title: The Truth About Cats: Notes From The Feline Underbelly
author: Ms. Molly J Brandenburg
description: Molly Brandenburg is a writer, cartoonist, comedy performer and singer. Her cartoons have been published in newspapers and magazines, as well as the political website RestoringTruthiness.org. Her first book of cartoons, EVERYDAY CAT EXCUSES was published in 2008 by Sterling Books. When not drawing cartoons, Ms. Brandenburg performs as comedy lounge singer Miss Peggy Judy, who can be seen at PeggyJudy.com. Molly lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Emma, and their three cats, Frank, Ava and Angel.
zlib_text: _To Annalena_
  
  _Part One_
  
  "The Tributes"
  
  ![](Images/image00172.jpeg)
  
  When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out,
  seeking Prim’s warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress.
  She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she
  did. This is the day of the reaping.
  
  I prop myself up on one elbow. There’s enough light in the bedroom to see
  them. My little sister, Prim, curled up on her side, cocooned in my mother’s
  body, their cheeks pressed together. In sleep, my mother looks younger, still
  worn but not so beaten-down. Prim’s face is as fresh as a raindrop, as lovely
  as the primrose for which she was named. My mother was very beautiful once,
  too. Or so they tell me.
  
  Sitting at Prim’s knees, guarding her, is the world’s ugliest cat. Mashed-in
  nose, half of one ear missing, eyes the color of rotting squash. Prim named
  him Buttercup, insisting that his muddy yellow coat matched the bright flower.
  I le hates me. Or a