"Woody" 1903-2018

    We had to say goodbye to our beloved Woody this past Wednesday night. We knew this could happen - he was determined to be outside, especially on warm summer nights - but when it did, we could not wrap our minds around it. He was a great hunter, but that also opened him to becoming the victim. We believe it was some wilder feline the ambushed him in his own yard. We suspect it was quick - a direct bite on his throat. We made a search at about midnight when he hadn't come in for his usual snack and found him beside our driveway. We laid him to rest Thursday by the lilac tree, one of his favorite spots to sit.
     We miss him terribly. We wish he'd been more adaptive to staying in after dark - or that we'd exerted more pressure to keep him in - but we also know being confined to the house was punishment for him and contrary to everything he knew. He had lived in the wild most of one summer and we really thought/hoped he knew how to take care of himself. We feel fortunate we had thirteen years to love him as he did us. He made us laugh, was demanding as only a cat can be, showed us love, taught us patience as he seldom made a decision quickly, and was truly a gentle giant with a totally gentle nature among humans. He tolerated dogs, but hated other cats.
     He was Granddaughter Tangeni's "best friend" - from the first time they met. She was devastated when her parents broke the sad news to her. She called us Thursday evening to tell us they had released a balloon for Woody and she had said a prayer for him in  Kitty Heaven. I'm sure he'd like that his friend did that for him.
    

 

Happy hunting, Woodpile.