Graduation is a joyous occasion for students and their families. Francesca Bourdier’s special day was enhanced by the presence of her tabby cat, Suki.

Suki had attended every single one of her mother’s online lessons over the previous two years, so Bourdier wanted to do something to recognize their accomplishment. She made a tiny, Suki-sized hat and gown to match her own before the event.

“It was just me and her,” Bourdier explained to The Dodo, “so when graduation came around, I knew I wanted to honor her as well.”

Because of the pandemic, most of Bourdier’s lessons were held online — yet she was never alone. Suki would join her mother in front of the computer as soon as she heard her mother’s Zoom lesson begin.

“She’d just walk up to my desk and lay next to it, like if she was listening,” Bourdier explained. “And she’d simply perch on top of my iPad if I was taking notes on it.”

Bourdier got Suki from a local shelter in September 2020 after seeing her picture online. “I traveled to three different areas looking for her,” Bourdier explained. There was a large line of people waiting to adopt Suki when she eventually arrived at the correct shelter.

Bourdier’s persistence paid off, and at the end of the day, she was the lucky owner of the cute kitten. “When I finally received her, I was like, ‘Wow… I get to be her mom,’” she explained.

Suki has always enjoyed learning new things since joining the family, perfecting stunts like high-fiving, spinning, and giving her paw on command. When the studious cat began attending every single one of Bourdier’s Zoom lectures, it seemed only natural.

Suki’s presence in class gave Bourdier with the emotional support she required to earn her degree online. When one of her lecturers requested the students to bring in their pets, Bourdier realized she wasn’t alone. “It was great to see that practically every student brought a pet with them,” Bourdier added.

While graduating with Suki enhanced Bourdier’s college experience, it is only one of many accomplishments the two intend to achieve together. “[Suki] is simply that wonderful,” Bourdier stated.