Farewell, furry friend

We are deeply saddened by the death of our beloved cat, Panther, a regular at Cafe Sol.

We can never tell what cats think, and how they see the world. We may only infer from their calm closeness, their warmth, their purring, and their eagerness to be petted and cuddled, what they think of a place and the people around them.

If you’ve been to Cafe Sol in the last few months, you’ve probably been welcomed at the door by Panther.. He’s the friendly, furry little thing with an inspiringly cheery attitude towards new people, and no respect for personal space. Panther was a stray cat with an unusual affection for human, and often hung around outside, hugging our customers’ feet.

A silent pet is often a willing canvas for the projection of our emotions and values. In our cat, I saw casual mischief, a sense of awe, a willingness to trust strangers against all odds, an anticipation of love and the courage to love back.

And though death of a pet often invites callous indifference from people, we know how it feels because we’ve invested a part of us in them. It hurts, when a living being dies. And it hurts even more when our living reflection fades. And we find ourselves, for a while, staring into nothing.

I wish our team and friends all the best through this difficult time.