartment and mom’s when I felt guilty leaving her alone because I was staying elsewhere. She always looked happy to see me. She loved to bat around the crinkle balls, rattly mice and other creatures with bells. And she looovvveedddd her catnip.

She headbutted me when I cried. She cuddled me when I was sad. She was always there. Always. She was my rock. She was my constant. She was always enough, no matter what, as rude as she was. Even when she pulled out almost all of her fur and I thought she was dying and not telling me. Even when she pooped in my bedroom doorway because I had the audacity to go to work.

It all happened so fast. I thought she was just having trouble adjusting to the new house. I didn’t see it coming. I will love her forever, and I will love her so much. She is my soulmate and I am so glad no one wanted her and that she found me.

I love you, Mimi gurl. You weirdo.