My old man

[susandennis]

I got Jake when he was about 5 weeks old. He was a stray wandering around my condo complex in Morgan Hill, CA. It was August of 1989. I already had Bubba who was then about 10. Jake was happy to have food and home and a person. Bubba was not so happy to have Jake. My condo had a 6x6 foot terrace surrounded by a 6 foot fence. And a cat door.

Bubba roamed the 'hood. I always thought he had a day job somewhere. He'd come home at night and had a spot on the bed that was his. Not mine. Not Jake's. His.

But, Jake stayed home. Even when he got big enough, Jake rarely hopped the fence. He could do it, he just usually didn't.

I do remember one day I came home to find Jake coming back over the fence which was unusual in itself, but this time he had something in his mouth... I rushed to shut the cat door assuming it was a mouse or something else that I didn't want in the house. I got outside where he stood with his prize and discovered that it was not a mouse, it was a freshly grilled chicken leg! Off of someone's backyard cooker!! Jake brought me dinner!!!

I was both horrified and delighted. He had a tag with his name and my address on it or I would have maybe sent him back to pilfer a wing and some potato salad...

After the big earthquake in October of 1989, Jake never left the back yard. He got fat - oh so fat. I mean he was the size of two cats with a head the size of one. Bubba died and we got Pizza. Pizza was full of piss and vinegar. She was half his size and totally had his number. He'd be sleeping on the couch and she'd come by and swat him just because. He was always watching her and on full alert... But, when she died, I swear he was sad.

Meanwhile along the way he started shedding pounds. One of my friends who came over to survey the Seattle earthquake mess noticed it first so that would mark it February 2001. Over the years he's turned super model thin. He eats regularly and happily - he loves to lick my dinner plate - and has more energy than ever. And that kitty dandruff that he had for years is all gone since he can now groom his own back.

But he's nearing his end, I believe. He's throwing up more and more - last night on my bed, thanks a lot (really, thanks for using the edge anyway so I could just avoid it). There's the peeing on the bathroom rug (which has abated a bit but continues even with my being vigilant about keeping the liter box pristine).

But, I think mainly there's been kind of a personality change. He's never been a silly cat. Betty will play and play whether you want to or not. I swear she giggles. He's never been that way. He'll swat at a toy at the end of a string but he has just never been too smiley. Lately he's gotten even more serious. He will not let me compute alone. He has to be right there - generally standing in front of the monitor. He follows me around and while he lets Betty sit with me on the bed while I read every night, when the light goes out, she leaves and here comes Jake who is there all night.

His clock is ticking. And he's going to be sorely missed. But, for now, he's carrying on in his job of being my old man.

Comments

[geordie.livejournal.com]

I hope you are wrong.

[rivendweller.livejournal.com]

That was a beautiful story. As you know, I love my cats and fuss about them all the time. It hurts so much when one dies that I swear I'll never get another, but I always do. They just melt my heart.

Jake looks so sweet.

[frl.livejournal.com]

Awww, your story made me smile, laugh and think. Jake has had a very full life and he really loves you. He's given you a great 16 years and let's hope that he gives you a few more.

Jake reminds me of my Misty - they are both grey all over with the same color eyes. She's got quite a personality and is getting older herself (although she's much younger than Jake, we got her in 1996) and we are seeing changes in her as well. She's much grumpier now and doesn't take to being woken up well at *all*.

Sorry to hear about the urinating issue with Jake - he might well have a bladder infection (or kidney issues of some sort), so you might want to think about that. Cats who don't go in their litter box usually have one, and it's something to consider going to the vet for before it becomes a habit (if it hasn't already).

[judith.livejournal.com]

My Bullet is getting long in the tooth, too, and he's gray, too. Really reminds me of Jake. He has lost weight also, so that I worry a bit about him now. He used to be quite substantial. And he's also spending more time with me, particularly at night.

Did you see the parrot movie? Somehow this made me think of that.

[susandennis]

That's wild that Bullet and Jake are exhibiting the same behaviors!

I have not seen that movie yet but it's on my list for sure.

[ruby-stone.livejournal.com]

Lovely story, he's a beautiful cat. I can never get to grips with that old age thing in my cats and wish they could be young and graceful forever.

The chicken leg made me laugh - when we first had Manic, he came running down the garden with a huge chocolate muffin in his mouth :) I was too embarrassed to mention it to my neighbours.

[susandennis]

oh wow! A chocolate muffin! I must have been living in the wrong neighborhood!!

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

That's so sweet...and sad.

[teasdale.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing your Jake story. Sixteen years is a long time, really, but when you think of them maybe leaving you, it's never long enough. I'm the same way with my Kiefer. He's ten now, but with diabetes, I know his time is limited. That's why I let him get away with murder! :) I never refuse his requests to be together, even when it's not always convenient, because I know these moments are precious. He gets loved an awful lot.

I hope Jake beats all odds and stays with you for a long while to come.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Having met Jake (and found him adorable) I hope he sticks around for a while yet. Have you consulted a vet?

He was on his own at five weeks? Wow. I wonder what happened to his mother.

[susandennis]

Jake says hi! (And, I mean that - he's right here... if the monitor were two way his ass would be in the way!)

The vet says that he has generic old age symptoms - maybe a little advanced for his age - but nothing really fixable and nothing uggy like diabetes or kidney disease or anything like that. She said 'take him home and love him and let him love you for as long as he can'... He was really sucking up to her and won her right over.

She did give me a list of stuff to look for - drinking to much water, lethargy, no appetite, etc. but so far, he hasn't made the list.

[minimac.livejournal.com]

Awww...but you never know...he may be around longer than you think...still, I wish they lived as long as parrots-then you'd wind up having to leave them in your will!