Yasha Kimsey

Yasha Kimsey

February 14, 1986 - November 15, 2009

Yasha Kimsey, long-time resident of Dekalb County, died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday afternoon, November 15, 2009, at the Briarcliff Animal Clinic. She died of complications from chronic renal failure.

Yasha adopted her parents, Ann and Brian Kimsey, in December, 1987. At her first doctor appointment at Briarcliff, before she had formally adopted her parents, Yasha's soon-to-be parents were challenged by the doctor to name her before her next visit. The death of reknowned violinist Jascha Heifetz ( http://www.jaschaheifetz.com/about/bio.html ) in that month provided the inspiration for her name.

Shortly after choosing her family, she took over job-site management of the house they were building in the Emory neighborhood. That house would become her home for more than 21 years. She entered into the security field after completion of her home. At the peak of Yasha's career, she was responsible for the safety and security not only of her home, but of the surrounding Biltmore Heights homes and forest land. Her territory is reputed to have ranged from the beaver pond at Wesley Woods to the corner of Biltmore Drive and Arborvista Drive.

Following her retirement from active duty, her sphere of influence shrank, but she still retained responsibility for home security. In recent months, with her health failing, her territory could be measured in square feet instead of acres. Her fierce determination to live never faltered, though.

Yasha used many of her nine lives during her time on Earth. She survived bouts with lupus and stroke, suffered from a heart murmur and high blood pressure, and recovered from several devastating attacks by rivals. She was a peace-loving animal, but was known for never backing down from a fight.

Credit for her longevity, which equated to 107 human years at her death (see chart below) goes to the her team of vets at the Briarcliff Animal Hospital, and to a succession of loving cat sitters - including her lastest, Stephanie.

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Cat's Age Human's Age
6 months  10 years
8 months  13 years
1 year  15 years
2 years  24 years 
4 years  32 years 
6 years  40 years 
8 years  48 years 
10 years  56 years
12 years  64 years
14 years  72 years
16 years  80 years
18 years  88 years
20 years  96 years
21 years  100 years
It was once thought that 1 year in the life of a cat was equivalent to 7 years of a human life. Recently, a new scale has been accepted:  after the first 2 years, the cat's life proceeds more slowly in relation to human life and each feline year is approximately  4 human years. The general consensus is that at about age 7 a cat can be considered "middle-aged," and age 10 and beyond "old." 

Yes, Yasha was literally "off the chart", in many ways.

Yasha is survived by her parents, Ann and Brian Kimsey, of Atlanta, Georgia. She was a good girl, and we will miss her.

Yasha in her mother's arms

Yasha at leisure

Yasha in a 2006 picture
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