By Kate Jeffrey

Guits Linksy-Yeung and her prized portrait.

On March 11th, 2016, sixteen-year-old Guits Linksy-Yeung passed away peacefully in the Manhattan apartment she shared with resident Beacon language teacher, John Linsky, due to an unfortunate health complication. Anyone who knew Guits knew that her loving personality had been with her since kittenhood. She grew up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with her former owner, Melina, and her sister, Butterscotch. Guits was born with the name “Kansas” but decided to legally change her name in 2009, which was also the year that she was adopted by John Linsky and Albert Yeung, moved to Manhattan, and separated from her somewhat aggressive sister. Although shy on a first impression, Guits had an easy-going, loving presence and accepted everyone for who they were. She spent most of her days indoors, enjoying the company of her friends — a tank’s worth of fish with whom she always shared a special bond.

Like many felines, Guits had a passion for the great outdoors, but she preferred to study it from the comfort of her living room — a preference established through some traumatic experiences in a pet stroller. She knew how to appreciate the simple pleasures in life, such as taking lengthy naps above the heads of her fellow humans and pursuing the shadows that, for some inexplicable reason, were always one step ahead of her.

Guits was never one for material goods and rejected any trinkets or toys handed her way, showing a great aptitude for her own privilege and always taking into account those less fortunate than she. One material good that Guits did greatly appreciate, however, was the arts. Known as the “Pawcasso” of her time, she was fascinated by the interesting textures of different paintings and had a portrait of herself commissioned in 2015, which soon became one of her most prized possessions.

In addition to visual arts, culinary arts intrigued Guits, who had a remarkably sharp palette. She loved indulging in the crunch of a Temptations treat, and was always respected for her ability to pick out the individual notes of chicken and tuna hidden inside a dish.

Guits enjoying winter festivities.

To support Guits’ fellow felines and give more cats a comfortable home, check out Sean Casey Animal Rescue: http://nyanimalrescue.org/