At five years of age, my love of cats and kittens was ignited by a small grey tabby kitten. A neighbor had kittens they were finding homes for and when I heard this news, my world stopped. I just had to have a kitten! Stripes became my closest companion and a huge part of my childhood and early adulthood.

For 17 years, I was blessed with his quiet friendship. In his later years, Stripes developed hyperthyroidism, early chronic renal failure, and congestive heart failure. During this time I became involved in veterinary medicine and knew that feline medicine and welfare was more than a passion of mine, it was to be my life's work. His passing although devastating, reminded me that such friendship endures past the touch of time.

Stripes continues to motivate me daily to make a difference in the lives of cats and kittens. He is the inspiration for our Stripes Fund, intended to help cats with cardiac related conditions and thyroid disease.