We adopted Jack from our local shelter in June of 2009. I had just found out I was pregnant and we were buying our first house. Jack was a feisty kitten who we adored from day one. He was with me as I planned our wedding. He sat on my growing belly and was there when i felt baby kicking for the first time. 



He has been with us through 4 different houses and help raise our two children who are now 13 and 16. He wasnt a very friendly cat to outsiders but he loved my husband, me and our kids very much. 



He went missing for 3 months in 2017 from halloween and was found by a neighbor around the block on christmas day.  We were devastated but so happy when we got another 10 years with him. 



He had been losing weight but was still eating and drinking. We took him to the vet on the 8th because i felt like he looked like he was going to die. Heis eyes were sunken in, his meow made no sound, he was wobbly and he would sleep a lot. He was 13 lbs in 2015 but now weighed only 5 lbs. The vet didnt think he was dying and said we should give him thyroid meds and try ro get more time with him. We paid $500 for bloodwork and for fluids to hydrate him. The next day I was doing yardwork and my husband had a dentist appointment. The boys were sleeping in like teenagers do in the summer. 



When my husband returned home, he sat to watch tv and noticed Jack wasnt where he usually hung out. He came outside to ask if I had seen Jack anywhere and my heart sunk. I panicked and said oh no I hope he didnt go hide somewhere to die. 



We checked our kids rooms which woke them up and they helped us look for him. We were all in yhe hallway when my husband spotted Jack's paw inside the his litter box enclosure. I took one look down into the opening and said OH my god hes dead. My husband knelt down and touched him...and he confirmed he was gone. He had likely died a few hours before we found him. 



I let out a loud cry and grabbed my younger son and hugged him. My older son walked into his room and was trying not to cry and I said its ok to cry and I hugged him. Then I hugged my husband and we both cried into each other's shoulders. That was our first baby laying there....our once fat purring fluffy maine coon was 4lbs cold and stiff.



I asked my husband to get a box to put him in but I instead wrapped him in a blanket and held him for an hour. I wanted to hold him as long as I could. My older son was sobbing and my younger son was in shock. We clipped some of his fur and made a print of his paw before we brought him to the place for cremation. 



We loved him for 17 years and we will love him forever and never forget him.