In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night. -The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery

There was never a happier or more laid-back cat than Duncan Lionheart Magickcatte. His joy of life was contagious to all around him. Everyone who met him loved him. I was never able to look at Duncan without smiling and feeling happy. All I had to do was walk by Duncan and he purred and I glowed.

Duncan was born into this world on March 13, 1998. David and I had lost Avatar about five months earlier and decided it was time to get another cat or two. We responded to a newspaper ad for Lynxpoint Siamese and met two beautiful rambunctious boy kittens who would share and brighten our lives for many years. Since they were too young to leave their mother, we didn't bring them home until May 10, 1998, appropriately Mother's Day that year. What a wonderful Mother's Day gift they were! We named them Duncan and Joseph. Duncan was a true Lynxpoint Siamese while Joseph has some obvious Lilacpoint in him. They became known as "The Eepers" among our friends and relatives because of the cute "eep" sound they made when they were kittens. Like most siblings, they were as different as day and night. Joseph is quiet and serious. Duncan was outgoing, curious and happy-go-lucky. If cats could smile, Duncan would have, ALL the time. I think Duncan loved to have a good time. He seemed mischievous at times and full of the devil, game for anything. Sometimes I could swear I caught him winking at me.

As all cats do, Duncan acquired many names over the years - Mr. Dunkles, Dunkles, Da Dunc Dunc, Duncs, Duncan Doodles, Duncanstein, Dunky, The Duncster, Duncan Donut and Kitten among others. Of course, there were also secret names I called him just between the two of us which I would never reveal.

Life with Duncan was fun and my mornings will never be the same again. Frequently, but not every morning, Duncan would jump onto the bed and gently bite my nose to wake me up. He always jumped up on the closed toilet seat while I brushed my teeth and combed my hair. He loved to rub the side of his face against the toilet tank handle and it is a wonder he didn't accidentally flush the toilet in his enthusiasm. All I had to do was say "up" and he was balanced on his back feet on the toilet seat with front feet waving in the air at me. Sometimes he would cheat and put his front paws on my stomach for balance. He was always waiting for me after my morning shower, sometimes on the floor, sometimes on top of a tall dresser looking down at me, smiling all the while. I like to think he's doing that now, looking down at me and smiling.

Sleep never seemed important to Duncan. He didn't nap nearly as much as other cats do. There just seemed to be too many interesting things to investigate during the day for him to spend the time sleeping. Duncan was our official board certified Chief Ornithologist and he spent hours every day watching the birds on the deck and at the bird feeders. He seemed to have a love/hate affair with blue jays. His reaction was always one of excitement and chattering when a jay landed on a feeder. For several years of his life, our friends and relatives looked forward to reading Duncan's Bird Report emails in which he listed new birds recently sighted in the backyard and other bird news. He had his Ornithologist photo in a place of honor on a local wild bird supply store's bulletin board, surrounded by photos of birds.

Duncan loved to "play" the Venetian blinds when he was excited about the birds or just feeling happy. He would bat the blinds back and forth with his paws. Since they were metal they made quite a racket. He also did a batting/pawing thing on anything slick or slippery, like glass windows, mirrors, picture frames, even my computer monitor at times before I could stop him and, boy, could he move those paws! Every day at some point Duncan and Joseph could be seen snuggling, either in the sunshine or while snoozing. Several years ago I noticed that Joseph had no "eyebrows" as other cats do. After that we caught Duncan in the act, several times, chewing on Joseph's eyebrows. He also liked to chew on Joseph's whiskers. After their snuggle sessions they often groomed each other which inevitably turned into playful tussles.

Duncan frequently tapped me on the shoulder as he sat on the sideboard of my computer workstation as if to say, "Hey, I want some attention NOW!" If that didn't work, he danced his way across the keyboard and that did the trick.

I always looked forward to coming home from a trip because Duncan would either be at the front door or he would come running lickety-split from wherever he had been to greet me, happily meowing as he rushed towards me. He was never a lap cat but he loved to spend quiet reading time with me, purring on my chest as I sprawled on the couch or bed with a book. We did that a lot. It wasn't so much a time of reading for me as it was a very special time being with him. I was the only honored recipient of his gentle nose bites which I received on a daily basis, in the morning and throughout the day. He had learned the word "kisses" over the years and each time I said it, he would give me a gentle nip on the tip of my nose and, in return, he got a kiss from me on the top of his head.

A treat for both boys, especially on dark rainy days, was warm towels straight from the dryer. The towels were heated especially for them by their loyal staff. They both knew the word "Towels!" and would come running, jumping into the pile on the bed and settling down for a comfy snooze.

The boys had their 15 minutes of fame when their photograph was published in the 365 Cats Calendar on December 2, 2003. The published photo is to the right - Duncan is on the right and Joseph on the left.

Duncan LOVED to eat. He weighed only 2.18 pounds shortly after we brought him home and his highest official weight was 17 pounds, 4 ounces in 2006 when he was straining in his little cat suit. He had a unique habit for a cat - he was a black pepper fan. He loved rubbing his face and mouth on our fresh black pepper grinder. Time and time again we would find him on the kitchen table with his face buried in the Lazy Susan that held both fresh and ground pepper shakers. He also loved Cool Whip and would lick it off my fingers. He could be in a deep sleep and all I had to do was take the Cool Whip container from the fridge and he'd come running to the kitchen. How could he know so soon that what I had was Cool Whip?!! Vanilla ice cream was another favorite. And cheese. He and Joseph both knew the word "cheese" and their eyes would get as big as saucers when they heard it. Duncan loved grated Parmesan and American. Sadly, over time, as his constipation became a chronic condition, we no longer offered him the cheese he loved. If we gave any to Joseph, we would try to do it on the sly so that Duncan didn't know. He loved people tuna juice, too, but had no interest in the actual tuna pieces.

Duncan learned to play "hoops" when he was a kitten and was always so proud when he successfully jumped through a hoop from one chair to another, as we slowly increased the distance between them. He continued to play this game with me up until the last week of his life.

Most cats are afraid of the vacuum cleaner and take off when they see the evil machine heading their way. Duncan actually followed the vacuum cleaner while I vacuumed! He always seemed very curious about it and never feared it.

Duncan had a little water dance that he choreographed and performed in front of the water dispenser. I don't know what that was all about but I loved to watch his feet move about before he drank.

Duncan was quite the connoisseur of all things catnip. Usually after he had his sub-Q fluids, he would jump from the kitchen counter to the floor and play with one of his favorite catnip fish. Ever since he was a kitten there were times when he was obviously very happy and would rub or wash his face with both paws at the same time. He did the same thing with catnip fish, rubbing them all over his face. It was a wonderful thing to watch. Duncan had a very loud purr akin to an outboard motor and he purred hard, long and often. He didn't talk much but his hypnotizing blue eyes were so expressive he didn't have to. We communicated our love for each other by looking deep into each other's eyes. I could get lost in those mysterious eyes and did so frequently. Duncan had an endearing habit of raising his head up to meet my hand poised at the top of his head. He would sometimes go up on two paws to touch his head to my hand. He was a head bonker, too, but only with me so it was quite an honor.

During Christmas time several years ago I put a piece of red velvet fabric over our coffee table. The sunlight pours in on that table during the winter months and Duncan decided it was the perfect place to bask in the sunshine. He loved warmth and couldn't resist jumping onto the table but he never got on unless it had both the red velvet cloth and sunshine on it. I sometimes left the velvet on long after Christmas to see if he would continue to use it but the sunlight just wasn't in the right place at the right time so I would pack it up until the next Christmas. Duncan was a very helpful assistant when I wrapped Christmas gifts. He loved tissue paper and always had several sheets on the floor to play with. Even at other times of the year we kept tissue paper on the floor for him and also paper bags, wrapping paper, aluminum balls and ping pong balls. Duncan seemed to like to chase balls more than playing with string as Joseph did. This Christmas we will have a framed photo of Duncan on his velvet sitting on the velvet cloth on the coffee table. It would not be Christmas without Duncan on his red velvet.

After several years of meds and fluids - which Duncan gracefully (and it seemed gratefully) accepted as if he knew we were helping him, he began to tell us that his time with us and Joseph was nearing an end. He was amazing up until the last week of his life when he began to enter end stage renal failure. Everyone marveled at how much Duncan had overcome, how much strength and dignity he had and how he had always bounced back with an excellent quality of life. We called him our energizer bunny and "Kitten". All of his vets said so many times that he beat the odds. But on November 4, 2010 the sun disappeared and the sky cried tears for our sweet boy. It rained all day and we tearfully said goodbye to a most magical and extraordinary cat.

Duncan at the Rainbow Bridge

Our home is different now. It is quieter but Duncan's presence and spirit remain. At times, out of the corner of my eye, I think I see him walking by in the distance or will hear him coming down the hallway towards my computer room/studio. There are only three of us now and we are mourning our profound loss alone in our own private ways. I miss Duncan coming to see me during the day with that delightful and curious look on his face that said, "Whatcha doin', Mom? Can I help?" and always getting involved with my projects.

As I look at the thousands of photographs and videos I've taken of Duncan over the years I remember treasured and special moments with him and wish there could have been more time but I am so grateful for whatever time I had with him. Duncan was always there for me, faithful to the last was my boy. He was my constant companion and true friend. He made my heart sing, he brought sunshine into my life and I know I brought love into his - my handsome, courageous, spirited, beloved Duncan Lionheart Magickcatte. Sleep warm and rest in peace, my sweet, gentle blue-eyed boy. I honor you, my confidante, dear friend and soulmate and I miss you terribly. You are part of my heart and my soul and I will love you forever.

Your Loving Mom

For information on Duncan's medical history, please see his Journal page.

All photography and composition copyright C. Statton DiFiori