11/02/2026
We are very sad to share that our Ellie girl crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday evening 💔🌈 Recently she had let us know it was her time and she was spoiled every day, right up until the very end with endless favorite snacks of chicken and hamburger patties, extra comforts, and so much love.
When we were in the steps of creating Hunter's Kitten Lounge, one of our co-directors Melissa mentioned how she always wanted a crunchy, crabby kidney disease old lady cat in the space. In June of 2024, we started pulling kitties who had been sitting in some nearby shelters and lo and behold at Pinal County Animal Care & Control was Ellie. She was "found as a stray" and age guessed at 9 years, but we could already tell by her eyes when we looked at her she had lived MUCH more life already. Oh her eyes...so piercing and soulful. We always wished she could talk to let us know what those eyes had been through and seen.
Ellie sat at the shelter and had been there for a little over a month, being overlooked. Immediately we agreed to take her. When she entered HKL, she acted as though she was right at home and immediately started to try to steal any human food she could. This became an everyday occurrence with Ellie, no human food was safe even when up to your mouth taking a bite! 😆 As soon as someone would walk in the door with an aroma of food, this girl would perk up, even at times out of a deep sleep, and make her way over to receive HER meal. Annoying as it could be at times trying to work or just eat, the sparkle that food brought to Ellie's eyes brought a heartwarming fill you couldn't ignore. Melissa mentioned she loved seeing this joy in Ellie and she couldn't help sneaking her a taste of her food or getting her chicken nuggets.
To *try* to help this, we found special treats for her specifically. This smart girl learned which drawer they lived in and would show anyone who came near where it was so she could get some snacks! Ellie was always a cat who knew what she wanted and knew she would get it, silly girl 💕
Another favorite for Ellie was the sunshine☀️ When we first opened she decided the book shelf by the entry door was her spot and then a little bed near there by the windows. However, the sun then shifted in the fall to the other windows with the area that became dubbed "Ellie's Corner". So many memories were filled there with our girl and everyone knew to find her there, even if it appeared she wasn't (she was, just buried under her blankets for cozy comfort...an endearing habit she had).
Remember when we said she acted like she was right at home as soon as she got through HKL's doors? Little did we know then she was right and after much consideration and 2 board member's begging Melissa for her to stay (as the lounge can't adopt them all!), we made it official adopting Ellie to HKL 💕 Honestly we couldn't have imagined it any other way.
Our vet had aged her closer to 15 or so and we are so happy to have celebrated 2 birthdays with her with not just her age, but her kidney disease. From her crispy, grumbled meows, snack stealing/stalking, to her chicken nugget obsession and blanket burrowing, Ellie will never be forgotten.
When she passed it was in her corner surrounded by so many volunteers that loved her and we are so thankful to her vet for coming out and helping her pass peacefully in the comfort of her home after a great day of her favorite snacks.
Thank you to all who loved Ellie with us and helped give her the best end of her golden years, spoiled as could be. Her paw-prints forever live in so many hearts, and that alone is so special. We honestly couldn't have asked for a more perfect crunchy, cranky old lady kidney cat 💕
