Lisa Wells heard that tributes to her family’s kitty, Newt -- who had spent most days lounging along a bike trail in Edwardsville, Illinois -- had taken over the 9-foot-tall orange cat sculpture dedicated to him.
As she biked up to a makeshift shrine of flowers, stuffed animals, handmade crafts and photos, she noticed a woman holding a piece of paper in a plastic sleeve.
The woman was planning to add her letter to the pile of mementos at the memorial. Instead, she handed the printed page to Lisa.
“Dearest little Newt,
"Through losing a parent, COVID, and a cancer diagnosis and treatment, getting out on the trail and visiting with you always made things better. You brought pure and simple joy and made us better humans. Thank you for the impact you made on us as individuals and as a community. The trail will never be the same without you. We love you, little friend. You will live on in the hearts of so many.”
Lisa hugged the stranger and cried.
She and her husband, Chris, say they have been stunned by the overwhelming response to their cat’s death. Unlike other celebrity pets whose owners cultivate large social media followings and sell merch emblazoned with their images, the Wellses never sought fame for their cat. Newt remained a free spirit until the end.
“We really weren’t his owners,” Chris says. “He was a community cat.”
About seven years ago, the Wellses agreed to get their sons a pet. Lisa had grown up on six acres, and her family had had outdoor cats; she persuaded Chris that it could work in the suburbs, too.
Chris would regularly check with the Metro East Humane Society (MEHS) for adoptable cats, and called his wife when he discovered some kittens available.
“I thought they were absolutely adorable,” said son Zeke, then 4. Zeke picked out one of the kittens and named it Fluffy. Older brother Thad, then 12, claimed Newt.
In the garage, they made a space with a cat bed, kitty tower, food and water bowls and a litterbox. The area was insulated and had a heater for the winter, as well as a cat door so the kitties could easily go into the backyard when it was hot. The boys would play with them in the garage and backyard.
About a year later, the family took the cats camping with them.
“That’s when (Newt) got a taste of the outdoors,” Chris says.
After that trip, Newt would stay outside all day, only returning home late at night for food. Newt would catch small lizards or birds and leave them as gifts for his family, but he loved his freedom.
When Lisa and Chris would bike to the nearby Nickel Plate Trail, both cats would follow along. Newt found an alcove on the trail and would hang out there until people came by. Then, he would appear and demand attention.
Defying typical cat behavior, Newt was aggressively friendly. He would jump on a bike seat, crawl up a friendly visitor’s leg or simply lie in the center of the trail, demanding to be petted.
As the pandemic led more people outdoors, his popularity rose. People created at least two social media pages for him: Trail Kitty and Newt for Mayor. A student started a Newt Club in a local elementary school. After the local parks department unveiled a series of animal sculptures along public trails, including an orange cat piece called "Nelson," a petition circulated to rename it after Newt. (It succeeded.) The MEHS received at least $4,000 from sales of Newt-related merch.
At first, Thad said he felt a little betrayed that Newt was no longer just "his" cat. He developed a special whistle to call Newt home, and it almost always worked.
The average life span of a domesticated indoor cat can range from 12 to 18 years. For an outdoor cat, the life span is a fraction of that. The Wellses were aware of the dangers. The biggest challenge may have been convincing concerned bystanders that Newt really did want to stay outside. Even though Newt’s collar said, “I like to roam,” about once or twice a week, someone would call asking if they had lost their cat. (Newt was chipped.)
A month ago, the Wellses noticed that Newt hadn’t returned home for several days. They went to the trail to search for him, and came across several others doing the same.
A neighbor eventually found Newt's remains on May 26 in a drainage area. He likely met up with another animal that led to his demise. The news of Newt’s death sent waves of grief through his legion of fans.
That’s when the outpouring of tributes and condolences started flooding in.
An exercise group did a memorial workout. A local youth sold 3D-printed "mini Newts" -- replicas of the orange sculpture -- and donated part of the proceeds to the MEHS. Cards and gifts keep arriving for the Wellses from people they don’t know, but who knew and loved their cat.
Chris says he believes that in such divided times, Newt gave people something to rally around.
Lisa Vargovcik, a licensed clinical social worker, said Newt’s life and death have been a reminder of the profound positive impact of pets, including Newt’s unconditional love and him feeling like a family member to many.
The Newt for Mayor page has now become the Newt Memorial Page.