The Purr-tiest Gal In the Whole Damn Town

Ms. Sierra Havana Brown

1992 - 2007

Loyal Pet, Beloved Family Member

"Hello Ms. Brown! The Purr-tiest Gal In the Whole Damn Town! The Purr-tiest Girl In the Old Western World!" These are words to just one of many "jingles" inspired by Ms. Brown.

Ms. Brown joined our family at age 2 when she was adopted by my sister Suzie. Her chubby brown form huddled in a crate on Powell Street, part of the traveling SPCA "show" of orphaned pets available for adoption. When Suzie stroked her, she immediately began to purr, instantly melting my sister's heart and winning a place in her home.

Her gorgeous coat, an unusual color for a cat, inspired admiration from all. Even many veterinarians had never encountered the Havana Brown breed. A cross between Siamese and Russian Blue, the Havana Brown is ideally a pure, rich chocolate brown, like the Cuban cigar, with a tall, sinewy form. Ms. Brown was flawed in two ways: a small white triangular crest on her chest...and a huge weight problem. At the time of her adoption, she tipped the scales at 16 pounds, and despite a lifetime of diet cat food, she maxed out at a whopping 28 pounds (she did manage to drop five pounds later, after a tail amputation slowed her down.) She appeared to be a nervous eater, and definitely inherited the Siamese voice, screaming top volume when the bottom of her food bowl made an appearance, making it nerve-rattling to enforce her diet. Who knows what manner of stress she had endured before she wound up at the SPCA, but she was obviously grateful to have a home and jealously guarded it. Later when another cat, Snarky, joined the household with new roommates, she protested unwaveringly for years, peeing and pooping at the front door to mark her territory. This horrible behavior came to an abrupt halt when she was once again given a territory of her own in my room that was beyond the reach of another feline.

Ms. Brown was at her best in the care giving role she so faithfully performed. When our Mom joined the household, unable to live by herself due to early-onset Alzheimer's disease, she and Ms. Brown immediately bonded. Ms. Brown's friendship gave my Mom great joy at a time when she faced great sadness. I will always be indebted to Ms. Brown for that. When we were no longer able to care for Mom at home and had to move her to an Alzheimer's care facility where she could receive round-the-clock care, Ms. Brown walked up and down the long hall of the Cortland apartment for over a year, crying piteously for the loss of her friend.

In her senior years, Ms. Brown was joined by a sibling, our dog LulaBelle. Ms. Brown had a calming effect on the spunky Labrador youngster. Though Ms. Brown was too decrepit to play with the puppy, they provided great company and security for one another while we were at work. At night, as soon as the lights were turned out, Ms. Brown would jump down from her ottoman next to my bed, and join LulaBelle on the floor. They would lay toe to toe in unspoken communication, a process I dubbed "hob-nobbing." LulaBelle would wag her tail and lick Ms. Brown on the head.

Ms. Brown gave great love and was well-loved in return. We miss her very much and she will always hold a special place in our hearts.