The McAfee family has been hit with another devastating loss.
Only a few months after mourning their beloved dog Valerie Ann, Samantha McAfee revealed on her Instagram that Theodore—better known around the house as Teddy Bear or Teddy Ten Toes—has also passed away. This time, it happened fast.
Samantha shared that Teddy suffered a stroke that left him unable to walk, control his bladder or eat. Faced with that reality, the family made the painful decision to let him go peacefully at home.
“After suffering from a stroke resulting in the inability to move, control his bladder and not eating, our sweet Theodore also known as Teddy Bear or Teddy Ten Toes, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge peacefully at home.”
For Samantha, Teddy wasn’t simply another family pet. She said he arrived in her life when he was only eight weeks old and stayed by her side for the next 17 years, becoming part of nearly every major chapter of her adult life.
“I brought Teddy home when he was just 8 weeks old and from that day on he was by my side through every season of life. He wasn’t just a cat; he was my first pet on my own, he was a family member and one of my greatest comforts. He has been my constant for 17 years, just under half of my life.”
She smiled through the memories as she described the oversized cat who somehow managed to convert lifelong dog lovers, loved drinking cold water, stretched out in the sun whenever he could, and never missed an opportunity to eat. But it was what she wrote next that showed just how much this loss has compounded the grief the family was already carrying.
Back in April, Samantha poured her heart out after losing Valerie Ann following years of health battles. Now, with Teddy gone too, she admitted the house suddenly feels different.
Not because there aren’t still people or pets around—but because one familiar presence is missing from every room she walks into.
“Even with 2 kids and 5 other pets, the house somehow feels quieter now esp following the loss of Valerie. There’s this emptiness with every opening of a water bottle, walking room to room and he’s not there, sleeping without his purr sound next to me. Who knew a cat would have such an impact on me.”
She ended the tribute the same way many pet owners hope to imagine saying goodbye—by asking Teddy to find an old friend waiting for him.
“Thank you for 17 unforgettable years of love, companionship, and memories we’ll carry forever Teddy bear. We love you, say hi to Valerie for us.”
For the McAfee family, losing Valerie was already one of the hardest moments of the year. Losing Teddy only a few months later has made that heartbreak even heavier.
Please join us in sending your condolences to Pat McAfee, Samantha McAfee, and their family during this incredibly difficult time.
