Goodbye My Pretty Girl

Jack was indeed a pretty cat. She was not the friendliest but her black and white markings were pretty. When she was little, and she was a very small kitten, she had a perfect white ring around her black tail. As she grew, it dissipated a bit but you could still get a hint of it. She was also the first cat I ever got on my own.

I got her in CT. She was in a big bucket of fellow cow kittens and when I reached my hand in to pet them, she crawled right up my arm and perched on my shoulder like a parrot. I brought her home and she promptly hid under my bed for the next few days. I was under the impression that she was a boy, hence the name. Her first visit to my vet proved she was more of a Jackie than a Jack, but by that time the name had stuck. She was actually so small I once almost threw her away. She had crawled into a bag I was putting trash in and I closed it up and put it by the trashcan. About 10 minutes later I heard this tiny meow and there she was in the trash.

I had her for 16 years. Together we lived in 3 states, went through many boyfriends and moved more times than I can recount. The last big move from NYC to MA was a long drive due to traffic and she actually lost her voice because she had meowed so much. For about two weeks after that she could only squeak at me.
 
She was a good judge of people and once bit a boyfriend of mine on a place where men do not want to get bit. Given he was not a very nice person, she realized it well before I did. When my relationship with him ended, he got angry at me and threw her against the wall. She was not a big cat and I thought she was dead. Luckily she was ok.  My Irish temper certainly made an appearance that night. I never doubted her assessment of a person.

She loved corn on the cob. As a kitten she once pulled a cob from the trash and ate it clean. Whenever summer rolled around and I brought home corn, she was a very happy cat and would start chewing on the husks.

Her meow was much larger than she was. And for some reason every time I took a shower she would sit outside and meow at me until I paid attention. Then she would run out of the bathroom. I have no idea why. She would also meow if you were sitting in her spot on the couch. And she would keep meowing at you until you moved out of her way.

She was an excellent hunter. She caught her last mouse and promptly brought it to me in the middle of the night. She was so proud of herself and so loud. She woke me and the kittens up. I thought she might swat them away from her mouse but instead she nudged it towards them as if to show them what she had done. I did point out to the kittens they should pay attention as all future mousing falls to them!

I will miss her persistence that dinner was anytime after I came home. Didn't matter if it was 6pm or 2pm or if I just ran out to get the mail. And if I did make the mistake of feeding her early, she would be right back at her bowl at the usual dinner time as if she hadn't already eaten.

It all seems a bit surreal that she is not here. It was hard seeing the three bowls at dinner time. The kittens have been looking in all the usual spots for her. It was a comfort seeing how peaceful she was this morning. She had kidney and heart issues and she had been uncomfortable the last few days. It's always such a hard thing to do but she definitely told me it was her time. I am lucky to have a great vet.

So I go to bed tonight with one less pet. I know the tears will stop with time but I am not there yet. She was a good cat and though she was a bit grumpy, she was sweet as well. She loved her dog and was by his side when he died. His bed became her bed, which means I have the biggest LL Bean cat bed around. Thank you my pretty girl for being in my life for so long. I love you and miss you.