It is with sadness I tell you that Miss Kitty was killed last month. The irony of the situation is that she and Neville had been living up on the Mountain Farmlet for the past year with no problem at all.
Each week we drove up to the Mountain Farmlet to work. We also replenished her and Neville’s food stores, and put fresh water into the large font. And each week she was happy to see us and lavished us with attention. She loved to follow us on the trail and keep us company.
Recently, Bob was up there working on greens maintenance and noticed her back behind the house with her catch of the day. After the weekly feed and water fill-up he then left to go work around the outbuildings. He said that when he returned to the truck he found her in the road.
She was six years young.
~*~
On our first meeting she was very shy,
Click the photo and find the kitty
but we would soon discover that she loved following us out on the trail,
This winter we often found her sunning on the bridge near the pond.
Do you see her?
This temporary marker will be replaced with a permanent one in the fall.
A native planting with lovely blooms I think.
~*~
NOTE: I know some of you will wonder why we didn’t just bring the kitties here to live. The fact is, that Miss Kitty simply refused to be picked up. For all her affection, and the petting that she loved, if you picked her up she would try to eat you! So we let them both stay.
Neville is now here with us. He has adjusted to life with Claus and Lil’ Bit very well… though Lil’ Bit is not so forgiving of his attitude when he first arrived…
because he wanted (still wants) to be KING OF EVERYTHING! 😉
Life on the Farmlet 
Awww, I am so sorry for the loss of Miss Kitty.
I did see her peeking out from under the stairs without having to enlarge the photo!
You have a good eye, Bill! She was always hiding and watching us, and then suddenly she would seemingly appear out of nowhere. She definitely had funny ways.
I’m sorry to read about the Kitty. It’s hard when we lose our fur babies. Hugs to you all and good luck with the transfer.
Thank you, Margaret. She will be most missed when we are on the trail. We really enjoyed our walks with her.
So sorry to hear of the loss of Miss Kitty. I’m sure she had some very happy days with you.
Lillian
She did, Lillian, and thank you.
Oh Lynda! What can I say, other than I understand your pain? Sending condolences and BIG hugs!
Thank you, Deb.
😦
Thank you, Simone.
She was pretty… ginger girls are quite uncommon…
Simone, I had never known that till we inherited her with the Mountain Farmlet, and then everyone commented on it. And yes, she was a pretty little cat. We will miss her on our walks in the woods.
I bet you do. Such charming little characters 🙂
How very sad indeed. Miss Kitty was such a beautiful girl and far too young to die. Not exactly as if your place is by a busy road. Great to hear that Neville is with you now. Glad Claus and Lil’ Bit have given him space even if he’s a King in waiting.
Annie, he is now the great defender of the front porch! We have never been able to leave kitty food out at night because of the local critters, and other kitties, but now we can! Thankfully, he is now sharing with Claus and Lil’Bit. Sometimes we even find the three of them together on the back steps! 😀
I’m so sorry to hear your news.
Poor little cat.
XO
Janet, thank you. She was endearing in spite of not being able to be held. She will be missed on our walks in the woods.
Bless Miss Kitty’s heart! She felt your love.
Thank you, Jackie. It was an odd relationship between us, but I think you are right.
A beautiful cat and a sad end.
Thank you, Tom. It was hardest for Bob because he was there when it happened.
I’m sorry about the loss of Miss Kitty! She was a beautiful cat!
Wasn’t she? She will be most missed on the walking trail in the woods.
Oh, so sorry to hear about Miss Kitty, Lynda. She chose to remain a bit wild and that was her life. You allowed her to be what she chose to be. What better gift is there? Love allows.
Lori, we think there was more to it than even that. As mentioned, she used to follow us on our walks, but when she did she would walk about thirty paces and plop down, thirty more, plop, thirty more, plop, etc, etc… We were never certain, but believed that the reason she would not allow anyone to pick her up was because she had pain issues. Even the Octogenarian said she was never able to pick her up! It was because of this that we made the decision to leave Neville with her so she wouldn’t be alone. We never expected them to be up there alone for so long.
Sadly, Bob was talking to me last night and said how sad he felt that “…it was the only time I ever got to hold her.”
Losing a pet is tough, I’m really sorry.
Thank you. It was hard having the two cats up there, and we worried quite a bit. We never realized how long the process of getting moved was going to take.
I’m sorry to hear about Miss Kitty. How are things coming along at the Mountain Farmlet?
Thank you, Patti. The Mountain Farmlet work is in a maintenance mode at the moment. We are working only on the outside for the summer.
That makes sense, when the outside is secure, you can work inside when the weather is uncooperative.
I have a post about all of this that comes out on Friday. 😀
Oh good! I look forward to catching up.
😀
so sorry to hear this – she was a pretty little cat. I’m glad Neville is adjusting to his new situation.
Thank you, Anna. Neville is a very resilient cat. He too can be a bit edgy when picked up, but secretly, we believe he loves being petted and cajoled! Sometimes he will crawl half into our laps and let you pet him for awhile. He has a very loud purr!
Oh I’m so sorry! such a tragic ending.
I do love that you all made her so happy with her treats.
Thinking of you!
Thank you, LB. Poor baby. She was a shy and sweet little cat.
Oh, my gosh. I’m so sorry. But I understand a little bit about her personality. Dixie Rose isn’t one who wants to be picked up, either. In fact, her trip to the vet last week for her annual checkup was the first time she got in and out without having to be put out with The Gas. Even at that, it was touch and go, with the vet gritting his teeth and saying, “I. Did. Not. Come. To. Work. Today. Tobebittenbyacat!”
It’s true, though. They each have their personalities, and how good of you to honor hers. Her time was short, but she certainly knew love.
Thank you, Linda.
After reading your account of Dixie Rose, I must recommend the “My Cat From Hell” series! If you have NETFLIX you can watch a few (or all) of the episodes online. Unbelievable cats, and the guy who works with the owners gets some amazing results! 😉 HA, and that cat behavior modification expert is a real character in his own right.
Cars are an unfortunate fact of life for outdoor animals. Miss Kitty had a good life, she was loved, and you let her live the life she wanted. Would that we all could say that about our life!
Nancy
True, Nancy! As I mentioned above to Emily Heath, I had recently read that the average lifespan for and outside domestic cat is about 4 to 6 years. I very much believe that death by car is the most prevalent cause. There are some who will disagree, but I think she had a good life up there too. She lived as a cat should and certainly kept the grounds and farmhouse free of rodents. (The mice are taking over since the cats are no longer there.)
I would agree that cars would be the leading cause of death for an outdoor cat. But on a farm, you need an outdoor cat, as you point out, to keep down the rodents.
My baby was an indoor cat and he only lived a year longer (age 7) before dying of kidney failure for unknown reasons. So being indoors doesn’t guarantee a longer or healthier life.
It’s unfortunate, but on a farm, stuff happens (and all the time it seems). Something gets the chickens, the dogs eat something they shouldn’t have, you step on a nail. That’s life.
Miss Kitty will be missed. In the meantime, keep us posted when you get the next mouser. It sounds like you can’t be waiting too long!
So true, Nancy. We have lost kitties at an early age through illness and it is always sad.
As for new mousers, we have three of them here. But we won’t be getting any new ones for the Mountain until we move up there. We were OK with leaving Miss Kitty and Neville up there because it was the only home they had ever known. BUT, it was a major cause for concern not knowing what was going on when we were not up there to see to their daily needs. For example, once something got into their space and ate ALL their food for the week 10 lbs. of it! More recently Neville was attacked and when Bob got there he had an abscess the size of a tangerine on the side of his face! So for the moment it will be sticky traps for the mousie problem. 😛
Oh poor Miss Kitty 😦
Emily, I read recently that this is the average lifespan for a domestic cat who is allowed to be outside. I have to imagine that death by vehicle is the major cause. 😦
She was a sweet cat.
😦 Poor little thing. I’m so sorry. You know – just last week I read that book you gave me “Cat Heaven” and I still cried when I read it! xo
Thank you, Jayme, and you are not alone. I still cry when I read it too. It is one of my favorite books.
I’m so sorry, Lynda. She was so pretty!
Thank you, Pam. It was hardest for Bob because he was up there when it happened and had to take care of the details…
She was a special little lady-cat.