COZY CATS -PART 1

Jack’s amazing story all began 10 years ago when we received a neighborhood email that a black and white cat was missing.  The email said his name was Jack, with no collar, and not chipped.  We were to alert the family if we spotted him.  Spot him we did, so we alerted them.  Seems Jack had gone from being their inside cat to a garage cat to mostly outside cat. One day he roamed up our driveway when Jerry was taking a break from yard work.  A one-way “conversation” ensued as Jerry spoke softly to our “visitor” as he inched closer.  Jack was beginning to lay the ground work of deciding if Jerry was hitting all the marks of auditioning to become a possible permanent cuddle buddy!  But, as promised, we again contacted the owners and they came and got him!  We continued to see Jack roaming the neighborhood!  Our infrequent encounters took place with me softly petting him when I was out feeding the birds.  Time passed and the dual rescue was about to happen!  On a very frigid December night in 2012, I walked passed our glass doors and there on our deck I saw a very pitiful, freezing and meowing Jack pleading for help!  The rescue was complete!!  From that moment on our lives were greatly enhanced by a lonely cat making the decision that he had found his forever home!  We had been chosen so there was no looking back. 

I seem to be a cat magnet since they have been a delightful part of so much of my life!  It didn’t take long to discover the incredible unique qualities that Jack begin to share with us!  Cats do, indeed, have different meows which being a crazy cat lady was easy for me to learn.  The where are you meow….the it’s time to feed me meow…the rub my tummy meow….the I hear the Treat bag rattle meow…the not very happy going to the vet meow…the it’s time, Keith, for you to wake up from your TV snooze on the couch and go to bed meow, the best is the Dawn of the Unfed meow!!!! This photo needs no words!!!  It is a wake up call for Jerry every morning!!!  Since I was not there to photograph this, I did some graphics editing!!!  But, this is an accurate good morning hello to Jerry!!

Jack is EXTREMELY tuned into our routine, and we are very obedient and focused on no sudden deviations, if possible.  He is also shrewd about not playing favorites…to him, we are equal and are here to do his bidding!!  His love and affection for us never wavers. 

We know all about service dogs….Jack is a service cat!  In 2018, I was going down the steps in the house to feed Jack his breakfast. It was still dark and I foolishly failed to turn on the light.  He was beside me as I approached the bottom.  Unfortunately, I thought the last step was the bottom.  Down I went, just missing falling on Jack.  Fractured my right hip!  Hospital stay then home to recover.  In time I was able to return to my upstairs bedroom!  Needless to say, I made sure my steps were VERY measured as I held onto the banister and two-stepped all the way down, AND up!. Time went by, and I began to notice Jack becoming aware of my extremely cautious step movements.  So, he began to walk right beside me, and when he reached the bottom, I would say…”Stay there” and he actually froze in place…not moving until I reached the BOTTOM!!!  This is our routine every day and it is amazing to watch!!!  Even if he is not upstairs with me and hears me coming down, he will immediately come to the bottom of the steps to make sure I am safe! 

*Now you may wonder why Jerry is in so many photos and I’m not to be seen at all.  Well, I’m having fun snapping away and focusing on Jack.  Jerry just happens to be there.  Now you tell me, is it because Jerry follows Jack or is it the other way around?  Lucky Jerry, I’d say.