May 24, 1989 – December 30, 2002

A resident of 300 Occidental Avenue, # 7, for thirteen years, during which time she :

- ate with gusto, developing a body mass of Biblical proportions

- bit the landlord on the hand

- attacked the pet sitters on several occasions, causing one terrified sitter to abruptly quit, requiring Gilda’s owner to cut his vacation short and fly home on day 2 of a 10-day vacation

- earned her own sign on the back door of the building:
"WARNING: THIS HOUSE IS PROTECTED BY AN ATTACK CAT"

- terrorized her sister, Rosie, on a semi-weekly basis

- made each visit to the vet a traumatic tooth-claw-hiss-and-spit experience that required gloves, military training, and sedation (ether for Gilda and valium for her owner)

- occasionally tolerated Sam the cockatiel tap dancing on her head (see above)

- repeatedly refused to budge when the housekeeper tried to vacuum the rug, forcing her to vacuum around Gilda, and on one occasion causing her to trip and fall over Gilda

- in her younger and thinner days, occasionally ventured out onto the roof through the bedroom window and then into the apartment next door (to go exploring), resulting in her being forever banned from the roof (but not before pooping thereon)

- alternately frustrated and delighted her owners with her sometimes crabby, often presumptuous and perpetually endearing behaviors

Surprisingly, she will be missed.