"Okay, but why cats?" you might ask. Honestly? I don't know why. The motif made itself known and I followed it. Perhaps after reading this collection, including works from authors across the country who approach the topic with with sincerity, humor, and love, you can tell me. Perhaps it's because we choose our pets, to be companions in our lives that it's often as difficult (or more so) when they leave. Perhaps it's because, like children, they depend on us to survive and when they don't, we are inclined to think we failed them. Perhaps it's because they represent, in further abbreviation, our own short lives. Perhaps it's because it's often our first encounter with death, and in that way, they are our teachers where the rest of our culture can barely bring itself to address the subject. Perhaps it's because they don't have language that their lives are all the more honest.