Heath & Stef plus 2

I woke up this morning and started my usual ‘rise and shine’ ritual. I took Jake outside, started making coffee and cleaning up around the house a little. When I went back into the kitchen to eat a bowl of cereal, I looked down for Nino.

Nino had been attending breakfast with me every morning since I started working from home. He would stretch out below me on the floor and rub his cheeks against my feet while I stood up and ate a bowl of cereal. He was definitely quirky and a little strange... how many cats like to give you a foot massage in the morning? Most cats are very picky and peculiar. Not Nino. When he wanted some attention he would let you know. He didn’t care about the consequences or whether or not it was weird. We often called him the ‘suicide cat’ because he would jump in front of you while you were walking (not caring if he got hurt or not) to get some attention.

I will miss Nino (aka Fatty). Breakfast will not be the same anymore without him. You don’t have to be smart or practical or even interesting to be loving. All you need is a big heart... and Nino’s was as big as he was.

Thanks for the kind words. I remember that day clearly - it was about four years ago. You and Andrea came to the shelter with me. I opened his cage and he jumped out, onto my shoulders. Then he walked across mine over to yours and then to Andrea's. He was purring so loudly the whole time. That's how he charmed me.