Happy 17th Birthday to Peanut, Rolz, and Mia of Zee & Zoey’s Cat Chronicles

A 17th birthday collage graphic designed by Deb Barnes featuring photos of her triplet cats—Peanut, Rolz, and Mia—with golden balloons reading "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "17"

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.

A 2009 photo of Deb Barnes's office companions—Peanut, Rolz, Zee, Mia, and Zoey—lounging on the rug and couch cushions near her desk.

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

A 2009 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Zoey, Peanut, Mia, Rolz, Mr. Jazz, Harley, and Zee—gathered on the floor curious about a tangled strand of green Christmas lights.

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

A 2010 photo of Deb Barnes's custom-created cat condo with her cats—Rolz, Mia, Peanut, Zee, and Zoey—perched and napping on its various leopard-print platforms and cubbies

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

A 2010 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Mia, Peanut, Rolz, Zee, and Zoey—gathered on and around the kitchen counter waiting for dinner.

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

A 2011 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Peanut, Zoey, Mia, Rolz, and Zee—sitting together looking out a window during family birdwatching.

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

A 2012 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Mia, Peanut, Zee, Mr. Jazz, Rolz, and Zoey—occupying various levels of a leopard-print cat condo tree near the front door.

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

A 2014 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Zee, Rolz, Zoey, Mia, and Peanut—cuddled up and hanging out together on the red blanket known as "Big Red".

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

A 2014 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Jazmine, Zee, Kizmet, Zoey, Rolz, Peanut, and Mia—gathered on the tiled floor around a new toy and catnip.

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

A 2014 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Kizmet, Peanut, Jazmine, Zee, Zoey, Rolz, and Mia—gathered on and around the kitchen counter waiting for dinner, Part 2.

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

A 2015 family photo on the couch featuring her cats—Jazmine, Rolz, Peanut, Zee, Zoey, Kizmet, and Mia—surrounding and cuddling with Deb.

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

A 2018 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Zoey, Mia, Peanut, Jazmine, Kizmet, Rolz, and Zee—resting and sleeping across the red bedspread known as "Big Red" updated.

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

A 2024 photo of Deb Barnes's cats—Shadow, Rolz, Peanut, Zoey, Mia, and Jazmine—enjoying their meal at dinnertime around bowls on the kitchen floor and Kizmet on the counter.

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

A November 5, 2025 photo designed by Deb Barnes showing Rolz, Peanut, and Mia sharing final precious moments snuggled together with Mama Zoey before she passed away a couple of weeks later.

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.

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  1. Happy Birthday to the THREE 17-year olds! What a wonderful thing – truly. Lots of years of love, care, happy home and comfort. Every ani-pal should know what long-term security is……and LOVE too.

    Hugs, Pam and Teddy

  2. Happy birthday to Peanut, Rolz and Mia. Seventeen years! I remember when they were so tiny.

  3. Ingrid King says:

    17! How is this possible! Happy Birthday to Peanut, Rolz and Mia!

  4. Happy Birthday to all!

  5. Happiest 17th Birthday from all of us to you beautiful sweeties!

  6. Leah says:

    Happy 17th Birthday to the Birthday Kitties! What fantastic pictures over the years!

  7. jmuhj says:

    Wishing Peanut, Rolz, and Mia the happiest of Big Seventeeth PURRthdays! with lots of love and purrs from Fluff & Flora and their humble servant, who loves the calm and majesty of mature cats.

  8. da tabbies o trout towne says:

    happee day guyz! ewe can now drive with out yur pawrentz bee in
    in de car. ‼️🐾 heerz two a grate, perch pizza pie kinda day anda
    yeer a head filled with happeez and healtheez ❤️🤍🤍❤️😸🐾

  9. meowmeowmans says:

    Happy 17th birthday, Peanut, Rolz, and Mia!

  10. What fabulous memories! I cannot believe they are 17!! How blessed you are! Happy Birthday to the legends!! xoxo

  11. Diane M. Ricciardi Stewart says:

    Happy Birthday kitties!!

  12. Ellen J Pilch says:

    Happy Birthday cuties!

  13. Sorry for being late, but our wishes are big. 17 years …. amazing and wonderful! We upped-and-downed through your beautiful photos twice, they’re just so precious, thought I could find a favorite or two, but not!!! Happy happy to you both for sharing love and life with all of them, may there be many more special times ahead. As you so aptly said … “they’re real, and they show love.” Oh yes they do!

  14. Happy 17th Birthday to you all! Lovely flashbacks!