A Love Letter to My Cat (yes, you read that correctly)
Dear Tabs,
Hello, my sweet kitty friend. I know that even though we see each other every day (as we have for pretty much the past 10 years), things haven’t been the same lately, now that you’re a “big brother” to baby Connor Claire.
It probably seems like she’s always in my arms, or on my lap, or somehow otherwise up in the mix, and that when you try to snuggle with me (like the time she was breastfeeding and you tried to sneak onto my lap to make biscuits), it seems grossly unfair when I say, “No, Tabs, not now.”
I see you slinking away, sadly. I hear your tiny kitty sighs and meows.
Honestly, I can’t blame you. Things have changed a lot over the past two months, both for you and for me, more than they have in the previous nine years we’ve spent together. It’s been quite a shock to both of our systems.
But I wanted you to know that even though our familiar daily (and nightly) patterns have changed, you’re still my special tabby baby boy, and now I cherish the quiet moments we have together even more, when it’s just you and me again, like last night, when I woke up at 3 and saw you curled up next to me, sleeping soundly.
Or, right now as I’m typing this with you napping in the corner next to my chair, and with me at the keyboard tap-tap-tapping away. How many hours have we spent just like this, my sweet friend? Hundreds? Thousands? I know that soon you’ll wake up, hop up on my desk, and rub your cheeks against my face before draping your body across my left forearm as I continue to type. You’ll start to purr and stare out the window and occasionally blink contendedly.
I’m sorry if it seems like we don’t spend as much time together as we used to, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t still best friends. You’re a big cat with a big personality, and you’ll always have a big piece of my heart. 🙂 That part has been yours ever since the day you strolled into my apartment in Mill Valley and decided that you weren’t ever going to leave. My heart swells whenever I think about how you used to wait for me in the grass up on the hill behind the building, and when you’d see me coming home from work, you’d bound and meow all the way down the hill with your tail crooked and high in the air.
You’re such a wonderful cat, Tabs. Thank you for your unconditional love and for being the best kitty friend a girl could ever have.
You are, and will always be, my very special once-in-a-lifetime kitty, and in case I haven’t told you enough lately, I love you.
Your best friend always,
Karen
Chelsea says
Awwww! This makes me all teary. He is such a lucky kitty boy to be so loved.
Andréa Gonzalez says
Teary?? Nope,I’m literally crying my heart out?????? I love you TABS❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Aprillia says
Teary. Hes a wonderful kitty.
Nora says
Beautifully written!
KaylaP says
Did someone crank the a/c up too high?! My eyes are EXTREMELY watery… this touches me right in the feelz. I know my little furball has changed my world so much for the better. Just amazing how much love can be between cat and human. 🙂
LindaLibraLoca says
Oh, I am getting all emotional over here! It is hard for our first baby, be it furry or human when another one shows up, but they will forever have a special place in our hearts and memories.
Kellie says
All the tears! That was beautiful Karen! You and tabs are so lucky to have found each other and no matter how much things change, you will always be soul mates ?
Lulle says
Such a beautiful love letter! It’s really moving.
Becky says
Oh gosh Karen, I’m going to cry!!!
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Stephanie Hofmann says
What a beautiful tribute to Tabs. I just teared up. ❤️
Rachel says
Well, that made me cry! ?
Florence says
It’s so cute! I’m sure Tabs knows he is lucky too.Have a nice night with your beauties.
Kiss & Make-up says
Awwwww, that was SO sweet! Stupid mushy me got all teary, lol… I’m sure Tabs knows he’s still your best friend in the whole wide world.
Anne says
Now you’ve made me go all teary-eyed, and I just did my eye makeup…
I love the pictures of you and Tabs cuddling. So calm and cosy.
hanna says
That is so sweet!
Tatiana says
Aww! Love the snuggle photos with Tabs.
Maria says
Hi Karen, your letter made me cry, for so many reasons. First of all, it is no surprise coming from you. You show your fans and followers on a weekly basis, aside from how much you ( we) love makeup, the type of caring person you are. I am also a fellow mom, who has a daughter and had until a month ago, two tabbies. I know, as well as others, how much we are capable of loving our furry babies as well. Our family lost our Tiger orange tabby, whom we had for 22 years, a month ago. Seeing the pic of your Tabs, reminded me of when Tiger also used to sneak unto our daughter’s crib, when she was a baby. How lucky that you found each other, and I wish you many more years of happy times, even more now with your daughter. Tabs knows he is loved 🙂
Karen says
Hi Maria,
I’m so sorry for your loss. It must be very hard to lose such a dear fur friend. Sending you lots of love and kitty hugs from Tabs. ❤❤
Maria says
Thank you so much Karen and Tabs 🙂
Lili says
awwwww made me tear up because I have several furbabies and if I ever have a human baby i’ll have to make sure to still love on all them the same way. unrelated, but where is her crib/bassinet from? its the perfect size for a newborn to have right next to your bed.
Karen says
Hi Lili,
It’s the Moses Basket in Sausalito by Serena and Lily it! It was a gift from a friend and we love it. When she grows out of it, I plan to keep it in her room to store stuffed animals and toys. 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions, I’m happy to help.
kellly says
Awwww, that brought a tear to my eye, as well. What a sweet letter, and how sweet of you to share it!
Celi says
So, so, sweet. This made me all weepy! Tabs has always reminded me of my tabby baby!
Gina says
Beautiful, I teared up. So much love! ❤❤❤
Maria says
Awww that’s so sweet!
Sandy Pincombe says
Oh man, Karen, you should have put a disclaimer in the subject line to have tissues handy.
Jane says
What a beautiful post Karen *sobs*
Mel. B. says
Such a wonderfully written post. I love it!! Meow…
Winnie says
This is a lovely letter, it makes me think of my own fur baby, who currently is sleeping at my feet. And tabs is so photogenic! I love his expressions ?
Brooke says
This made me cry…ok, it made me sob…so beautiful.
Efrain says
*cleans up his non-waterproof mascara*
Karen it was one of the sweetest things I’ve read these days, I’m pretty sure Tabs understands things has changed but you still love him a lot. I love the part about how you met, it was beautiful.
Mary Joy says
So beautiful, made me cry. My darling kids are grown and I have grandkids I love intensely now. But our animals hold a special place, don’t they?
Sarah says
K, I don’t even like cats (sorry) and I’m very allergic to them… guess I’m allergic to this letter too since my eyes are all teary.
Karen! This letter is so sweet, and you have such a way of writing… you and Tabs have such an amazing relationship… thanks for sharing it.
Katie says
Awww Karen, you went and made me cry! I just moved from San Diego to St. Louis and I am sorely missing my Tibbs kitty who is still in So Cal with my husband. Two more weeks alone until they both come out to join me, I can’t wait to get my boys back.
Christine says
I’m not a cat person and I’m not into babies, but WAY TO MAKE A GIRL CRY AT WORK, KAREN. lol… This was a lovely post.
Stephanie says
This made me cry Karen! I was never able to get pregnant but I love cats and can feel the emotion in your words. I’m sure Tabs knows you love him!
Karen says
Aww, Stephanie! I love cats too. They are the sweetest. 🙂
Shani says
Love is love and how beautifully you expressed yours! I have fleeting concerns for my sanity as I am contantly telling my cat Chandler (didn’t name him, he was a rescue) who I affectionalely call my Channy Boo, that I love him so, so much. I often wonder if he understands me and then I’m convinced that he does. Ultimately we are all beings of energy that vibrate. Vibrations are universal. So is love. Peace and Blessings.
TravelingBlush says
i am not a cat person, but our pets (in my case, dogs) are really our best friends, aren’t they? i always envy cat people as they seem to enjoy longer relationships as dogs live much shorter lives…
i wish you many more happy years with that tabby, karen!
Kris says
What a heartfelt tribute to your wonderful Kitty, Karen! I’m all teary-eyed like everyone else and completely understand your feelings. I have three kitties myself and they bring me so much joy every day.