It must have been in 1994 that our family cat Rosa had her second litter which included a two tone grey tabby that stole our hearts as soon as we saw her. Needless to say, we kept that little girl naming her Florence or "Floortje" (Dutch for "Little Florence")
As Floortje grew she quickly established herself as a force to be reconed with and the other wildlife surrounding our farm quickly found out about her too. Among the prey she dragged in over the years were: hares, rats, a weasel (Don't ask me how on earth she managed to not only kill that but also to drag it along with her, since it must have been twice her size.) and an uncountable amount of birds and mice.
When Floortje became pregnant, her mom suddenly vanished, apparently Rosa had decided that her job of raising her daughter was done and moved on, we never saw her again. But even when pregnant Floortje still was a killer, she was in my room one night heavily pregnant when all of a sudden some movement caught her eye, it was a big moth, pregnant or not, she leapt into the air and snatched the insect before eating it.
In later years Floortje moved in with my younger brother in his appartment, very seldomly coming out anymore, from what he told me, she still was a huntress surpreme though, nabbing mice and insects and the occasional bat.
But just today before I went to work I got a call from my mom, apparently Floortje was puking up blood. My mom and brother went to the vet with her and called up that Floortje had an advanced form of cancer and had to be put asleep. 17 years is a ripe old age for a cat and to her very last day was in control. From what my mom told me, Floortje actually showed up in my Parents' house and walked into the room where she was born, perhaps she knew what was coming and wanted to go back to her roots.
Rest in peace Florence, you've always were a source of great fun, I will always keep the picture of you redecorating the Christmas crib (By kicking out the figurines and sleeping in it.)
As Floortje grew she quickly established herself as a force to be reconed with and the other wildlife surrounding our farm quickly found out about her too. Among the prey she dragged in over the years were: hares, rats, a weasel (Don't ask me how on earth she managed to not only kill that but also to drag it along with her, since it must have been twice her size.) and an uncountable amount of birds and mice.
When Floortje became pregnant, her mom suddenly vanished, apparently Rosa had decided that her job of raising her daughter was done and moved on, we never saw her again. But even when pregnant Floortje still was a killer, she was in my room one night heavily pregnant when all of a sudden some movement caught her eye, it was a big moth, pregnant or not, she leapt into the air and snatched the insect before eating it.
In later years Floortje moved in with my younger brother in his appartment, very seldomly coming out anymore, from what he told me, she still was a huntress surpreme though, nabbing mice and insects and the occasional bat.
But just today before I went to work I got a call from my mom, apparently Floortje was puking up blood. My mom and brother went to the vet with her and called up that Floortje had an advanced form of cancer and had to be put asleep. 17 years is a ripe old age for a cat and to her very last day was in control. From what my mom told me, Floortje actually showed up in my Parents' house and walked into the room where she was born, perhaps she knew what was coming and wanted to go back to her roots.
Rest in peace Florence, you've always were a source of great fun, I will always keep the picture of you redecorating the Christmas crib (By kicking out the figurines and sleeping in it.)
My Tinkerbell was also 17. My heart goes out to you.
