The Millikan community’s hearts are heavy after it was announced last month that the school cat, Canelo, had passed away. Canelo was owned by a nearby neighbor, Esperanza Caballero, and frequently roamed campus after first appearing in 2023. Caballero confirmed his death in a written eulogy sent to Millikan families and faculty.
“Canelo had the most beautiful, free spirit,” Caballero wrote. “As an indoor-outdoor cat, he loved his independence. Every morning around 6 a.m., without fail, he would wake me up ready to start his day. He would be out exploring most of the day, come back for a quick lunch, and then head out like he had important business to attend to.”
Canelo quickly made his presence known after first appearing and was soon loved by staff and students. He was often found hanging out with counselors and staff in the main office while also roaming into different classrooms.
When word spread around campus of his passing, staff, clubs and several sports teams found ways to honor Canelo. Teams like the lacrosse team placed orange paw stickers on their helmets during games to honor Canelo, while clubs like the Visions Club set up a table for students to write notes and leave gifts for his owner at the club’s night market.
Teachers such as Ingrid Guntner-Palsgrove, Millikan’s fashion teacher, gave students the space to create a paper chain with written notes for Canelo to be placed on what the school calls ‘Canelo’s Tree.’ The school also came together to build a memorial at the tree, where students left flowers and notes, with the paper chain draped over it.
“Seeing a memorial like that for a cat is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time,” said Millikan Principal Dr. Stacie Alexander.
Canelo didn’t just leave an impact on Millikan, but also on the surrounding neighborhood near Spring and Palo Verde. An Instagram account named ‘Canelo Sightings’ was created to showcase his journeys around the neighborhood and campus, and the account owner took a moment to express their emotions about Canelo’s impact.
“I don’t think there are enough words to describe how overjoyed I am to see the effect Canelo had not just on Millikan, but on Long Beach,” the account wrote. “It really means a lot to me when I see that students from different schools in LBUSD, or even people beyond our district, have found this account and shared their love.”
Part of Canelo’s exploration beyond the school included local businesses such as Assistance League of Long Beach, a non-profit philanthropic center next to Millikan on Spring Street. Similar to Millikan, Canelo started by visiting their parking lot before eventually making his way inside to explore the office.
“He almost became our own mascot here at the Assistance League of Long Beach,” said Daisy Ramirez, the organization’s social media manager.
“He certainly brought a smile to so many people’s faces every time he came,” added Wendy Parden, the non-profit’s facility manager.
