Many of you have become familiar with my neighbor's cat Jack from my blog posts and Facebook photos - the tiny tabby with the beautiful eyes and markings. Well, he went missing in early November of this year and has not been seen since. He is not one to go on a walkabout and he stays well away from the road so his family believes something has happened to him and unfortunately, I feel the same. My heart is broken at yet another loss this year. And this is even harder - not knowing what happened to him.
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Jack in the garden - for my photo project. |
He was not ours but my husband and I counted him as one of our own - our part time outdoor cat. Since I included him in our blog, I wanted to honor his memory and share some photos and stories of his short time with us. He was the quintessential hunter, parking himself in the crawlspace under our house, waiting for a mouse or chipmunk to nab. We never had a mouse problem when he was coming by regularly. Jack also loved to hunt voles in the garden and followed us as we weeded and worked in the flower and vegetable beds. When he got bored he would wander off a bit to nap in the sun.
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Napping in the sun |
The tall evergreen in the front yard holds the bird feeders from the lower branches but Jack never once bothered with them. Instead he would sit at the base of the tree and wait patiently for the voles to pop up out of their holes in the ground for the seeds. He was quick and would smack the vole just as they peeked out of the hole. He had his own game of Wack-a-Vole!.
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Waiting for the voles |
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He got one! |
Even though it was much closer to come to our house through the woods, Jack had an odd habit of walking all the way down his driveway and crossing over to ours where they met and then sauntering up our gravel driveway. On warm days he loved to roll in the cool gravel and cover himself with the grey dust. One day he spotted a full grown turkey in the shrubbery off the driveway. His ears perked and he assumed stalking mode, crawling through the bushes to attack the big bird! It didn't last long. I heard angry turkey sounds and Jack shot out from the hedge looking as ruffled as I have ever seen him. No more turkeys for him.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_vZva49Ayg/VoCJPXExZHI/AAAAAAAAXxQ/u4F8ImJdSZI/s400/DSCN1919.JPG) |
Jack looking in on Angel Lily, Sweetpea and Tabitha. |
Our kitties got very excited whenever Jack was visiting our yard. The males would growl and fluff themselves up through the screen door but they didn't faze Jack. I had a small catnip toy I gave to Jack whenever he came to the front or back door. He would sit on the railing in front and look in the window if we hadn't seen him come. In the back, we could see him through the screen door. I still keep hoping I will see his sweet face looking in at me.
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At the back door. |
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With his nip toy. |
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Asking me to come out and play. |
As the air got cooler, Jack would sit on the dark colored roof of my car and soak up the sun, surveying his kingdom. I miss seeing his diminutive muddy paw prints on the hood and roof of our cars or his footprints in the snow of our driveway. If I had been outside with Jack and was heading to the door to go back inside, he would hiss and pummel my feet with his front paws as if to say "Hey don't go!"
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Jack's prints int he snow as he came up the driveway. |
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Sitting on my car |
I didn't see much of him during summers. When his family was home, he was with them. One winter we had a good amount of snow and Jack's human dad walked with his kids across the street to sled down the hill. Right behind them, Jack was tagging along like a dog - they hadn't seen him. When they noticed he was following them, they sent him back up his driveway to be out of harms way. He didn't look happy but he went.
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We will miss so many things about this pint-sized cat with the huge personality. I am guessing he was only about six years old when he disappeared. Way too young. But as a friend told me, "Jack got to live just the way he needed and wanted. He had the best of both worlds! All the care and love and shelter from people, but the minute he walked off his property he was his own master; the dominant tiger, staking out his territory...what a blessing to live life the way you choose." Jack, as a cat, did swagger through a fun, exciting, adventure filled life. I often
feel his spirit with me as I hike his woods. Fly free sweet boy. We will always remember you.
30 comments:
I'm so sad for your loss. Jack sounds like such a special guy, and how hard it must be for you and your neighbors not to know what happened.
:( You're havings such a difficults time. We're still thinking of Georgie, and we hope that Jack will turn up soon. You're right - it's even worse to not know what happens.
I hope 2016 will start better than 2015 ended.
A lovely tribute...we're glad that Jack had such great time living with his family and visiting his friends. We'll miss seeing new photos of him but we're glad that he was so loved for his all too brief time on this earth.
(((Hugs)))
Karen (Mum), with Buddy and Slash
It is always sad when a kitty goes, especially when you don't know what has happened to them! We have the same situation here at the moment with our visiting tabby!! :( Jack was obviously a real character and, yes, you will miss him! It has been a sad year for you! xx
We're so sorry Jack didn't return and that no one knows what has happened. Maybe it's better that way. You've written a wonderful memorial to him, and at least in your heart, he always will be alive. Purrs to you and to his family too.
Beautiful tribute. Me and mom think Jack is such a sweet heart !
Me sending soft purrs & hugs to you
xoxo
We're very sorry about Jack. On top of your other losses recently, that's another painful one. The photo of him asking you to come out and play is priceless, and it made the head peep smile, and we hope it will be a memory to keep your heart warm, too.
Thank you for telling us about Jack - he sounded like he was quite a character and we're sorry he just disappeared from your lives leaving you wondering what happened to him.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Jack sure was a handsome guy. Not knowing what happened to him must be so hard. We send lots of purrs to his family...and everybuddy else missing him so much.
It's so hard when you don't know what happened... What a beautiful tribute ! Purrs
We will remember you too dear Jack. You were so very loved and I know you knew that, we could see it in your eyes.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post with us. I am so sorry to hear of yet another loss for you, but it would at least seem that you have lots of lovely memories to remember Jack by. I love that you had a toy just for him.
Purrs and hugs.
What a sweet cat story. We're sad he has disappeared, though, and you're all left worrying and wondering. We, too, wish he would come strolling up the driveway to greet you again. Warm hug, purrs and paw taps.
We are so sorry to hear of yet another loss for you. (((hugs)))
This is a beautiful tribute to Jack. He was such a handsome boy with a big personality. I am sorry you have suffered yet another loss and hope that 2016 will be kinder to you.
Dat is so sad. We have very different opinions on this issue, but we will save our opinions fur another time. We are sorry fur yous loss and are sendin' purrayers.
Luv ya'
Dezi and Lexi
jack....ewe iz one rockin awesum dood....we hope ewe noe ewe R.... & all wayz will be loved..... N ya had familee & friendz....N we hope with all R hearts ya iz chillaxin sum place... ore that yur still on yur walk a bout.... N ewe reel lee will come home yet & still ~~~ ♥♥♥♥♥
thiz tribute post to ewe rocks; thanx for sharin yur life & yur fotoz with uz ♥♥♥
hugs N loves ~~~
What a sweet and precious boy. I've had part-time outdoor cats go missing too and it hurts to never know what happened to them :(
So sorry for you loss of Little Jack with the big personality. Your Memorial Post is beautiful. Sending you soft purrs and gentle tail wags of condolences and a hug from Mom.
Luvs
Marty and the Gang
We is so sorry to hear that Jack is missing. We'll send purrs that he is found, but in the event he is not, we send healing purrs for you and his pawrents.
Sasha, Sami, & Saku
He was so cute, that is so sad.
This was a beautiful tribute. We are so sorry for your loss, though. What a handsome guy he was, and blessed to have had you...as you were to have had him. Hugs. And peace.
((Jack))
Cheri that was a beautiful tribute to Jack and the photos were stunning of such a sweet boy.
I'm so sorry for your loss of Jack. What a loving tribute you did for him.
Your paean to Jack is so like my Tortie Minka, who died just a week ago. Thank you for such a beutiful tribute.
Coming to pay my respects to Jack. The outdoors is so dangerous for cats.
What eyes!! What a beautiful boy!!
That is so, so sad. We are sorry that Jack went missing, and even sadder that you don;t know what happened. That must be so difficult.
Hugs, purrs and prayers as you miss this special mancat.
We are so very sorry to hear that handsome Jack has gone missing. We had one that went missing but came back after almost 7 months. We hope if Jack is okay he will return at some point. We know you are so sad that he is gone. Sending you lots of warm hugs and nose kisses. Love, Maggie Pooh and Chancy
What a lovely boy Jack was and he was indeed yours even though he shared a roof elsewhere. I'm sorry for your loss in a year of losses. Sending hope for a kinder 2016.
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