If you missed the post on Facebook, my boy Tiziano left for Catnipping Green yesterday.  I confess I was hit harder than I imagined by his death.  I brought Tizi and Torre home during a difficult time of my life.  I just  came out of a long-term relationship.  I was living alone and wanted companions.

I heard through the grapevine that a friend from Excalibur Fantasy Faire, Tink, had a couple kittens she was trying to give away.  After visiting her house, I came home with two kittens and no idea what I was getting into.  I grew up with Pekingeses after all, not cats.  My first cat was Jasper (Tabby Kitty Cat-y).  He went with my ex.  I was barely sure what I was doing.

So I brought them home and put them in my bathroom to get them acclimated to their new home.  I put a litter box and some food in there.  The next day I went to work.  When I came home, they were both gone!!!!

This is when I learned just how exceptional Tiziano was.  I searched the house.  Then I noticed that one of the drawers in the bathroom was cracked.  I pulled it open.  Nothing.  I pulled it all the way out.  There were Tizi and Torre, hiding BEHIND the drawer.

Thus was born the legend of the Tizi and the opposable thumb.  He could open any drawer in the house.  Many times, I would come home and tear it apart looking for them, only to see a dresser drawer slightly cracked.  I opened it.  If he wasn't there, then he had climbed into the next drawer over!

Most people had trouble distinguishing between Tizi and Torre.  But not me.  By touch, he had the softest fur.  I couldn't stop caressing it yesterday after he passed.

I called Tizi “my pretty boy.”  Torre has a sorta blank look on his face most of the time.  Tizi was just a pretty kitty.  His eyes were almost always bright and cheerful.  He looked forever young and cute.

He was also the smart one.  He realized early that if he mewed it made me giddy happy, and I usually responded to his request for food, to play fetch, or whatever he wanted.  It took months before Torre caught on, and his mreows, bless his heart, are not nearly as cute.

Tizi also licked me.  Okay, this is embarrassing, but I'm sharing anyway.

So one day, I woke up in bed and Tizi was lying next to my chest.  It was SO cute I couldn't help but just to stay there.  I started petting him.  If you pet him on his back by his tail, he would start to lick the nearest place to me.  This time, it was right by my nipple.  Can you say “ouch!”?  It was cute, adorable and kinda hurt.  So I stopped.  But he liked it so much, I did it again.  Ouch!  And again.  Ouch!

So when I saw The Truth About Cats & Dogs, it really rang home.  “Okay folks, this is where we talk about limits.  You can love your pets.  Just don't love your pets.”  If you haven't seen it, go watch it!

I love Torre too.  But of the two boys, Tizi definitely had a ton more personality.  That's why half the songs I wrote were inspired by him.  I miss him terribly.

I want to thank you for the outpouring of love and condolences that were sent my way over on facebook.  It really means a lot to me.  Thank you!

Thank you also for sharing your own cat stories.  They help as well.  Again, thank you!

If you want to know more about Tizi, then get two of the songs most about him.  You can download “Tiziano Gunn” on CD Baby for free (for now, at least).  The song “To the Begging He Will Go” is another one about his incredible begging and playfulness.

Of course, the boys both showed up quite extensively throughout the Irish Drinking Songs for Cat Lovers CDs.  No doubt, they will again.  I do want to finish a trilogy of cat music.  So I'm not sure when, but more music will one day come as I am inspired.

If you ever happen to write a cat parody of a Irish or Celtic song, please be sure and share it.  You can post lyrics here or keep an eye on the cat music blog website.