“Eulogy of Tosca” by Bunny Snow.

'My little black shadow, my Kiwi cat. You crossed the ocean with me. You were with me through three break-ups, five moves, the death of four grandparents, marriage, the adoption of two more cats and a dog. You grew up with me, comforted me, watched me mature from a confused twenty-four-year-old to an adult; you grew old at my side.

There were times of deep loneliness and despair that I looked into your wide, guileless eyes and thought – Tosca, my little black cat, you are the one constant in my broken world. My love. You spent a decade in my care. You strolled on hillsides in New Zealand, chased chess pieces, corks and pens, walked across my keyboard typing nonsense – my literary cat – you dozed on my lap when I studied.. Of all the lives to live, none could be so sweet as the life of Heather’s beloved cat. You slept last night in my arms, head nuzzled against my chest, purring us both to sleep...Tosca, my dear one, my little furry, black familiar, I knew you had to leave me...&#