Nemesis was a lovely, sweet, charming and completely easy-going Devon Rex. Although she began life with a full coat of fur, she gradually lost it and toward the end of her life was completely hairless so she became my living, breathing hot-water bottle. Whenever I felt lonely, angry, depressed, anxious or just a bit down, I knew that if I held that little cat for only a few minutes all of my frustrations and pain would simply vanish.

When she was younger, she and I would play fetch. I had never known a cat to do that. I could throw anything (wad of paper, bottle-cap, rubber-toy) and she would rush to catch it and return it to me with joy in her big, brown eyes.

We slept together every night until her arthritis overcame her ability to jump or even climb stairs, so she settled in a nice, big, fluffy down blanket on the floor next to the heater. She didn't let me off the hook, though, for giving her attention as she developed quite the repertoir of calls that she used shamelessly!

Her death was the most painful moment of my life. I had lost grandparents, cousins, aunts, a nephew and my father, but none of them held quite as deep a place in my heart. She was my sole companion for the last 12 years of her life.

She was my joy and will be very painfully missed. I love her dearly and will always.

Love you Nem!
Dad

Robert M.