My sweet Tiny cat died after 16 years yesterday and I keep tearing up over it! Here's to you Tiny.

When I was 19 I moved to Southern Utah to live with my parents. I had been on my own for 2 years and had hit rock bottom. I was heartbroken over a boy, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, and I felt like I didn't have any real friends; so I just had to go home and regroup. I have always had a real soft spot for animals, and so in my loneliness, and just trying to figure life out I begged my parents to let me get a kitten. They were not having it, but I didn't care and one Saturday I went down to the animal shelter and found the smallest, sickliest looking cat in the whole shelter. I swear the moment I laid eyes on him I knew he was meant to be mine. All of the other cats were calling out for me to pick them and he was just sitting there in the corner, not begging for any attention.

Carly Cash/ Tiny
Carly Cash/ Tiny
loading...

When I took him home my parents were furious and I quickly wondered if I had made a mistake. He was too young to be away from his Mother. I had to feed him with a dropper and I didn't know if he'd even make it in those first few weeks. We appropriately named him Tiny and I remember singing Elton John's song "Tiny Dancer" to him over and over as I nursed him back to health.

Tiny insisted on sleeping on my chest at night to hear my heartbeat, I felt like I was neglecting him all the time as I rushed off to work and school, but he loved me and I relished in taking care of someone who needed me.

Carly Cash
Carly Cash
loading...

Slowly he grew and grew, but that first year was tough. He got in a fight and suffered a severe infection in his tail, he got into some fishing equipment and got a hook right through his lip, and my Dad hated him.

Much to my parents chagrin I ended up leaving Tiny behind when I got married and moved to Salt Lake City in 2002. My Mom is allergic to cats, but she cared for Tiny as if he were her own for the next 14 years.

He always knew I was his Mama though and would come to me whenever I went home. As my family grew my kids loved looking for Tiny when they would go to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Both of my kids learned to call for him as soon as they started talking and he would run away avoid their too tight hugs all the time.

Yesterday I received a call from my parents saying that Tiny was very sick. They believe he had suffered a stroke, couldn't walk, and was barely hanging on.

Carly Cash/ Tiny
Carly Cash/ Tiny
loading...

I wished in an instant that I could be there to say goodbye to the cat that healed my heart and taught me more about caring for others than myself. My parents and siblings, snuggled him for hours before he took his last breath. I can't think of a better way to go, but today I miss him. Rest in Peace sweet Tiny cat. I will never forget you.

More From 104.3 Wow Country