In September 2025, just as I was minding my own business once again, I came across a Facebook post about a sweet elderly cat who needed a home. After the deaths of her owner and her dog companion, she went to live with relatives. Lily was suffering from grief, loneliness and some underlying health conditions from a face injury she received as a kitten. Now 13 years old desperately wanting love and attention, this crazy cat mama answered the call (with a lot of pitiful crying and begging to Mr. Understanding during his morning coffee that Tiki must have sent Lily to us because she knew we needed her and she needed us).
Lily is a huge lover girl who absolutely loves napping on our laps during TV time, rubbing her snotty nose and chin that has what I affectionately refer to as a “witch’s mole,” sharing our pillows at night while draping her legs and tail over our faces, running around leaping in the air like a young kitten (no toy is safe), and exploring her new home while bugging or being bugged by her brothers. This tortie has a huge purr machine, gloriously soft black fur with dabs of light brown and beige (a blonde patch on her chest that resembles a lady’s broach), turned out feet like a ballerina and wise light green asymmetrical eyes that pierce your heart and soul with warmth and judgement. As most, if not all, female cats (especially torties) have in terms of personality and attitude, Lily has earned the right to be pissed off at life. She does growl and whine and hiss and spit when she doesn’t want to be held or touched, especially when Mama has to hold her down for medicating. Yes, the claws come out and I’m trying to win her over enough for her to allow me to trim them without getting the vet involved or sending me to the ER.
While we were in no way looking to welcome another cat into the house with Tiki’s death still so fresh and devastating, I saw Tiki’s spirited legacy in Lily when I first saw her photo illustrated by a plea for a second chance at life. I mean, who could turn down this hot tamale?
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