My parents lost their favorite cat over the weekend and were surprised to discover how deep their feelings for the human-souled critter had become. It can't be easy for them. I spoke for a while to my mom at her job at school, and then talked to my dad for a longer time at his job at home. When I went out, Fraidy, the black cat (with reddish ruff) who has become our backyard visiting cat, was standing on the walkway looking at our front door. I sat down and he came up and meowed at me, something he rarely does. It was almost as if he knew about my indirect bereavement.