Mommy Cat, the mother of four cats who became part of our family for varying lengths of time, passed away today. She was probably 17 years old, it’s hard to know for sure, but we had her for more than 15 years.
She was a wild cat. Many years ago she appeared and adopted us, dragging in with her four kittens. For most of her life, she wouldn’t let anyone touch her. She’d gladly accept our food and shelter, though! But, in the last few months of her life, with encouragement from my wife using treats, she came to accept us rubbing her head. At first, she’d flinch away, but in the last few weeks she moved into the rub, enjoying it. She even followed me from the kitchen, to the garden and back again, looking for treats all the way, looking up at my face in that piercing way cats have.
Her daughter Hoppy is still here. She’s as adorable as ever, and it appears she’s none the worse for the loss of her mother. Mother and daughter led quite separate lives. Mommy Cat rarely left the garden for the last two or three years.
Caring for Mommy Cat has been pretty intense in the last few months. It’s going to be very odd to go down to the kitchen in the morning and not hear her screech for food, or gurgled attempts at purring. Where once there was a fence around a kennel to discourage her from roaming around the kitchen, we are now back to the dog’s bed, where Hoppy will sleep tonight.
She’ll be missed. We love her. She was such a feisty creature. A presence in our lives for most of our married life.
