Nat the Cat Christmas 2021

About a month ago, Aubrey and Ava came home from the store with a tiny kitten. The whole family instantly fell in love.

Devun called her his “desk cat” because she would climb up onto his computer while he was doing his MTC work and just lay there with him while I was at work and the other kids were at school.

After Devun left, she and Benny became inseparable. They would play together all the time—she would even play catch with him. The two of them really loved each other. She would jump up and wrap her little arms around him, and he loved it.

Sunday, she got out.

This wasn’t the first time—she loved being outside. Climbing trees, exploring, chasing smells… she was curious about everything.

Aubrey especially loved her. The kitten slept with her every night. Aubrey would go find her just to cuddle. She really needed that comfort, and that little cat gave it to her.

That’s why this hurts so much.

Aubrey went out to the garage to grab a drink, and the kitten slipped out behind her. Aubrey was so upset. I should have gone out right then and gotten her… but I didn’t.

That’s something I’ll regret for a long time.

A few hours later, we heard a cat scream. We ran to the door, but we couldn’t see anything. Aubrey and Zack started walking the neighborhood, calling for her. Then Anthony joined in.

Benny ended up finding her about six houses down, in a driveway where a very aggressive dog lives. We’re pretty sure the dog got her.

She didn’t make it.

Benny wouldn’t leave her side. Ava had to pick him up just to bring him home. Aubrey came in hysterical, unable to stop crying. Ava was just as heartbroken. Thankfully, Charlotte was asleep—because she would have been completely devastated in that moment.

Anthony dug a hole in the backyard and buried her. We all went outside together, said a prayer, and gave thanks for the short time we had with her.

And then we all just cried.

I was so angry. My kids have already had such a hard year—leaving their friends and struggling to find new ones here. That little kitten brought them comfort, love, and peace… and she was taken so quickly.

Of course, I cried for her too—for that tiny life ending so suddenly. But mostly, I cried for my kids.

The last few weeks have already been rough. We’ve all had COVID, missed school and work, and this Christmas season has just felt heavy.

The next morning, when Charlotte woke up, we went to the store and bought everything we needed to make Christmas cookies. We got popcorn, picked out movies, and decided to just have a day together—to laugh, cry, and be close as a family.

On the way out of the store, I told Charlotte what happened. She was sad, of course—but what stuck with her most was how little time we had with the kitten, and that she was just a baby.

I felt the same way.

Right before all of this, we had another scare with Shadow. We had to rush him to the vet with a high fever and trouble breathing. We’ve had him for six years, and Sam is especially close to him. We did everything we could to save him—and thankfully, he pulled through.

I honestly don’t think my kids could have handled losing two pets in such a short time.

These past couple of days, I’ve just been holding my kids a little closer. More cuddles, more time together, really trying to be present with them.

I’m choosing to see that as something good—like when one door closed, another opened, giving us time we didn’t even realize we needed.

Now… if I can just get back to cooking dinner.