Christmas Notebook

My cat Zak passed away yesterday. He was a sweet cat, gentle and loving. I am going to miss him a great deal. A friend suggested I share some memories, so I thought I’d write a blog post about Zak. He was a people cat. He was always happy to meet new people and would ask to sit on anyone’s lap. But he loved me best and would abandon everyone else if I called his name or talked to him. Zak was a chatty cat. You could carry on an entire conversation with him, if you wanted to. He’d “talk” back as long as you wanted to talk to him.

Zak came to us in 2006. He was just a kitten.

We got two cats from the same litter. Zak and his sister Zilli.

He was very loving and extremely patient with children. I always thought he would have been a perfect nursing home cat. He loved being with people and was so easy-going. Ready to be friends with anyone who happened by.

Zak loved being outside. In any season.

He was a great moler. Our yard was practically mole free when Zak had access to the outdoors.

I love this picture, taken by our middle daughter, of Zak enjoying the winter snow.

When we worked in the garden or walked the yard, Zak would follow us, watching what we were doing, waiting for us to move on…

Zak preferred his food from the stash rather than the bowl, if the lid was left open.

Last fall, Zak developed an infection in a toe on his right rear leg. The vet thought he had been bit by a poisonous spider. The infection could not be cured. After almost two months of fighting it, then removing two toes, with no resolution, Zak’s leg had to be removed. After that, he had to stay indoors. I feared for his safety outdoors when he wasn’t able to run as fast as he used to. We have resident foxes and I was concerned about them chasing Zak.

Being slower on his feet didn’t slow him down when playing, though. He was always ready to chase a string or catch the “fishing” line.

Zak had a second bout of kidney issues this past weekend. Monday we took him to the vet. Yesterday we were informed that Zak had passed away while under anesthia while a procedure was being performed. DH brought Zak home, wrapped him in his favorite fuzzy blanket and buried him under the birdbath in my fenced garden. It was a favorite vantage point of his.

Pets are a gift from God. They teach us love, patience and the value of companionship. I’m thankful Zak was a part of our family.

I will always miss you, Zackers.

~~Rhonda