Our cat, Buffie. It’s hard to believe from her photo but Buffie will be celebrating her 21st birthday (or 147th in cat years) in May.

This tiny little bundle of fur was left by the side of the road as a kitten and was adopted at the age of 3 months by Alison Hayden from the Animal Shelter in Swanzey.

In her prime, Buffie was a great lover of the outdoors and defender of her territory and was renowned for her hunting skills.

One particular summer, she brought into the house 72 chipmunks, too many mice to mention, a live flying squirrel, and a live bat. Most impressive, her cat door had to be permanently locked at this point so she was forced to leave her “presents” outside. Her most outstanding act of bravery was slaying a weasel almost twice her size.

Now, in her golden years, she doesn’t go out quite as much although she still brings home the occasional chipmunk. Buffie spends the majority of her time sleeping in warm places.

She provides unconditional love and endless purring to Jackie, 8 and Mackenzie, 9.

– Submitted by Mike, Alison, Mackenzie and Jackie Hayden of Lyndeborough