Happy 17th birthday to Peanut, Rolz, and Mia.

Our little babies, Peanut, Rolz, and Mia, are seventeen years old today! I truly can’t wrap my head around it. They have been a part of my life nearly 24/7, especially as I’ve been working remotely for the past several years, and I am so grateful for the time I’ve spent with them. It’s a bittersweet moment. This is the first birthday they are celebrating without either of their parents – Zee and Zoey – and the emptiness without them is still present every day.

Zee and Zoey were such a significant part of Peanut, Rolz, and Mia’s lives. They adored their parents, and there was barely a time when one, two, three, or all of them were not together as a family. I decided that, for their birthday, it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and share some pictures from when they were all in the same photo. Bear in mind that the earlier ones were primarily from before the days of the quick, easy digital technology we’ve all grown used to on our iPhones and cameras. Before the days when I (or Dan) would take dozens of images of a shot in quest of that “perfect one,” just because I knew I could use it later down the road for blogging, or because I enjoyed capturing a moment to share on social media, or just because it touched my heart and I wanted a photo.

Some of the images are from when Mr. Jazz and Harley were still with us, and later ones from when Kizmet and Jazmine joined the household. Sadly, even though our latest rescue, Shadow, was with us when both Zee and Zoey were alive, he was never in a photo that included the whole gang, so I shared one that included Zoey but not Zee, since he had already passed away.

Some of the photos are blurry, the lighting is awful, they have headlight eyes, one or two cats aren’t looking at the camera, or some other inadvertent nonsense cats do to ruin a shot. But that’s how it is. They’re real, and they show love. I hope you enjoy them – they serve as a reminder to take as many pictures as you can! You will want these memories to look back on, one day. And, as always, a Happy Birthday to Zeuss Catt, the fourth Zee and Zoey kitten who has lived with a dear family friend in Boston since his adoption in 2009.

2009 – My office companions. Peanut, Rolz, Zee, Mia, and Zoey.

2009 – Untangling Christmas lights. Zoey, Peanut, Mia, Rolz, Mr. Jazz, Harley, and Zee.

2010 – Our custom-created cat condo. Rolz, Mia, Peanut, Zee, and Zoey.

2010 – Waiting for dinner. Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Zee, and Zoey

2011 – Family birdwatching. Peanut, Zoey, Mia, Rolz, and Zee.

2012 – Another cat condo. Mia, Peanut, Zee, Mr. Jazz, Rolz, and Zoey.

2014 – Hanging out on “Big Red.” Zee, Rolz, Zoey, Mia, and Peanut.

2014 – A new toy and catnip. Jazmine, Zee, Kizmet, Zoey, Rolz, Peanut, and Mia.

2014 – Waiting for dinner, Part 2. Kizmet, Peanut, Jazmine, Zee, Zoey, Rolz, and Mia.

2015 – A forever-favorite moment. Jazmine, Rolz, Peanut, Zee, me, Zoey, Kizmet, and Mia.

2018 – “Big Red” updated. Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Jazmine, Kizmet, Rolz, and Zee.

2024 – Dinnertime. Shadow, Rolz, Peanut, Zoey, Mia, and Jazmine.

11/5/25 – Rolz, Peanut, and Mia share what will be some final precious moments with Mama Zoey before she passed a couple of weeks later.

The handsome model in this photo is our Shadow.

From our house to yours, wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving filled with love, light, and good food. Take care, be kind, and savor each moment given to you.

Happy 12th birthday to sweet Jazmine!

Happy 12th birthday to our almost “teenager,” Jazmine. Since the day we adopted you in March 2014, you have brought love and sunshine into our lives, and we wouldn’t want you any other way than the spoiled kitty you are!

At 5:15 a.m., the bedroom was dark, and when I put my foot on the floor to slide on my carefully laid sandals from the night before, I felt something soft and squishy. Yes, of course, there was a hairball in my right sandal, courtesy of my precious ginger cat, Jazmine, that was now embedded between my toes. Lovely. I was getting up, as I do 365 days a year, to feed my feline gang, including Jazmine and my six other cats – Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Kizmet, and Shadow. It’s an ordeal. First, before I’ve even had coffee or the chance to wake up fully, I scoop three litter boxes. If I’m lucky, I don’t have to scoop again, but often as soon as I scoop, one of them will go again, meaning, back to scooping. Not to mention the litter that is kicked outside the box, which I have to sweep up…

Preparing breakfast is a foggy whirlwind. Each cat has specific dietary needs, and while I’m getting everything ready, they are meow-screaming at me the whole time. As the house is quiet, naturally, the sound level is amplified to a piercing level and on a continuous loop. One would think they’ve never been fed… After that, there’s cleanup, which is not just washing their feeding bowls and changing water, but typically one of them will throw up from eating too fast, which means more cleaning for me. Several of them will use the litter box again, so that means more scooping. Generally, when all is said and done, it takes between 30 and 45 minutes before I’m done with the process and can blessedly drink my first cup of coffee.

Click on the image to enlarge to see the cat math!

Rinse and repeat. They have a small lunch around noon, dinner around 5:00 p.m., and a smaller snack meal around 8:30 p.m. I find that feeding them several small meals throughout the day, rather than a big breakfast and dinner, works best for their digestion and well-being, but it does require a lot of effort from me, although these meals are slightly less complicated than breakfast. There are treats, too—usually at least twice a day. Then, aside from feeding and endless litter scooping, there is also grooming, administering meds, playtime, and more. I’m genuinely exhausted by the end of the day, but despite all this, I am not sharing my day because I’m complaining. I’m sharing because I’m grateful to be doing it. Today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, a day I founded in 2015 in tribute to my precious Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, whom I had to say goodbye to on August 28, 2013.

The day was created for people to share memories of pets they loved and lost, but never forgotten. What wouldn’t I give to feed Mr. Jazz again, or scoop his litter, or brush his fur? I miss him dearly. I miss all my angels – especially those that were such a strong part of the Zee/Zoey gang – Mr. Jazz, Harley, and Zee. Remembering them gives me even more reason to be grateful for what I have in my life now, as I know my time with them is fleeting.

My beautiful angels – Zee, Harley, and Mr. Jazz

I give all of you who have loved and lost a beloved companion my deepest sympathy and support. Every day is a day to remember them, but consider today, and an extra-special hug from me to you.

xoxox

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day is a special day dedicated to honoring the memories of those beloved pets in our lives we have loved and lost but never forgotten. Whether a pet with fur, fin, feathers, scales, or something else – one pet or many – this day was created for you to honor that pet in any way that feels most comfortable to you. Post a picture, write a poem, share a favorite memory, host a memorial event, upload a video, or write a special blog post and share the link.

ABOUT RAINBOW BRIDGE REMEMBRANCE DAY:
Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day was founded in 2015 by Deborah Barnes, award-winning author and blogger of Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles, in tribute to her Ragdoll cat, Mr. Jazz, whom she had to say goodbyes to on August 28, 2013. She shared the journey of letting him go in her critically acclaimed book, Purr Prints of – A Cat’s Tale of Life, Death, and Beyond, and decided to create the day in his honor as a way for others across the world to share memories of their pets they had loved and lost.

Logo designed by Deborah Barnes

Since Zoey came into our lives in 2008 as a tiny kitten, she’s been Queen of the Castle. Small in size but never small in personality or in letting everyone know she’s the boss! 17 years later, the same holds true. Perhaps the only difference is that the older she gets, the louder her demands become. But, she’s our girl, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! We are so blessed for her presence, as are her kittens – Peanut, Mia, and Rolz – who still snuggle with her daily.

Happy Birthday, Zoey!!

2008 – Zoey at 3 months old

Zoey at two years old

Zoey surrounded by her kittens – Peanut, Mia, and Rolz (2025)