Gremlin Dail

Gremlin Dail, a sweet orange tabby boy belonging to Nicole and Chris Dail, passed over the Rainbow Bridge in the early hours of Monday, April 20, 2026, in his mama’s arms. Gremlin was born on Friday, June 21, 2024. Gremlin joined the Dail family in August of 2024.

Gremlin found his way into the heart of Chris after he happened to stop by the home of his close friend who was looking to rehome kittens. Gremlin and Chris had an instant connection; according to Nicole, upon meeting Gremlin, "He climbed up onto Chris’s shoulder just like their previous cat Sunkist did, perched right up on his shoulder, and purred in his ear.” Nicole shared how it really touched Chris’s heart, and when his friend tried to retrieve the kitten, the kitten responded with a hiss, letting them both know that he had claimed Chris as his new owner. Nicole shared, “My husband was sold and knew this little kitty was going to be my new fur baby and help me move on from the loss of our previous fur baby.”

Gremlin stayed perched on Chris’s shoulder the entire ride home. Upon arriving home, Chris opened the door where Nicole was working but stood off to the side, hiding Gremlin, saying, "I did a thing..."

Nicole shared, "Revealing Gremlin, he handed him over to me. Gremlin, a little orange, bug-eyed butt, sat in my hands and purred and cuddled and climbed my shoulder. Chris attempted to pet him and got hissed at just like our friend, and we both laughed. Gremlin then grew up as my new office kitty and spent most of every day either on my lap, on my shoulder, or asleep on my desk until he grew too big to sit on my shoulder. But he still stayed close by at all times.” 

Nicole described Gremlin’s personality as “an extrovert of a kitty. " He always wanted to meet everyone who came through the door. He made friends with everyone. Even if it was a new animal, he wanted to at least say hi. He was very playful. But overall he loved. He loved hard. He loved us.”

Nicole shared what they loved most about Gremlin: "He was a cuddler. While sitting in bed or lying in bed, he would climb up and lie wherever he pleased. Whether it was the lap, the chest, or the neck. Nicole shared they called him a "scarf" when he did it. He was a lover. Nicole relayed, "He loved to give kisses. He loved, and he showed it.” 

Nicole recalled her favorite memory of her time with Gremlin: "Every time it was bedtime, he always crawled up into bed to cuddle with me. Especially when I found out I was pregnant. Because Gremlin knew before I did, and I would wake up to him cuddling the baby bump."

Chris shared his favorite memory of Gremlin—"No matter where Nicole was in the house or how loud or soft she said Gremlin's name, he came running.” Chris adored how quick he was to come running to Nicole. 

Like most cats, Gremlin wasn’t a fan of bath time. Nicole relayed, “As a kitten, bath time didn't faze him, but as he got older, it wasn't very ideal for him, but he loved to be combed. Until he was done and wanted to attack and play with the comb. But he always let me groom him. He'd close his eyes, lift his head, and smile.”

Gremlin did not care for car rides. He was a stay-at-home kitty. Nicole shared she “couldn't put him in a cat crate because he would liquify himself out of the side of it.” He preferred to just be carried in their arms.

Nicole felt what Gremlin valued the most in life was "his family” and his favorite hobby—bird watching. 

Nicole shared Gremlin liked cat treats; he always liked when we had them, but his favorite thing overall was wet cat food or a can of tuna. He'd go nuts. He would also go nuts for catnip. He would roll around and play in it. If you coated a toy with catnip, then that was all he wanted to play with for the next hour till he zoomied himself out to a nap.”

Nicole shared that his favorite toy—this last Christmas he was given a gift of a toy on a string. His favorite was the feathers and mouse. Every night before bed we ended up playing with him because watching him catch and attack the toy attached was always so cute and funny.”

Nicole relayed a funny story about how Gremlin was not neutered and told Gremlin’s previous owner that he had become “practically the size of Cheeto puffs." The friend found out it was true after stopping by for a visit, and Gremlin let him “have a look," and everyone burst into laughter. 

Gremlin, who also went by the nickname of "Spicy Kitty," which he earned from the time he was a little kitten, was loving towards his entire family, but he had a special closeness towards Nicole. Nicole shared, "He always came to my calls; he always cuddled with me 98% of the time. He loved Chris too, but he didn't always come when he called like he does me. I was his momma, and it showed.”

Gremlin was greeted on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge by his sibling, Sunkist, who preceded him in death. 

In addition to Nicole and Chris, Gremlin will be lovingly remembered by his human siblings, Zoey, Kaida, and Carter, and by his dog family Bear, Rowena. Ace and Salem.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Always & Furever in Our Hearts Pet Cremation in association with Liming Family Funeral Home, located in Shirley, Indiana. We are honored to serve the family of Gremlin Dail.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gremlin Dail, please visit our floral store.