My Sweet Neighborhood Cat Friend, Noel, Has Passed Away

It is with great sadness that I announce that my next-door-neighbor friend, Noel, passed away two days ago after suffering for several weeks from what was thought to be cancer. I happened to talk to her mom yesterday to ask where Noel had been (if you read the following post from a year ago you'd know she was a nightly visitor and sharer of treats with my dog, Daisy) and with a heavy heart she informed me that Noel's stomach became distended for several weeks but thought it was due to her gaining weight. Also, in the past few weeks she had been losing the strength to climb onto her couch or to eat so her mom was not surprised to learn that she had cancer. I thought it was odd that I hadn't seen Noel once spring rolled around and instead stuck close to home so now I know I can put her bowl away (yes, I bought a bowl just for her) and can stop shaking a treat container to attract her attention. She was between 13 and 15 years of age and had a good life of prowling around the neighborhood snagging treats, meals, and pets on the head from neighbors while also enjoying the comforts of home but she is still going to be sorely missed!

The following is an old post that will give you better insight into her purr-sonality and I hope you enjoy reading it!

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Yes, I know that my blog is supposed to feature either my Teacher's Pet Sitting Service clients or my own pets but I'm bending the rules a bit by telling you that my next-door-neighbor friend, Noel, is technically mine so I'm giving myself pawmission to write about her! Isn't she cute?  

For nearly two years at any time of day imaginable Noel has been showing up at my doorstep for a kind word, a few pets, and, of course, a meal

from this folksy bowl I bought with her tastes (get it?) in mind because I figured she must love chicken! 

When I'm not with her she lounges on my lawn dreaming of the moment when she can see her other favorite visitor, 

Daisy, when she comes back from her many walks!

  

Believe it or not, the two seem to understand each other! Daisy knows that if she doesn't bark or attempt to chase Noel (she rarely tries because she doesn't like to be hissed at) I will

  

take Daisy on a trek upstairs (it's a trek because she doesn't want to leave Noel behind as you can see) to grab some treats for them to share! These buddies know that it is a literal treat to get snacks during the day because the usual routine happens at the end of Daisy's evening walk when the two share a few morsels together!

If you're wondering if I would adopt her if she wasn't already owned by the lady next door the answer is YES! She has reminded me that I still have room in my heart to adopt another cat after losing my dear Henry a little over two years ago! 

Do you have a neighborhood cat, dog, squirrel, etc, who visits you on a regular basis? If so, what has that experience been like? Please leave a comment below! I'd love to hear about it!