My boy, Blaze, is my userpic. I was lucky enough to have him in my life for 18 years.
This was my favorite picture of him. I had the background removed and converted to a counted cross-stitch chart, which I plan to stitch and frame. He was actually 17 when this was taken.
I said good-bye to him a year and a half ago, which was hard, but he was ready. After a week of avoiding my home, because I hated coming in to an empty house (it had just been the two of us), my mother dragged me to a shelter "just to look".
Most of the cats were 4 months and up, and cute, but there were two little girls who were just 8 weeks old. Mom and I each held one, because how can you resist little puffballs, right? When they were put back, they both reached through the cage door to me. I took them home that day.
Here are Maggie (short for Magpie) and Raven. They are sweet girls and I love them dearly. I'd forgotten how much fun (and work!) kittens are, and taking care of them was perfect for helping me move on from losing Blaze. Now that they're getting older, they're starting to become more snuggly, but still very independent. I look forward to many years of sharing the house with them.