When we met, I had a cat and Greg had a cat. The two of us moved in together after we got engaged and so did our cats. The transition did not go well for the cats (HUGE understatement).

My cat, Butterscotch, had been living in my condo for two years already. Poor Pig, Greg's cat, had never lived anywhere but Greg's apartment. Pig also didn't know she was a cat. You might laugh, but that's because you never saw her sitting on the bathroom counter, mournfully meowing at herself in the mirror because that thing that she saw wouldn't come and play.

Anyway, after the move, Pig lived in the spare bedroom of the condo by herself for a good two weeks (her choice). Then she came out, only to growl and hiss at anything that moved (and this is a very mellow cat) and to slink around with her butt pretty much touching the ground.

Things got better eventually, but only very gradually. We have a picture on the fridge of the two cats lying on our bed at the condo somewhat together, because that was such a rarity.

Back in 2002, Butterscotch got very skinny (liver cancer, the vet thought) and we had him put to sleep (sniff). Pig was once again the queen of the home and she seemed pretty happy.

Last spring (April), Pig started getting skinny, and she also starting drinking ALL OF THE TIME. Yep, $400 later, we had confirmed what we knew--diabetes. After much soul searching, we decided not to treat her (no comments please). We bought her some special prescription diabetes cat food and waited to see what would happen.

I remember worrying last year on our trip to Europe (in May) if our catsitters would have to deal with her dying. I left a power of (cat treatment) attorney document, just in case.

Uh huh. Yep. That was nine months ago. Yep, nine months.

Pig is just peachy. She's still much skinnier than she used to be (but she used to be pretty fat, especially when she ate most of Butterscotch's food for the months he was sick). She still drinks like a fiend. She still eats the prescription cat food.

And she's still sweet and mellow and a real lap warmer. She's very patient with the girls (even the 2 year old) and she decorates our house with her hair (like all cats). We love her very much, and even though she's not going to live forever, we're very happy she's still part of our family.

Now get off the back of the upholstered chair, Pig. You're ruining the cushion (and enjoying the softest place to sleep in the house).