Then I was in Auckland for awhile (and took the other 2 cats) and when I came back, the dynamics between Fern and the boy cat, Claus wasn’t the same. He started bullying her (and we always thought she was such a tough woman), and woudl sometimes chase her from the house. When we were gone for a couple days, we came back and she wasn’t there. She didn’t return for days.

Then one day Claus chased her off and she has never returned. We feel awful about it, especially since we thought they’d become friends like before and it’d all blow over. It’s been months now. And we’ve looked and called and she’s never re-appeared. Every dead possum on the road makes us hold our breath until we can get close enough to be sure it’s not her.

I will always feel bad about Fern. I’m happy you at least found Buddy and had a chance to know. RIP.