Valhalla has gained another Warrior Princess.

Last Friday night (January 24, 2025), Valeria joined her sister Xena (who crossed over on August 9, 2022).

It was unexpected, and we're all still a bit in shock.

Valeria was a sweet, funny, smart, and caring kitty. She was our fearless "bullet-proof" warrior. She touched all that she met.

And she was instrumental in helping the two feral kittens we adopted in July of 2023 acclimate to our household. Paving the way for our other cats, Willow and Clara, to accept them into the family…

or at least tolerate them!

Valeria became the adopted mother to the long-haired tuxedo kittens Xander and Oz;

they adored her and followed her everywhere.

She was a patient and good mom to the boys.

Valeria and her sister Xena were my office "assistants" and hung out with me there.

After Xena passed, Valeria continued to be my office assistant and sometimes curled up under my tabletop easel.

Valeria had a prehensile tail that she would wrap around your arm or wrist. She blissed out when you scratched her back by her tail. She loved being brushed and petted and would gently tap you with her paw to remind you to pet her.

She was also a bathroom kitty; she liked to join you whenever you visited the bathroom. Now Xander and Oz do the same thing. I guess she taught them that too!

She was most definitely a positive-outlook kitty. She never missed an opportunity to engage you in play.  

She would drag her toy fishing pole around the house to get us to play with her. I think it was because she thought we were taking life too seriously and needed to play more. Yeah, she was right. And now I wish we played more with her.  

Valeria was 14. We’re still not sure what happened. She was fine, and then suddenly she wasn’t. Cats are like that. They hide their illness and downplay it. They are stoic. Maybe it’s a carryover from when they lived in the wild. Don’t let others know you are sick.

The lesson for us here is to pay attention. Be present. Notice if the cat you live with (or any animal) seems a bit off. Trust your gut and intuition here. Get help before they start showing serious signs of being sick. When they are clearly showing signs, they are often more ill than you realize.

The Warrior Princesses Xena and Valeria entered our home and hearts in December 2010.

They were wild, tiny, and mischievous kittens. And absolutely fearless. They loved to climb and terrorize the older cats, Seuss, Dexter, Smokey, and Spike (who have since preceded them across the Rainbow Bridge).

We named them after two of our favorite fictional Warrior Princesses and nicknamed them the Land Sharks because they were fierce and roamed the house, moving together fluidly as they hunted for food or some mischief to get into. They were big personalities and shared their love with us.

Steve and I and the rest of the kitties are trying to adjust to our beautiful, joyful girl being gone. She is missed already. I hope they have plenty of treats in Valhalla because she loved, loved, loved her treats!  Xena and Valeria reunited… Valhalla may never be the same. Go have fun, my beautiful Warrior Princesses. I love you. We Love you. You enriched our lives and contributed so much to us. Perhaps we shall meet again.

Til then…

Fare Thee Well, Valeria

November 2010 - January 2025

With deep love and appreciation,