So. You may or may not know that we have three cats, and my stepfather has two.

Last night I was informed by my mother that my stepdad had laid down an ultimatum. He is getting rid of one of his cats, and we are expected to get rid of a cat, namely, Skittles.

He doesn’t like Skittles, because he has seen her attack the other cats on many occasions and feels that she would not be a welcome addition to his home. Never mind the fact that she is JUST FUCKING PLAYING.

Ahem.

Anyway.

I received this news the way one would expect. I promptly burst into tears.

I didn’t call my stepfather and whine or beg or cajole, because I know that at this point, it wouldn’t do any good. We are moving in two weeks. He’s made up his mind, and it is his house.

I have to abide by his motherfucking, shitty-assed, ridiculous, cock-sucking rules.

I spent the evening in tears, and when I say “in tears” I mean “an utterly incomprehensible, sobbing mess”, and Skittles followed me to the basement, where she licked my feet and periodically brought me toys to throw.

This just made me cry even more.

I agonized about this all night. Shelters were not an option, obviously. I didn’t want to post an ad on Craigslist for strangers, because I wasn’t about to trust some yahoo with my pet. God knows what people do to animals, especially when they are not teeny and adorable. The cat weighs sixteen pounds – for all I know someone might try to eat her.

I thought briefly about posting a note on Facebook for friends to read in hopes that one of them might want to adopt her, but I was even worried about doing that.

You never know how someone is going to treat an animal. They might have a bad day and kick the cat, or they might let her outside, or they might not give her any attention, or they might GOD KNOWS WHAT.

I was tweeting about this early this morning, and a friend of mine inquired about the cat. I asked whether she would be interested, because I know she is a cat person.

She was.

She is coming by today to look at Skittles.

Obviously I have very mixed emotions about this. While I would be glad to have a trusted friend take her, especially a friend with children who will love her, I am going to be fucking horrified to see her go.

She is currently winding herself around my ankles, purring, with no clue as to what is to come.

This is the cat that sleeps on my bed every night, the cat that fetches toys so nicely with her tail pointed skyward. This is the cat who is not standoffish in the slightest, who wants attention and licks one’s hands and feet for a scratch or a rub.

I am probably a little silly for putting so much stock into the love of an animal. I’ve had other cats, some for twenty years. I can honestly tell you, though, that I’ve never had one tug at my heartstrings as much as this one. There’s just something about her that makes me so very happy.

If that makes me silly, then I don’t know what to tell you.

I am now feeling resentful and angry and completely shitty about the move. This is probably very childish, but damn, I’m pissed off.

I’m just so pissed off.

Here’s hoping you have a happier Monday than mine.

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