In Memory of Hetta 8/23/2009 – 8/14/2025
In July 2025, we received an inquiry from a friend of Shadow Cats. She explained that there was an elderly cat named Hetta living at an assisted living facility with her longtime owner. Unfortunately, her owner was struggling to care for her with a progressing dementia diagnosis, and could no longer manage Hetta’s multiple medical conditions, hyperthyroidism being the most pressing of them.
So many cats come to Shadow Cats in harrowing circumstances. Hetta’s may not have been the squeakiest of wheels, but her circumstance was heart-wrenching in its own right. Hetta was loved. She brought so much joy and happiness to her owner, and her owner returned it in spades. But despite our best laid plans, life has its own, and Hetta’s ending path quickly shifted to question marks. Any of us, in their circumstances, would hope for our beloved pets to land in the softest of places were we unable to provide for them any longer.
That same month, we agreed to take Hetta into our care, vowing to give her the softest of landings we knew her owner would’ve wanted for her. Hetta was very skinny, having battled her hyperthyroidism for several months, and we knew the road wasn’t going to be easy…but what it would be, is worth it. We immediately had her seen by our veterinarians and began treatment for her various medical conditions.
We were quickly surprised to find that Hetta’s personality packed a punch her tiny frame did not. We expected a lap cat, an extracurricular snoozer, but Hetta put those ideas to rest with her drama and her spunk! Hetta surely spent a lot of time gazing into the eyes of her prior owner, with or without hypnotic ability, so she wasn’t exactly used to the idea of roommates. She had a fierce independent streak and wasn’t shy about communicating her boundaries. We love a confident queen!
Now, Hetta maybe hadn’t quite learned the nuance of boundary and that your boundaries can only encompass yourself. She was quite set on telling the other kitties to stay roughly ten feet away at all times. Eventually, though, she braved Oasis’ kitchen. She had her own bed, the soft kind she could just sink into, right near the kitchen counters. One time, she was making her way to her princess cat bed, and sweet, unsuspecting Tommy happened to pass. Hetta, in her famed broadway theatrics, flopped over into her bed like a fantasy maiden having a fainting episode. Tommy, bewildered, stared at her for an extended period of time before going back to whatever he was doing (very likely eating).
Hetta made us laugh every day with her silly antics. When she wasn’t being the prima donna we knew and loved, she was enjoying the privacy of her personal suite, the exam room. She loved to snuggle up in a little blanket on the shelves of one of our organizers, and just be with us while we worked. She’d even follow us around, fully expecting to be carried. But here’s the thing, despite Hetta’s propensity for dramatics, there was nothing but pure love in her eyes when she looked at you.
When you picked her up and held her in your arms, and she settled in against you, she’d look up at you like you were the sole reason for the little sweet smile she wore. Even if we did have to wipe her chin regularly…for a Queen, she could’ve practiced her table manners a little more! But honestly, all these little things swirled together to make the perfect concoction we knew as Hetta. There wasn’t a thing about her we’d change.
Except, perhaps, her medical conditions. Unfortunately, hyperthyroidism had already done some damage to her heart and liver. She had really perked up, and we’d felt very hopeful for a recovery. Her T4 levels were creeping closer to normal, and she was loving life. Unfortunately, her frail body just couldn’t keep up the fight. After being hospitalized, after we and our veterinarians gave her our all, we came to the conclusion that we hate to make more than anything. We had to let sweet Hetta finally rest.
Held in the arms of those who cared for her, we imparted all the love we held in our hearts to Hetta. She passed peacefully, with so many tears falling around her. She knew love. She was a brave girl, and she’d overcome so much. Though our time with her was short, she left a mark on our hearts all the same. Hetta knew something so many kitties don’t: the eternal love of an owner, and the doting care of an entire staff. Every cat’s dream, and our precious Hetta truly had it all.
Now, Hetta stands at life’s crossing. Her tiny paws begin to ascend the rainbow bridge, and beyond its steps stretches an evergreen glade. Though she hasn’t met them all, so many Shadow Cats that came before her guide the way. Naturally, in true Hetta fashion, in a healthy body, Hetta hisses her warning to the bewilderment of all others and trots to a little nook all of her own. There, under an eternal sun’s beams of dappled light, Hetta remains warm and waits for the ones she loves.
Thank you to Hetta’s wonderful sponsor, Michelle A. Thank you to the fabulous volunteers who made Hetta’s weeks with us memorable and warm. Thank you to the staff who swooped in immediately and cared for Hetta as though she’d always been at the Sanctuary, who loved her until the very last. Thank you to Vista Vet for the exceptional care she received. Thank you to everyone who looked at her sweet little face and thought her smile was out of this world. It was, and now she’s back at home amongst the stars.
We love you, Hetta. We always will.
Hetta had 1 Sponsor
Michelle Arena