Boris

On a cold Thanksgiving weekend in Pennsylvania in 2003, we met an abandoned kitten who needed a home. We considered adding "her" to our family and the next weekend, just before a big snowstorm rolled into town, I drove back to pick up the kitten. The little female kitten we called Cleo (Cleopatra for Caesar) turned out to be a boy and was named Boris.

Boris was a very affectionate though dim witted cat. When he meowed, he would stare up at us, open his mouth big and wide, and the tiniest little sound would escape from his little mouth.

Caesar and Boris wouldn't admit it, but they got along well from the start. They would often engage in Cat Sumo matches, and the winner wasn't always expected or obvious.

Boris started out a Pennsylvania fluff ball, moved to Maryland (2 homes) and then made a cross country trek to California (5 homes). So many hours in the car with Boris crying and carrying on.

Boris was playful and loving and never let on that he was unwell. By the time he let us know he was sick, cancer had taken over his little body. Before Phil took him to the vet, the kids gave him some loving pets and words. When Phil returned without him, Mady ran to the cat carrier looking for Boris. "Boris in Mommy's car? I see him?" When we told her that Boris was sick and couldn't come home she was very sad. I'm writing this much after the fact, and she will still ask me "Boris no come home? Boris died? That's so sad." We were all very sad and miss our little BorBor.

Rest in peace Boris. AKA Bor, BorBor, Boraclease, Borasquirm, SquirmCat, Little Slut Cat, Squirm, Squirm-a-Bor.  We love you and miss you.