Kate and Tabby have one of my favorite stories. It’s not necessarily one you haven’t heard before, but it’s the intensity of their love for one another that struck my heart as soon as I read Kate’s first email and even more so when I was able to photograph them together.
Kate wrote, “For the past 11 years, he has been my constant, my companion, and my friend.” A feeling many of us understand.
Tabby chose Kate. In 2005, he showed up at her door. She fed him and gave him water. When she couldn’t find him a month later, she was a little surprised at how heart-broken she was, falling for a kitty she had only known a few weeks. It turns out that her boyfriend at the time took Tabby to the vet for a full check-up and shots. He gave her a birthday card that said her present was waiting at a specific address. The address was that of the vet clinic and Tabby has officially been hers ever since.
In September, she received news that her sweet little love had Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the right tonsil. There were few options that promised them more time and him a high quality of life. Kate did what she knew would be best for her boy and made sure to keep him happy and out of pain. We had a beautiful bright morning for our session together and Tabby was everything Kate said he was. He was affectionate, a mama’s boy, curious and gentle. Kate showed me how they snuggled each morning and how he enjoyed hugs and belly rubs despite his ever-present grimace. Truly, that IS Tabby’s happy face she assured me. Tabby passed away several weeks after our session.
The pain of missing him I know won’t ever go away, but Kate and I are both thankful for the memories captured during our session together. And when Tabby has a face like you’ll see below when they “cuddle” and you know that it is his “happy” face, it’s hard not to giggle.
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- Tabby’s “happy” face
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- Morning hugs and snuggles
