This is my parent’s Black Cornish Rex, who could have been an internet meme sensation. Her name is Anna Rexia, also affectionately (insomuch as one would use the word affection in reference to this cat,) called by “Rexi”. She was mysteriously unaccompanied when she was taken in by my cousin and his co-workers, who spotted her outside their Fire Rescue Station. The captain declared her unfit for EMT duty, perhaps due to lack of certification, or maybe it was her complete disregard for the human race. So, my cousin took her to Mom and Dad’s just around the corner, where she found her forever home.

Rexi was always excrutiatingly thin, with piercing green eyes and huge ears. The incessant writhing, yes writhing, of her long tail in addition to her enormous ears inspired me to frequently describe her as “a snake attached to a bat”. Her brown-black coat was very short, but soft and dense. If you can imagine the feel of a plush toy gutted and spread over a bare skeleton you can get the idea of her body under the gentle stroke of your hand. Her coat and body composition made her sensitive to cold, heat and light. Although she craved warm spots, she could actually get sunburn in direct sunlight. She abhorred dampness or chilly evenings.

Rexi’s sensitivities were manifested in quirky habits and particular tastes. She had the unnerving insistence that she knew you were knowledgeable of her peculiarities and, thus, you were obliged to accommodate them. This was something I learned when my family had the distinction of hosting Rexi for a couple months during a move. I frequently made the evening bedtime rounds under her green, glowering stare and incredulous protests until, at last, I positioned her personal heating pad and brought it to the correct temperature for her evening respite.

Anna Rexia was a much loved companion for my Mom and Dad for many years. She did actually curl up next to Mom while she read and worked crossword puzzles. They were sad to say goodbye when she passed on last month. I imagine this little character of a feline is irreplaceable, principally due to the $900 price tag on Cornish Rex kittens; and, perhaps because the perfect snake connected to a bat meme image is a rare find indeed