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Alice
June 6, 2010 – February 27, 2026.
Friday morning, we said goodbye to Alice.
In the past few years she had slowed down a lot, but she was still chugging along, still a happy girl. In February she took a sharp decline, and by this past week she was having a hard time even walking. We tried many different things to make her comfortable and some of them worked for a while, but this past week it was pretty clear that it wouldn’t be much longer. So we spoiled her absolutely rotten, gave her so much love and attention and all the Gerber chicken baby food and ham she wanted. She left us peacefully Friday morning, looking up at the face of the Daddy she’s loved so very much for so long.
We miss her very, very much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alice showed up on our doorstep on a VERY cold December evening in 2010. Fred went onto our side porch, and she ran from there to our front porch (where there was a heated cat house) and then ran and hid from him under a bush in our side yard. Ultimately, we had to set up a trap baited with mackerel, and it didn’t take long before she was trapped.
She was a tiny hot mess, and wanted nothing to do with either of us. We set her up in an outbuilding with food and water and heat – at that time it was my policy that cats who hadn’t been flea treated and FeLV/FIV tested weren’t allowed in the house – and Fred started working to tame her.
It really only took a few days for Fred to gain her trust. I took her off to the vet, and that’s when I learned that the kitten I thought was about two months old due to her size was actually more like SIX months old. The vet said later that she didn’t think Alice would get to be more than about 7 pounds, she was just going to likely stay tiny.
(Oh, how we have laughed in the years since. At her highest weight Alice weighed 13 pounds, but she ultimately landed at about 11 pounds and stayed there for most of her life.)
After her visit to the vet Alice lived in the bathroom for a few weeks, and once we decided it was safe for her to be around other kittens, we added her to the litter of kittens we were fostering at that time, the Brady Bunch – and that’s how she got her name.
Despite her feral beginning, Alice decided pretty quickly that Fred was okay and when I tell you she ADORED him, I do not exaggerate one tiny bit. If he wasn’t around, I was acceptable – she was always fine with me petting and kissing her – but there’s no doubt I didn’t hold a candle to him.
She was not really a cat’s cat – she was very annoyed by many fosters over the years. If they got too close, they were subject to a hiss and a smack, but if they left her alone she was fine with them. (In her later years, if she was sound asleep a foster might climb up near her and curl up for a nap, and she’d wake up and find them far too close and look VERY annoyed, but she’d allow it.)
She got along – mostly – with her brothers and sisters. She loved Jake – everyone loved Jake – and they bonded over their mutual love of ham (and Fred.) She and Charlie had a weird relationship – sometimes they were friendly, and sometimes he was a bully. It got so that in the past couple of years she wouldn’t use the litter box if Charlie was around. Several times a day, Fred would carry her to the litter box and then stand guard while she used it.
Did I mention her love of ham?
She was such a sweet, sweet girl. And silly. And so photogenic. And so willing to put up with whatever we wanted to do with her for the sake of a funny picture.
It’s hard to believe that she’s been a part of our lives for so long – she’d have been 16 in June – and now she’s gone. Even knowing that it was coming doesn’t really make it easier. I keep looking for her in all her favorite places, and then remembering. I am so grateful that she showed up on our doorstep that cold day in December, and I have no doubt that we’ve given her a wonderful life (though I suspect she would have preferred twice as much Fred and ham and a lot less ME.)
Goodbye sweet Alice Mo. We miss you so very much.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr/ Bluesky) this weekend.
A single Rumdangle followed by a double Rumdangle? PERFECTION.
June 6, 2010 – February 27, 2026.
Today we said goodbye to Alice Mo the calico, who loved her daddy with a passion (yo.)
She showed up on our doorstep on a freezing cold day in December 2010, a cold, tiny, feral mess, and decided pretty quickly that humans (well, Fred) weren’t so bad.
We will miss her sweet, grumpy little face, her eyes of adoration every time she looked at Fred, and her sweet, loud purr. ❤️
Good night innernets. (Kate (front) and Ollie)
Reverb is sleeping in this morning and would like breakfast in bed, please.
“Ollie is m’name, and ripping these bananas open is m’game.”
YouTube link
Reverb vs. Ollie. Ollie bit off a bit more than he could chew, I think. (I’ve mended that catnip banana three times now, and they keep ripping it open – not to worry, I have a fresh new backup ready to go!)
Your daily Rumdangle.
I love how you can see Kate’s face in one mirror and her back feet in the other.
Good night innernets. (Reverb & Ollie)
Rabbit rabbit rabbit. (Reverb) Wikipedia: “Rabbit rabbit rabbit” – a superstition in Britain & North America wherein a person says/repeats the words “rabbit”, “rabbits” and/or “white rabbits” aloud upon waking on the 1st day of a month, ensuring good luck for the rest of it.
🎉 Former foster Pippin (formerly Carmy) shows off his half-dangle. Excellent form – this boy is headed for the Danglelympics for sure! (Thanks, Sharon!)
YouTube link
Reverb is such a lapcat (when he wants to be.)
Your daily Rumdangle (dangling INTO my lap, because he likes to mix it up.)
🎉 Former fosters Mambo and Fancy (formerly Flamenco) are… well, clearly they’re suffering. What a rough life. Hang in there, babies! ❤️ (Thanks, Lisa!)
Kate strikes a pose.
YouTube link
Former fosters Mambo & Fancy (formerly Flamenco) are still SO DARN CUTE together! (They’ll be 6 months old in a couple of weeks.) (Thanks, Lisa!)
Good night innernets. (Ollie, Rum & Reverb)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Previously
2025: No entry.
2024: Crouton checks to see how Pumpernickel would look with one eye.
2023: Gestatin’ is tiring work.
2022: The sun shone upon her belly just so.
2021: Canasta’s birth story.
2020: Carmelita has an opinion, and that opinion is “HISS OFF, LADY.”
2019: “This IS comfy!” thinks Laura.
2018: The side eye I’m getting from her cracks me UP.
2017: He is such the bratty little brother.
2016: Some snackin’ time pictures with the permanent residents.
2015: Weekly Roundup.
2014: Updates on Brolo, Lilybet & Reacher.
2013: Lilybet Entertains a Gentleman Caller.
2012: Emmy’s alien belly, and Emmy has those babies!
2011: Corbie ear floof.
2010: No entry.
2009: “Here, let me get that for you… ::SLURRRRP::”
2008: No entry.
2007: Smackdown Stage 1: The Taunting.
2006: No entry.
2005: No entry.
I’m sending love to both you and Fred, I am glad at least to hear that Alice went in his arms, and your post was beautiful and very fitting. So sorry though, despite the timing, advance warning or the method, that pain is just hard hard hard. I hope that Alice pops up accidentally as the default youtube video for many years to come! <3
Many thoughts to you for the loss of your beautiful girl. It was always a joy to see her picture, grumpy or not. May her memory always be a joy.
Sweet Alice Mo, how we are going to miss you so. Thank you for sharing Alice with us for many, many years. Sending hugs and head bonks and kisses.
Big hugs to you and Fred. I am so sorry for your loss.
Darn it you’ve got me trained. As soon as I saw the picture on Facebook I knew she’d passed. And I immediately started crying. I am so sorry for your loss Robyn. She was a good girl.
Alice Mo, you sweet calico
Nobody loved you more than
Your Daddy-O….
Seeing all her pictures (Alice da Frog!!) and hearing her song has me in tears again. I always thought of her when I gave my own cats ham! I can’t imagine the Mo-size hole in your hearts. Sending much love, purrs and hugs…
I am so sorry for your loss of lovely Alice. Thank you for sharing your sweet pictures of her, which resonate so much with all of us who have been chosen by a cat who’s a “one-man” cat.
I’m so sorry about sweet Alice Mo. I love that she just turned up at your house. She knew where she was meant to be. It’s always so hard to lose a beloved cat, and I think a lot of us felt we knew Alice so well that we are all heartbroken too. I love all the wonderful memories and photos of Alice that you have shared with us. She was a wonderful girl.
I’m so sorry about the loss of sweet Alice Mo.
Alice was truly one of a kind and I know we’ll all miss seeing her sweet face. Sending lots of love to you and Fred. Fred’s musical tribute to Calico Alice was wonderful
Can you post the link to it? I’d love to see it. Although, I don’t need the music to make me cry; those pics of her absolutely adoring Fred were enough!
So long Alice Mo, so sorry Fred and Robyn, your unique special lady now has her wings and will watch over you both and all your charges, permanent or foster from now on. Xx ️
My condolences on the loss of your sweet Alice Mo. Thank you for sharing her all these years.
This breaks my heart, especially when I see that Alice was born a mere 3 months before our last remaining cat, Puff, who will be 16 on 9/11. I’ve cried tons over the last year, when she became asthmatic, allergic and hyperthyroid. Our amazing vet has pulled her back from the brink a number of times, and while it’s a lot of extra work, with the proper medication she’s doing fine.
My deepest sympathies on the loss of Alice. She seems like she was definitely one of a kind. And I know you gave her the best life possible.
Time for a good cry.
Sweet, spicy Alice Mo, I am so sorry for your loss but so glad she found you guys to adopt, she picked well.
I’m so sorry about Alice Moe passing away. She was so lucky to have found you and Fred (especially Fred)! Thank you for sharing her journey and life with us all of these years. I’ll miss seeing her cute face.
As soon as I saw her name and the date I cried “nooooooo!” My deepest sympathy to you and (especially) Fred. When I read about him standing guard at the litter box, I immediately pictured him as her knight in (literal) shining armor, sword in hand, always there to protect her. Their bond always reminded me of your bond with Miz Poo. Your photos perfectly captured her complete and utter adoration of Fred, and your tribute was beautiful.
Aww Robyn and Fred, so sorry for your loss! Alice was so sweet and she will be missed by all. I will always remember her in the frog hat.
I am so sorry for your loss. My own calico, Lily, is turning 16 next month. She’s definitely been showing her age. Thank you for giving Alice such a loving home, and sharing her with us for all these years. Hugs for you and Fred.
I am so sorry to hear about Alice.
She loved her daddy so much (and ham to an insane degree). I am so glad that she had so much time with you. And that you cared so much for her up until the end, waiting on her hand and paw.
My heartfelt sympathies for your sweet girl.
Part of your heart is with her ! What an amazing, individual personality, what a character !
I’m sad for the loss of your kitty Alice Mo.
So very sorry about dear Alice. What a beautiful, special kitty-girl she was.
I’m so sorry about Alice Mo. It hurts so when they leave us, but they’re worth it.
I’m so, so sorry about Alice. I’ve been hanging around here long enough to remember when she showed up and joined the Brady Bunch. Such a sweet, beautiful girl! I think the rainbow bridge probably has plenty of ham for her!
Oh, jeez. 🙁 I am so very sorry, Robyn and Fred.
Alice Mo the calico sure is loved forever, yo.
I’m so sorry about Alice Mo the Calico! I have to laugh a little because we rescued a cat we called Alice Mary who also loved her daddy, yo, and found me very thin gruel in comparison. It must go with the name!
You did indeed give her a lovely life. My condolences to you and Fred.
I started crying the minute I saw her picture. Alice Moe really did find her perfect ‘forever’ with you and Fred. It’s clear how much she was adored, especially by Fred! Thank you for sharing her with us for so long; the world feels a little less bright without her cute face appearing in it. And I’m crying again, we will all miss her so much.