I had 17.5 wonderful years with my little heat-seeking missile. Whenever I sat down, she sensed it from wherever she was and strolled in for lap time. At night she slept next to my head and purred all night. I adopted her as a kitten to be a companion to Max, a Himalayan who had been homeless. I released them into a room at the same time and she immediately took control. They were inseparable. When he died, she was clearly depressed and my vet said I had to get her a cat. So little Ted came in the house when she was 5 and she mentored him as Max had mentored her. And again, completely in charge. It was hard sitting in my reading chair last night and going to sleep without her reassuring purrs. I love all of my animals but the bond between us was extraordinary.