🌈 In Loving Memory of Stubby

Stubby was one of the very first cats we trapped when TNR Utopia began in 2016. He was an orange tabby with an ear tip and a short, stubby tail — the feature that gave him his name. From the beginning, he had a calm, steady presence that made him unforgettable.

For years, Stubby lived in our backyard — a true feral community cat who kept his distance but always stayed close. Over time, he began to trust us, especially Michelle, who spent countless afternoons sitting outside with him. Their bond grew quietly, built on patience, consistency, and care.

Then, in December 2021, Stubby went missing — something he never did. After nearly a full day of searching and worry, we received a message from Irene, a community cat caregiver down the block. She mentioned that a “kitten” had appeared on her porch and seemed friendly.

When Michelle went to check, carrier in hand, she walked through Irene’s house and came face-to-face with an ear-tipped orange cat looking back through the glass door — it was Stubby. (He was no kitten.)

Irene was actually Stubby’s original caretaker, from before he moved into our yard in 2016. She used to call him Morris and still feeds his four TNR’d children in her yard. Without hesitation, Michelle gently placed Stubby into the small carrier and brought him home.

That day marked the beginning of Stubby’s next chapter. He had lost weight and slowed down, but he was ready — or maybe he decided it was time — to come inside. After a full vet check-up, he was diagnosed with diabetes. From then on, Stubby received insulin injections twice daily, every 12 hours, without fail.

Even indoors, Stubby remained a feral cat at heart. We were never able to pet or hold him; he allowed touch only during feeding, when we’d give his insulin as he eagerly awaited his meal. He was wonderfully food motivated — and those shared moments became the quiet rhythm of our lives together.

To gain the trust of a feral cat is to know unconditional love. It’s a bond not built on touch, but on presence — on showing up, every day, in the ways they allow. Stubby gave us that gift.

He taught us devotion, patience, and what it truly means to care for another being — not by changing them, but by loving them as they are.

Stubby will always be part of TNR Utopia’s story — one of the first, one of the most special, and one of the most loved. 💛

Never did I think I would be writing this and this is very hard for me to share. Misty died suddenly and unexpectedly on the evening of Sunday, January 27. We don’t know what happened. She was happy and fine that morning and afternoon. When we found her body she was already gone. She was a very special kitten who taught us so much.

We are better because Misty was in our lives, even if it was only for six short months. Misty, who so valiantly fought the odds, enriched the lives of those who met her, even when she wasn’t especially nice to new people! 😆 Misty taught us to live in the moment, to play hard and to sleep harder, to soak up the sun at every opportunity, to hold your ground and to overcome your obstacles because that’s what we are all meant to do in life.

Michelle, Sharon and I want to thank everyone who supported Misty, both with donation and kind words, and for the countless messages we got asking for updates. Without you, our work with Misty would have not been possible. On Monday 01/28, the day after Misty left us, Michelle and I signed on the line and officially adopted her. Although this may sound silly, it was our way to show our love and the forever home she had with us. I have gathered together some of the many pictures from the last six months that show Misty's growth from bottle baby to kitten.

We are struggling greatly with this. It hurts every time we come home and she is not there, every time it's time for her medication and every time we open our camera roll. Thank you in advance for the kind words and for all your support. 💔 #helpkittenmisty