Dear Readers,

My little tortoiseshell kitty cat Maudie passed away last night. She was 21 years old (21 and 5 months, to be exact) and had been suffering for a time with kidney disease.

Along with her late littermates, Lionel and Felix, Maudie appeared in my yard one summer afternoon in 2001. Tiny kittens, they were lost, hungry, thirsty, and so in need of a home. Of course, they were welcomed right into my house and remained wonderful lifelong companions to each other and to me all through the years.

As with all “Torties,” Maudie’s beautiful fur was a mosaic of taupe, gray, brown, black, and orangey-peach hues, the overall appearance resembling the shell of a tortoise. My father was fond of her and actually named her. He identified her coat color as mauve. “Now, where’s that little mauvie-colored kitty?,” he’d ask. “Mauvie” turned into Maudie.

Almost all Torties are female kitties — it’s a genetic thing. It is said that they bring good luck and success to their owners. Maudie certainly brought all things good to me. She was gentle, smart, affectionate, talkative, and ever-by-my side.

A dear little kitty, a gift for sure. I have no doubt that God sent her to me. She’ll be waiting for me, I trust.