I was 8 when my parents brought her home. She was rescued from the side of the road with the rest of her litter and only a few months old when she arrived to us. Willow was anxious, scared of most people and spent the first few months with us hiding. Over time she would creep out of my parents room and sit with me, before long she had transitioned to living in my room and that began our journey together. She quickly became my best friend, my soulmate even. She was talkative, willing to have full conversations with me about her day. She had the loudest purr which she would turn up while lying on my chest. It became very clear that she was tuned into my emotions, if she heard me crying she would run into my lap, or lay on my chest, until I had calmed down. It felt as though she understood my anxiety and fear because she dealt with it herself.

She moved with me 9 different times (once to a different state) and met so many people who loved her presence and charm. She especially loved my boyfriend Jeremy, almost as much as she loved me. He was the only person besides myself that she warmed up to so quickly, and it didn’t take long for her to comfort and support him as she did so often for me.

Willow was a healer, I truly believe she had magic in her purrs because she was able to heal even the most broken parts of me. Her illness came suddenly and unfortunately only after a few months post diagnosis was it time for me to take on her pain as she had done for me so many times before. Willow will be remembered for her ability to soothe and heal those around her. Her love of temptations and bird watching. How she would wake me up by poking me with a single claw. Willow was truly a one of a kind cat and I am so grateful to have spent 15 years in her presence.