Eulogy for Diamond Dunlop

Diamond Dunlop, 2005

I remember when I first met Diamond in 2004.

After I had secured my first apartment in Sandy Springs, GA, I befriended some neighbors who were a couple. One evening, I visited them and they introduced me to their new kitten, Diamond.

Diamond was soooo cute!! She was just adorable. I immediately became very fond of her.

After a few times of visiting these neighbors, I discovered that they didn’t like Diamond very much. As a matter of fact, they were annoyed with her because she was doing what kittens do… climbing the walls, jumping the furniture, meowing, etc. They weren’t nice to her at all after a short period of having her, and I came to believe they were abusing her.

Shortly after that, they informed me that they would be disposing of Diamond. They asked if I wanted her, and I said ‘yes’. 

I can remember the day I transferred Diamond from their apartment to mine. She was terrified of just being lifted out of her home and into my car. Diamond was frantic. She jumped around in the back seat, crying (meowing loudly) and sat near the back window in the corner. She was so scared!

I finally got her in my apartment and she continued to be a scaredy cat. I received some cat food and litter for her from the neighbors, so I set that out in the kitchen area where there was also a laundry room, which is where I stored her litter. Slowly but surely, she started to come out from the hiding spots she’d discovered within my apartment (mainly kitchen and bathroom cabinets). Diamond used to hide all the time! I would come home frantic because I couldn’t find her, only to realize that she was hiding. This happened several times over the years as I moved from one place to another.

Once Diamond came to realize that I didn’t want to and wasn’t going to hurt her, she began to cuddle up to me, and she would even sleep next to me. She liked to snuggle under the covers with me while I watched TV in the bed or the sofa. She would purrrrrrrr…. I remember not even knowing what that sound was. Previously, before Diamond, when I thought of a ‘purr’, I thought it would be like a meow or even a ‘purr’ sound. But, that’s not how it sounds when cats purr. It’s like a low rumble in their throat and belly…and it’s a good thing. It means they are happy and content.. They feel safe.

One time in 2004/2005, my nieces and nephew came to visit. They were so fascinated by Diamond. I believe this was their first and closest interaction with a cat. My nephew, Deuce, was a toddler, and he kept playing with Diamond in a way that she wasn’t too fond of. I warned Deuce that he shouldn’t aggravate her, because she’d likely fight back because 1 - she’s a scaredy cat, and 2 - nobody wants to be taunted after they’ve clearly ‘told’ you to leave them alone. Long story short, she scratched the shit out of his nose, and he had a scar there for a long time.

Many years later, my 2nd nephew, Jayden, received the same warning. “Stop messing with Diamond, leave her alone or she will get you.” He learned the hard way as well, and he became afraid of Diamond after she charged at him one night in my home in Snellville, GA - (click to watch). Ever since then, he was damn near deathly afraid of Diamond. Little old Diamond! He became paralyzed whenever he knew she was around.

Diamond has always been there for me. When I felt sadness, I could be in another room crying, and Diamond would hear me and come and be by my side to cuddle. She loved me so much, and I loved her just the same if not more. She is just my sweet, sweet girl. I can’t believe she has passed away. It’s been 20 years. This is taking a toll on me. It’s difficult to process to say the least.

I remember living in Snellville and my Dad came up from Florida to live with me. He had finally decided he was going to move to Georgia for good, and I was happy to take him in. Unfortunately, he didn’t have any love for Diamond, and that was a problem. In fact, I think he hated her. 

He had to smoke his cigarettes outside (rules of living in my house) and Diamond, a house cat, would sometimes like to go outside for fresh air if someone opened the door for her.

One day, I came home from work, and Diamond was nowhere to be found. I checked the cabinets, under the bed, closets, living room, kitchen, guest room, etc., etc., etc., and she was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, my Dad continued to smoke his cigarettes outside on the front porch without a care for Diamond’s whereabouts.

I began to put two and two together. Especially after the fact that 1 - he didn’t care that Diamond was missing, 2 - Euriah, my niece, told me that he said he was glad Diamond was gone and he wished and hoped that she was dead, and 3 - all he was concerned about was the whereabouts of the TV remote control so he could watch his westerns.

After a day of searching for Diamond in my neighborhood to no avail and calling out of work, I told my father that he had to pack his shit and leave my house. Hours later that night, within 24 hours or so after his departure, Diamond came back home! I opened my front door and there she was, waiting for me. I was elated and I knew I had made the right decision kicking Dad out. My sweet Dimy was there! Missing her during that time was agony, and I knew I was truly blessed when she returned home to me.

I have so many memories of my time with Diamond. She has seen me through all of my toxic relationships. She has been by my side through each and every heartbreak. Now that I am finally healing and I am learning to truly love myself, I feel as though she senses she can move on and rest peacefully without having to look over me in the physical realm. I really do hope and pray that she will continue to look out for me in Spirit. I really do hope and pray for that….

I thank God and Diamond for 20 years of unconditional love, companionship, joy, comfort, laughter, discernment, and for always waiting on me to come back home. I know she has held on this long because she feels the love we have for each other. I love her so much and my family loves her too. 

This is a tough time for me, but I will make it through. I will always carry Diamond in my heart. I will always be her human.

Love,

Katina

RIP Diamond Dunlop

2004-2024