Two weeks ago, on July 14th, we had to say goodbye to our beloved cat Carlito. He was a beautiful, gentle soul who filled our lives with love for 12 wonderful years. Though he had always been a healthy and happy cat, just over two months ago he was diagnosed with an aggressive and fast-growing oral squamous cell carcinoma. Despite our hopes and efforts, we had to let him go far too soon.

We first met Carlito at the Peninsula Humane Society when he was just a tiny 3-month-old kitten. His name at the time was Preston, and though we looked at many cats that day, something about him felt different. The way he looked at us—curious, kind, and full of life—touched our hearts instantly. We couldn’t stop thinking about him, so we went back to hold him in our arms, and just like that, we knew this was our cat! From that moment on, he was Carlito, and he was ours.

As a kitten, Carlito was a ball of wild, joyful energy—pouncing, racing around, turning our apartment upside down with love and chaos. As he grew older, he became mellow, wise, and incredibly affectionate. At that time, we had our beloved Abyssinian cat Laurence. They were good friends.

Years later, after Laurence passed away, Carlito mourned deeply—his heart was so sensitive. It wasn’t until we brought Lily Rose into our lives that he found joy again. From the beginning, they were inseparable, and he adored her with all his heart.

Carlito was truly one of a kind. Our pet sitter Julie called him “The King,” and it suited him perfectly. He ruled our home with quiet confidence, always keeping watch, always caring for us. He was our gentle protector, cuddler, and companion. At night, he’d curl up next to us in bed, purring like a little engine, and wrap his paws around our fingers—a sweet, silent way of saying, “I’m here. I love you.” His favorite things? Raw organic chicken, shrimp, sunbathing in the garden, and his beloved purple stuffed toy (which he proudly carried to his food dish). That toy now belongs to Lily Rose, who plays with it as if he’s still here, watching over her.

Carlito was an indoor-outdoor cat in the best way—he never wandered far, always content just to sit outside and watch the world go by. He was calm, observant, brave, and wise. And while I’ve been blessed with many wonderful cats in my life, there was something truly extraordinary about Carlito. He loved deeply and patiently, especially when it came to Lily Rose, whom he cared for every day.

Carlito Emilio. Carly. Pollito. You were our king, our purring machine, our gentle guardian. You will always live in our hearts. Fly free, sweet boy. We will love you forever.
-With all our hearts, Paula, Ivan, and Lily Rose