2024 Cat Year Letter: Reflections, Loss, and Hope

When I mail Christmas cards, I include a letter about the cats.  I was not organized enough to send out cards this year. Maybe next year!

Here is the letter I would have printed to include in the card.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope this letter finds you well.

Our year had a rough start with the loss of Buster, Heidi’s favorite cat. He died in February from problems caused by cancer.

And then, only eight months later, we lost Elwood to kidney disease in October. Elwood was only 10 years old, making his loss feel extra heartbreaking. Fortunately, his littermate Jake does not have kidney disease.

We currently have five indoor cats: Charlotte, Violet, Jake, Nacho, and Taco. We continue to give them the best life possible. It’s a joy living with them, most of the time!

The outdoor cats continue to do well. We have Winter and Pork Chop. Pork Chop has been coming to the yard for at least six years and three years for Winter.

They are best friends and still not friendly enough to live inside. It’s sometimes hard to explain their situation, especially to those with little knowledge or information about feral cats, semi-feral cats, and cat overpopulation issues.

They hang out in the shed we set up for them during the colder months. We provide them with fresh food and water daily, and Heidi hangs out with them most evenings on the deck. She is the only one who can pet them.

Heidi continues to share videos on YouTube (about cats) and paint cat art.

Happy Holidays,

Heidi and Ted

Read Next: The 2023 Annual Cat Letter

Heidi Bender

Heidi Bender is the writer and founder of the Joy of Cats. She enjoys sharing cat information and providing helpful cat tips. She considers herself a cat lady and currently cares for seven cats.