Katya Graymalkin here.

You know Granny’s cat Ozzie passed away this week. It was scary and sudden. He had a nasty thing called heartworms. We didn’t know it — even the vet, who helps Granny take good care of all her animals, didn’t know it.

When Mom told me, I was really really sorry for Granny. Then I thought, at least Mom wouldn’t come home smelling like him because he sits in her lap sometimes. It’s bad enough that her feet smell like Sweetie Pie, because Sweetie Pie likes to be petted with feet. And I thought, at least he won’t be coming up here all the time, sitting on my porch being not me.

But then I felt bad because Mom was so upset and because she said Granny missed him so much. And I have to admit, he was a neighborhood character. Things will be a lot quieter and less exciting without him around stirring things up.

So then I needed some comforting, and Mom was right there to give me what I like best, even better than crunchy food: chin scritches.

She said she used to give Ozzie chin scritches, and he would act like he liked them and then, all of a sudden, he would grab her arm with his claws a little bit out, or he would bite her (not enough to break the skin). Boy! If I ever did that, I’d be picking myself up off the floor near whichever wall I bounced off of last! ha! I guess it pays to be Granny’s cat!

But Ozzie grew up on the streets, so I guess he didn’t know any better. She said he would go “bite, lick, bite, bite, lick, lick, lick.”

Granny is coming over later today. I don’t like lots of people around, but I’m going to try to come out and see Granny. That’s bound to make her happy, don’t you think?

Goodbye, Ozzie. I’ll miss you.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR ANIMALS: How would you feel if your rival was suddenly not there anymore?

KG