Until we meet again

When we first got Heidi - 2005.  They were our babies :)

Sleeping together on their Christmas present!!

It's been one month since our cat Jazz passed away.  It was a very peaceful passing and my only hope is that he didn't suffer. And my only regret is that I didn't let him enjoy outside during the last week of his life.  I thought to myself that I should let him out because he loved being outside but I was worried it ws too cold.  In hindsight, it wouldn't have mattered and he probably would have enjoyed being in the backyard.  Jazz passed away on the morning of November 8th.  I had to take the day off of work, I couldn't stop crying all morning and then I was stressing about telling the kids after school. I decided to pull them out of class early.  They knew Jazz was not doing well and I had told them that Cal and I would be taking him to the vet that morning and that he might go to heaven. So they were semi-prepared. They took the news pretty well.  They had some questions and were sad. That night I finally had to tell Blake that it is okay to cry.  Poor little guy is already such a stubborn man!!!  He finally snuggled into me and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed.  And then he fell asleep.  It broke my heart to see him so upset. He and Jazz really connected this past year.  I'm not sure why but I think Blake recognized that Jazz was getting old and maybe needed some help.  Blake would lift him up to his food bowl and every day he would make sure Jazz ate and drank, it was very sweet. Then every single night, Jazz would jump up on Blake's bed and sleep with him.  The first few nights without Jazz, Blake would say, "I have no one to cuddle with." Emerson and Reese were also upset and often mention that they miss Jazz. They'll just randomly say, "I miss Jazz :(" Emerson had to take the iPod to school to show her teacher and friends a picture of Jazz, where as Blake doesn't want to talk about it and Reese is quite matter of fact about the whole thing.  It's so interesting to see their different personalities in each and every situation they deal with in life.

Always at our feet in bed!

Last photo of all 5 of our 'kids' - Halloween 2016

 I have many, many, many memories of our 14 years with Jazz!  Not being a cat person, I didn't really want a cat.  But Dr. Doolittle (aka Cal - I always joke we'd have a zoo if it were up to Cal!) really wanted to bring Jazz home from his Dad's farm.  Bruce had brought Jazz down to the farm from Yellowknife, intent on controlling the mouse population.  And mice were to be Jazz' main form of food.  Bruce wasn't living at the farm at the time but Cal's brother Gerry checked on the farm each week.  Winter was nearing and Bruce asked if we'd like to bring Jazz to our house, as Jazz was likely to not make the winter living outside and catching mice.  As I said, Cal really wanted to bring him home! So we agreed to bring Jazz home, my stipulation being that Cal was in charge of the litter box!!  Bruce planned to visit one evening and was going to bring Jazz to us.  Well turns out, he couldn't find him!  My first thought was, "Okay, phew, escaped that one!!" But no, Cal thought we'd better drive out to the farm and bring him home ourselves! So the next day we drove out and sure enough, we came home with a cat!  Jazz hid for the first week but eventually came out of the basement!  He was quite nasty at times and caused quite a few scratches on our poor nephews face and then later in life, on our kids faces.  But he mellowed significantly, came to trust us and love us.  He became very friendly, cuddly and even needy ;)  Always having to be close to us! Jazz and Heidi had a love/hate relationship but as Jazz mellowed over the years, they seemed to enjoy each other more!  We would often find them laying close to each other or even sharing the big pet bed. So many times, I remember them both laying at my feet. I think Heidi was a bit lost for the first few weeks without Jazz. I often catch her sniffing around and visiting the laundry room (where Jazz' food and litter was). I hope she's not too lonely without him.

Jazz brought so much love to our home and I miss him.  I sometimes think I see him out of the corner of my eye, sitting in the picture window, on the back of the couch or walking into the laundry room when I'm in there.  For many years he slept at our feet and I'll never forget how he liked to lay on my tummy when I was pregnant.  A pet isn't just a pet, a pet is like family.  Family who loves you no matter what, who is always happy to see you and never expects anything but a good pet and food.  He left paw prints on our hearts and we are better for having cared for him.  We love you Jazz, we miss you and will always remember the joy you brought our family! We hope you are laying in the warm sun, chasing mice and eating tuna from the can wherever you may be. xoxo

Such a handsome cat - we called this Jazz' afghan, he loved to sleep on it!

Spoiled - eating oysters from a plate!

Always made himself comfy - sleeping in Emerson's car seat!

Excuse me ... you can not sleep on the table, Jazz!!