We moved to our current apartment in the summer of 2006. Around Thanksgiving, we noticed two cats running around our apartment complex. so I immediately set out food and water. Sure enough, they came running. It was obvious they were a bonded pair - we assumed sisters. I named them Ginny and Olly after a similar pair of cats from a James Herriot book I've enjoyed since I was a kid - Ginny was the tortoiseshell and Olly was black. I put out a basket in the winter and they curled up like yin and yang.
We rarely went without seeing them for at least a couple of days at a time - usually finding the most sun they could in the winter to bask, and the shade of our patio in the heat of summer to get out of the sun. We never saw them pregnant or with kittens; Olly had her ear tagged and we can assume Ginny was also TNRed, or sterile. Last winter, I even set out a heating pad and a heated water dish, as we had an extra brutal Wisconsin winter.
Fast forward to this year - it was noticeable that Olly was getting raggedy. Ginny has always been a beautiful cat, but Olly's fur was starting to come out. On Easter Sunday, I fed them both a little warmed ham and for the first time, Olly didn't run away. She couldn't. For the first time in 9 years, I got to pet her. She lasted about 4 more hours - she ate, drank, somehow hopped in their box and fell asleep, never to wake again. I buried her where she got the most sun in the mornings. Since then, we haven't seen much of Ginny and I hope she's okay, or has someone else to take care of her.
Even though they were feral, I loved them as much as I love our two indoor cats. They were always a pleasure to see relaxing in the sun. I'll always be grateful Olly came home that Easter morning to say goodbye.
Sussex, WI
