Back in November 2008, after the heartbreaking loss of our beloved cat George—who was tragically hit by a car right outside our home—we brought home two tiny British Shorthair kittens. Those two little souls became part of our family through thick and thin. They crossed continents with us, moving to America and back again, followed us through several house moves across England, and finally settled with us in Wales in 2020.

In February 2022, we said goodbye to Eddie after a period of illness, leaving Ben on his own for the first time. He’s coped as well as any cat could, but there’s been an undeniable quietness in the house ever since. A space where Eddie used to be. A gap in our routines, in our cuddles, and in our hearts.

Last week, we finally made the decision to bring a new kitten into our home to fill that void—not to replace Eddie, of course, but to bring warmth, mischief, and that special feline presence back into our lives.

So last Friday, we took a drive to Cardiff to meet some British Shorthair kittens. And as it happens sometimes with cats, the choice wasn’t entirely ours—Neo chose my husband, and my husband chose him right back. It was clear that those two were meant to be.

We returned home that evening to a blur of excitement, curious exploring, and many, many cuddles. But as we settled down, I couldn’t shake the memory of one little girl kitten who had completely stolen my heart. I looked over at my husband and told him just that. Without hesitation, he messaged the breeder, and the very next morning, we were back on the road to Cardiff.

And so Kath came home.

It’s not quite been a week yet, but Neo and Kath have already brought such light into our lives. Ben is watching with interest and cautious curiosity, and we’re giving him the time and space he needs to adjust to these tiny tornadoes.

George, Eddie, and all the precious cats we’ve loved before will always hold a place in our hearts. They’ll never be forgotten. But these new little ones—Neo and Kath—are already beginning to fill the quiet spaces our old friends left behind. Not replacing them, but continuing the story they helped us write.