1999 – 2014
We said goodbye to Xena this morning. She let us know it was time. And even then, we wavered. It’s so heartbreaking. What a girl she was! This is my small tribute to her. And a short photo album. Like all women, throughout her life she went through many phases and yes, many sizes, but she was her lovable, unique self to the end.
She joined our home when she was about 12 weeks old. Her first name was Scooter. The family we got her from named her that because when she was born, she didn’t have the use of her back legs (she was a Manx). I’ll never understand why the humans who cared for her and helped her learn to walk ever let her go, but thankful we’ve always been. That day we also adopted two other kittens (siblings to one another) who had been raised with Xena (all nearly the same age).
We renamed her Xena, after the then current television show, Xena Warrior Princess. She was definitely the protector of the other two kittens and would face off any dog that came into her path. To the very end, she continued to groom the other cats in the house and even nestle with the dogs.
She was the most affectionate cat and was always in the middle of the action when we had a party at the house. All of our other cats seek cover, but not Xena. Not one to enjoy being picked up, her Warrior Princess side would show up at the mere touch of being lifted. But a lap? She was all about that. She took walks with us in the pasture. If we moved too quickly for her, she’d cry out with her crazy sounding Warrior Princess kind of meow to let us know we’d better wait up.
I wish I would have clicker trained her. I did a few short sessions, captured one on film, but never continued. As confident as she was and so very food motivated, no telling what we could have accomplished together.
But we loved her. And she loved us. That’s what matters. We’ll miss you, Xena.
17 thoughts on “A Tribute to Xena the Warrior Princess”
What a lovely tribute. We’ll miss seeing her next time we visit – she was the one cat who let me pet her! So sorry and sad for your loss.
Thanks, Susan. I’m sure I’ll be posting more photos as the days go by and I remember her lovely little self!
What a lovely tribute to a loyal and
loving companion. So sorry for your
loss. Godspeed Zena.
Thank you so much, Wendy. Xena was one feisty lady and a lover too. Just the way I like ’em!
I always loved to watch her walk!! She had class, that one. Thank you for the wonderful tribute. She’ll be back.
And you know she was a good bed buddy too! Hugs to you, Trese.
Wonderful tribute. I wish I’d gotten to meet Xena. I’m sure she was greatly loved and will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with you and Brad.
Thanks, Amy. She was one of the cats who easily tolerated Puppy Willow in her early, wild puppy days!
Sounded like a wonderful furry four legged family member you had there. Hugs.
Indeed, Kim. Hug up on Karley tonight!
So truly sorry for your loss of a fur baby. Hugs.
Thanks, Dawn. All this sorrow we feel is only because of the joy she brought to our lives. She’ll live on in our memories.
I’m so glad I got to scratch the old girls ears a few wks ago. I know now she was saying good by. She’s probably intimidating Sam once again.
Oh my heavens, you sure made us laugh. She was a force to be reckoned with in her early days, wasn’t she? Yes, I’m sure she’s spicing things up over that Rainbow Bridge!
You missed your call of writing….that was a wonderful reading of Xena’s life. And that is what it should be ~~ celebrating her life. Thanks for sharing her with so many people and animal friends.
Dr. McClearen, Sandy, Cathy
Talk about Pavlov! Just tuned into the video of Xena the Warrior Princess’s clicker training session and within the sound of a half-dozen clicks and “good girls”, both my pups came running over to me looking to see if they could get in on the click-and-treat action that Zena was enjoying– extraordinary!
PS – Rest in peace Zena… you looked like a real rockin’ kinda girl.
Ahhh, yes, Linda. Xena was a pistol! Amazing that just after I read your comment, I was cleaning up some files on my desk and underneath the bottom one was one of Xena’s whiskers. I know for sure b/c hers were black. Guess she popped in to say Hi!