Cat - Maine Coon - Meet Sammy

Some animals come into our lives and somehow become part of the rhythm of the family. Sammy was one of those animals.

Sammy belonged to Carrie and her son, Casey, friends of our founders. To call Sammy a beloved cat hardly seems enough. He had an extraordinary connection with his family and seemed to know exactly when Carrie or one of her boys needed a little extra love.

But the bond between Sammy and Casey was something particularly special.

Every afternoon, Sammy knew when Casey’s school bus was coming. He would wait for him and meet him at the door, more like a devoted dog than a cat. And simply coming home wasn’t enough. Casey had to pick Sammy up so Sammy could give him a kiss on the face. As long as Casey lived at home, that was their ritual. Every single time he walked through the door.

Sammy had plenty of personality, too. One of his favorite games was fetching Nerf darts, something Maine Coons are famously fond of doing. He was affectionate, playful, intuitive and completely woven into the life of his family.

When Sammy died, his absence was deeply felt. Not a day goes by that he isn’t remembered.

When Carrie asked us to create one of our Just a Girl Who Loves designs using Sammy’s photograph, it became more than a customer request. It was a chance to turn a much-loved photograph into something that celebrates the animal he was and the love that remains.

That’s really what Love, by Breed™ is about.

Because sometimes they’re never just a cat, just a dog, or just an animal.

Sometimes they’re family.