Obituaries

Street Kitty Woods
June 2009 – August 19th, 2025
Born in Reynoldstown, Atlanta, GA, a cat without a name roamed the narrow streets and alleyways of the intown suburb long before it was a trendy place to live complete with Beltline bars and million-dollar homes. He was abandoned not long into his life and was forced to live in bushes, under cars, wherever there was a dry spot and a warm place to sleep. He learned to live off the land and he earned the respect of all animals, growing into his large Tomcat frame. Named for his favorite block to dwell, he was dubbed the “King of Chester Avenue” by his peers.
In the rainy fall season of 2009, he was still going from bush to bush, car to car, when he stumbled upon a couple who had moved to Chester Avenue, renting their first place together. Jessica and Matt had noticed several cats roaming the streets of the neighborhood on their walks, but this cat was hard to miss. He was always dodging vehicles who worked their way through the avenue and Jessica developed a soft spot for him immediately. One evening, as a damp chill worked it’s way into town, the cat decided to take a chance on the couple and walked into their open door as they were grilling outside. At first he only stayed a few hours at night, drying off and warming up, but he soon came back. And he came back again. It helped that Jessica was feeding him. Matt was not a cat person, he begged Jessica to let him find his way on the streets where he called home, even refusing to allow him to be named. Street had a wild streak, known to bite and scratch those whom he sensed did not like him. He never discriminated. Anyone could get it. Matt wasn’t sold and he was often bleeding. Ultimately, the cat’s persistence and Jessica’s warm heart forced Matt’s hand and the cat was named Street Kitty.
Ultimately when the couple moved away, it was decided, perhaps demanded, by Jessica, that Street come with them on their move. And so became a new chapter in Street Kitty’s life, that of a house cat, a kept man. He was reluctant to accept this new fate, howling all night at the couple’s next home when he couldn’t go outside to stalk his prey. But steady food, cat treats and toys, eventually convinced him that a house cat’s life wasn’t too bad.
Street was moved and rehomed by Jessica and Matt four more times over his life, for a total of six big changes over his sixteen years. The couple married in 2014 making him a bona fide family cat and he welcomed a new family member, Abigail, in 2018. The Woods family got to see the once wild animal, feared by family and friends for years, grow old and settle into retirement. He still loved escaping, but never made it further than the neighbor’s house, taunting the dog that was never allowed to go outside.
Street Kitty Woods was beloved by his family and he was a truly loyal pet. He held many nicknames, just to name a few: Mr. Buddy, Daddy Fat Catz, and finally, The Old Man. In his last years he loved to sit on laps, sometimes beating you to your chair to keep it warm. He was, and always will be, Jessica’s cat, but he shared his love with Matt and Abby alike. Guests who hadn’t visited in years were always pleasantly surprised to see him still hanging around, giving him a shoutout and many times getting a hiss or a growl in response.
When he was laid to rest, he was surrounded by his family, the ones whose small home he first walked into, whose lives he changed forever, and we will never forget him. Rest in Peace, King.