Back in the old days, eighteen years ago, the original colony moved into what would become My Tenth Life. Grace and Checkerboard were among the first. There were about twenty cats in that colony. Grace and Checkboard have been the remaining two.
As they aged, they became thinner and slower. I brought them inside and they hated it. After a year inside, I brought them back outside. They have had a lovely heated house and are well cared for.
Checkerboard is gone now. This summer was his last. Grace is alone. She is the lone surviving member of the senior colony. She lives in harmony with the Tuxedo colony as neighbors. But they are neighbors, not family. I've brought her in a few times in the last few weeks, trying to to acclimate her. I don't want her to be on her own outside. I don't want her to be miserable inside. Weighing options.