It’s been over a year since Sascha left us and I still feel her spirit every day. Sascha, my beautiful gray tabby with the gorgeous green eyes… One of many cats in my life but by far the most memorable. Such a funny, spunky, unpredictable and adorable ball of fur.

We met at the local shelter in October 2019. Something about her grabbed me and I asked if I could hold her. I sensed an instant bond and took her home that day, not having any idea how this would go with my husband and senior Labradoodle, Mikey, but somehow it felt right.

I thought I knew cats, but this one was different. Sascha was a big, bold kitty in a 10-pound body, a born entertainer and clown. She moved in with lots of self-confidence, curiosity and a boatload of charm.

Her favorite things were boxes, bags, and wine corks. She would jump in any empty box and cause quite a ruckus, flopping around and looking at me coyly. If I threw a cork into the box that was even better. We still find corks in our house in surprising places. It always makes me smile and miss her all over again.

My finding her in October 2019 turned out to be fortuitous, as Covid arrived a few months later and we were in need of entertainment at home.

Within a couple months Sascha had wormed her way into our hearts and we were completely smitten. There were a few moments of tension, as we established some ground rules, but nothing too terrible happened. She discovered how much fun it was to unroll an entire toilet paper roll before I discovered what she was up to. Still, we laughed at her antics more often than not, and she was clever and creative with her naughtiness.

One of the best things about having Sascha was the fun she created for Mikey. I adored watching them interact and play-fight.

What a joy it was to know and love Sascha.