My Sweet Kitty Jessie
Today is my baby's birthday.
Jessie, my precious silver tabby kitty is 16 years old today. Old enough to drive if I'd let her. Old enough to date. She's smart enough to do those things alright.
Ah, but these are human milestones. Feline milestones come much sooner. Kitties progress from kittens to adult cats by age 1 year. In feline years my baby's age is the equivalent of 80 years for a human. Even so, she doesn't look that old.
Jessie & her furry friends
Just look at her cute face and big bright expressive green eyes. She is so beautiful, even now when she is older and moves a bit more slowly. Her fur is still smooth and shiny, with the most beautiful stripes and patterns. I never tire of looking at her or petting her. She loves her neck and chin scratched gently, purring all the while.
My Jessie is way more than a "pet" to me. She is my companion, my confidant, and my best friend. She has comforted me when I was sad, upset and crying. She cuddles with me and purrs peacefully when I am happy and smiling. She sleeps with me most nights either in her basket beside my bed or up on the bed if there is room. She understands me, and I her. We know each other very well. We can read each other's minds most of the time. I call her my psychic kitty. She also understands what I say to her. She reads my body language and tone of voice, and I swear she understands my words most of the time. I guess she really senses my feelings, my energy and my thoughts more than my words.
She is my precious baby, my friend and companion. We have both grown older. She has a few health problems now. I give her medicine twice per day for her hyperthyroidism, and I give her subcutaneous fluids once a week to help her kidneys function better for her. Always a small slender cat, she is so skinny now since the hyperthyroidism hit. I worry for her health and longevity every day. I weigh her every few days and keep track of her weight trends. She needs to eat more to gain more, but she doesn't gain much. Again, I worry.
I love her so much. The thought of not having her around forever saddens me and makes me cry. Who will comfort me with her soft meows and loud purrs when she is gone from this life?
She is a very good kitty. A loving friend to me. I have tried to be the best mom for her.
Jessie at her scratching post
So enough of the sad thoughts about her getting older and leaving me. (I have tears in my eyes now.) She is still here, and in good health, all things considered. She still brings me joy every single day. I miss her when I must leave home for a few days. I worry about her when I am away.
She is 16 years old today. A Libra girl. My sweet baby. Her full name is Whispering Jessie, because her meow is so soft and gentle.
Happy Birthday my sweet Whispering Jessie! I will always love you.
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10 comments:
Oh, jen, she's lovely. What a good girl she is and what a wonderful friend she is to you.
I have to wonder, though....just where is *her* yummy birthday cake? Where is her party? Where is her festively wrapped sausage? Somehow, I have a feeling she'd enjoy *all* of these things, though she might gently demur and give only a very soft purr of thanks at the end of it all. :-)
Hi Danni!
Good to hear from you!
My Jessie will be feasting on cooked chicken thigh meat along with her regular Wellness brand natural canned cat food tonight for her dinner. She loves the chicken meat. No cake for her. Maybe a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, her favorite condiment. Actually, I spoil her most every day, so while I did sing Happy Birthday to her this morning at breakfast, she thinks every day is her special day. And it is.♥
Jessie is a very sweet kitty, and she is not the only psychic in the family.
Many times I have seen you just give her "the look", like when she was into, or on something she really shouldn't be. Or, just a brief hand motion or short sentence, like asking if she's interested in dinner. She then looks up with those expressive, I love you Mom eyes, and mews a kitty response every time.
There is no doubt in my amazed mind that you two are definitely communicating on some level. And, then you usually just smile at me like it's no big deal, we do this all the time.
Jessie really likes leather of all kinds, and invariably welcomes me by nuzzling against my shoes, or if I kick them off on a hot summer, you'll find her face buried deep down inside them. She makes me smile.
It's obvious how much you two love each other, and I know she is your precious baby. You are a good Mom Jen, you are as attentive and loving as any Mom is to their child. Jessie knows how much you love her.
And She's almost old enough to vote!
Happy Birthday pretty Jessie. :)
Her markings are so strikingly beautiful. What a good kitty Mama you are. And what a simply amazing relationship the two of you share.
Your warm and loving sentiments for Jessie just touched my heart and made me smile so BIG today! :)
~Lisa
Hi Bob,
Jessie does read me well. We have lived together for a long time. Our hearts are very close. Thank you for telling me that I am a good mom to her. You know I need to hear that from time to time. I hope she really does know how much I love her. Thank you also for taking good gentle care of her for me when I am gone for a few days. I count on you and trust your gentleness.
Hi Lisa,
I will give Jessie your happy birthday wishes. Thanks for the good kitty mama praise. I like hearing that. Coming from one who loves animals so much, it means a lot to me. I am glad my post touched you and made you smile.
Beautiful post about a beautiful cat! I have three children much like your baby.
I just read a great book called Dewey (The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World) by Vicki Myron. Great read if you're intersted in cat stories.
What a sweet tribute to Sweet Jessie! I just spent three days with family in Healdsburg including their almost 20-year-old Cokie, a black and white little and very precious, sweet cat. She is truly showing her age but she still has a bit of spunk, well maybe not spunk, but she still enjoys life (even though her liver is starting to fail). By the looks of her, I think your Sweet Jessie has lots of time left for you to spoil her rotten!
I started to leave a comment here when you first posted this, but decided it was too maudlin. (Last year I lost Psipsini, my most loved cat ever, and probably most loved cat for my whole lifetime. Enough said.)
Just wanted to come back to say what a sweet looking cat Jessie is and to wish you both the best.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. And Jessie and I thank you for the praise. Always nice to hear from another cat Mom.
Hi CA Grammy,
I sure hope you are right about Jessie staying with me for a long time to come. I try not to spoil her too much, but then, she deserves all my love.
Hi Lulu,
I am so sorry to hear that you lost your dear Psipsini. No need to be shy about your grief and sorrow. I am sure that I will grieve for years when my baby leaves me. I try to remind myself that when she does leave her body behind on this earth, her spirit and soul will still be here with me forever. I am sure that Psipsini is really still with you too. I know that when we love deeply and then that soul moves on, that it hurts our hearts profoundly, but we are better for having loved and having been loved in return. We are all here for a reason. Our kitties too.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I feel like I know you a little better now. I love your blog, by the way, and I visit often even if don't always leave a comment.
Thanks, Jen, I appreciate your comforting words of wisdom. I still see her (nagging me to do something, usually) so that must mean something! :-)
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