Jasper came home

Hi, everyone. This is Josie. I figured at some point I might have to take over the blog, but I always hoped not. We all thought we had a few more years with Jasper. But when your body stops, that's all we can do. We miss him so much. We've been paying extra attention to Mom and Dad since Jasper left. Mom has really needed some extra love. Huggy Bear, especially, won't leave her side.

Mom and Dad picked up Jasper's ashes last Monday (January 22). When they brought them home, they set the box on the floor to get a picture or two of us with him. They didn't anticipate our reaction.


Huggy Bear rested him head on the box that contains his ashes. This was completely unprompted and was so emotional. He really misses his brother.


Maggie and I paid our respects too.


Then Maggie rubbed her face against the corner to put her stink on the box.


The crematorium also make an impression of Jasper's paw. You can't really see it in the picture. I'll try to post a better one.

The house feels more empty, and Dad keeps stepping over the spot Jasper where would stretch out in the mornings like Jasper is there. Jasper is now resting in the bookshelf next to Fluffy, Mom's first cat. Thanks again for all the kind thoughts and words during this tough time. Jasper was Dad's first cat, and a great friend to all of us.

It's my time

Well guys, I've had a good run, but unfortunately my body just can't go anymore. My kidneys are shutting down, heart rate slowing, body temperature getting low. I'm not in pain, not suffering, but I've just run out of time. So Mom and Dad made the difficult decision to help me across the Bridge tonight. 

Everything was peaceful. Mom and Dad got to love on me. I even got to show the vet tech who was boss briefly. They were talking about how I was so weak I wouldn't stand or walk so I pushed myself up and took a step just to prove them wrong. One was all I had in me, but I did it. Unfortunately they didn't think I'd even make it through the night. 

Josie, Huggy Bear, and Maggie knew. They'd been giving me my space. Maggie even was sleeping with me last week. She sensed something because that's not like her at all. I'll miss them. They taught me how to be a cat.

But I think what I'll miss the most is sharing Mom's pillow with her, my head butted up against hers. And watching Tennessee football with Dad. I was always his Big Orange Boy. And the sink. I loved the sink -- sleeping in it, drinking water off the counter -- it was my favorite spot for sure.

I've loved having all of you as friends here for the last 13 years. Even though I'm gone Josie will take over the blog eventually.

Now I've got to go catch up with Fluffy who came before me. I've always heard such great stories about him. Then I'll go meet up with all my blog friends who went before me -- Scooby and Shaggy, and Ginger, Quest, and Q2, and Diva Kitty, and William and Russell, and Buzzerbee and Meep and so many others.  I can't wait to catch up again.

Thanks for all the love through the years. And keep Mom and Dad in your thoughts.

Jasper McKitten-Cat
April 15, 2002-January 17, 2018

Chronic Kidney Disease

I had to go to the vet today -- I just haven't been myself recently, and I had a bowel issue in the walk-in closet where I've been hanging out. Mom was afraid it was another anal gland so she rushed me to the vet. 

The vet examined me and did some blood work and came back with the worst diagnosis I could ask for next to cancer -- chronic kidney disease.

I received subcutaneous fluids that perked me up for a little bit, and Mom got a variety pack of Royal Canin renal food, which I'm ignoring as of right now. I'm back in the closet resting on Mom's shoes, but I'll be sequestered into the bathroom tonight so Mom and Dad can monitor if I use the litter box or eat my new food. 

Please send all the purrs you can muster my way, because I'm rigid, and weak, and lethargic. Mom worries that I'm giving up. I'm a little sore in my back leg where they took the blood, and I was fussing earlier when I was walking. 

I really hope that tomorrow is a better day and that the trip to the vet did something more than just get me diagnosed. 

Thanks for your purrs, prayers, and thoughts. I know our community is strong and we can make great things happen when we set our minds to it.

The nerve of them...

So I've been wintering in the closet, sleeping on Mom's shoes. I usually hang out in the sink, but with the cold the closet has been nice. Mom has been a little concerned because I'm a little out of character staying in the closet and not snuggling in bed. I'm showing some signs of arthritis, and have started on a hemp extract CBD oil (https://www.cwhemp.com/charlottes-web-pet-hemp-oil-supplement). 

Mom and Dad had the nerve to move all the shoes I've been sleeping on and buy me a big fancy cat bed. Clearly I was offended, even though I stayed in it while Mom was petting me. Once she went to bed I moved somewhere else and abandoned the spot. So Mom moved the bed and I'm back in the closet, just in fewer shoes.