The Sequoia Park Zoo’s resident domestic cat Chester has died.

The zoo announced the cat’s passing in a heartfelt social media post yesterday.

“Chester was very beloved by the community and lived a long, happy life at the Sequoia Park Zoo,” the zoo wrote.

Chester was adopted by the zoo in 2003 and spent nearly two decades living on the zoo grounds. In his later years, Chester served as the zoo’s unofficial greeter and was a favorite among visitors.

“It takes a special cat to be a visitor favorite in a zoo, especially when you’re competing with animals like red pandas and river otters,” the zoo shared.

The zoo is asking for members of the public to share their photos of Chester for a planned memorial slideshow. Photos can be sent to the zoo’s Facebook page, by email to info@sequoiaparkzoo.net, or dropped off as physical copies at the zoo’s ticket booth.

Read the Sequoia Park Zoo’s full statement below:

The Zoo is deeply saddened to share that we said goodbye to Chester the Domestic cat this week. Chester was very beloved by the community and lived a long, happy life at the Sequoia Park Zoo. Over the years, many local parents have shared that Chester is their child’s favorite reason for visiting the Zoo and often ask staff for his whereabouts as soon as they are through the front gates. It takes a special cat to be a visitor favorite in a Zoo, especially when you’re competing with animals like Red pandas and River otters! Chester was always happy to make a new friend and loved getting attention. No matter what was happening at the Zoo, Chester was always there by our side - reminding us it is always a good time for new friends and cat naps. He will be dearly missed.

Chester was a few years old when he was adopted by the Sequoia Park Zoo on June 26, 2003, making him over 20 years old. As a younger cat, he lived in the Barnyard where he helped tell the story of animal domestication during the day while hunting wild mice in the barn at night. One day, as an older cat, he discovered the couch in the Zoo Keeper Office and moved right in. Ever since, Chester has situated himself as the unofficial Zoo Greeter (pictured above), greeting guests as they came into the Zoo every day. Chester wore a bird bib once he moved from the Barnyard, both to identify him as Zoo staff and to prevent predation of wild birds.

Chester was a healthy cat for most of his life. In recent years he had developed some health issues including kidney disease, a thyroid condition and arthritis, which were able to be managed successfully with medication and a special diet. Over the past year the health issues progressed and compromised his quality of life. He was humanely euthanized on Sunday, August 29, 2021 where he passed away surrounded by his caretakers. Zoo staff provided the highest quality of care for him and loved him very much.

The Zoo would like to invite its supporters to share photos of Chester or Chester with his human fans. As a celebration of his life, we will create a memorial slideshow that we will share on our website and on social media in the upcoming weeks. Photos can be shared as comments on this thread, by private message/direct message, by email at info@sequoiaparkzoo.net, or can be dropped off as physical copies at the Zoo’s Ticket Booth.