A picture of Miki taped to a shop window with the caption "special needs" caught my eye in 1997 in Pittsburgh, PA. I was a doctoral student and wanted to give a needy kitty a home. As it turned out, Miki had spent her first six months in the wild and was in a cat 'rehabilitation' house for almost eighteen months as she was 'difficult'! We eyed each other, I wanted a challenge; she came home with me the next day. I soon learned that she was a picky eater, afraid of loud noises, plastic bags, most visitors and she did not like me much either. Hissing and showing her teeth were a standard greeting for everyone, myself included.

Now fourteen years later, she had flourished! Using the Tellington TTouch, I soothed her and wooed her. We became best friends crossing the country two times by car. She saved my life twice. Once, coming between me and a scorpion and again, keeping me awake as I was going comatose in a medicine reaction. She was my life saver and I was hers!

A few weeks ago, I noticed that she was quieter than usual. As I began our daily massage, I noticed a mass on her rib cage. I touched it and she turned and kissed me on the chin. Each day after, I felt more masses on other ribs and she was rapidly losing weight. Still, she kept up her routine of early rising, talking up a storm, and watching out the window viewing the stream and the woods full of rabbits, deer and an occasional fox. On Christmas Eve, she went over the Rainbow Bridge quietly in my arms. I buried her under a tree by the stream. Miki taught me much about being resilient and brought much joy to my life. She was a credit to her species and proof that even the most recalcitrant former feral can blossom into a best friend.

Pat Hughes