Thankful Thursday...This Is Not Goodbye

 This blog has been such a wonderful part of my life, a true labor of love...It has allowed me to share some of the sweetest souls I have ever known and in that process, I've made some lovely friends who, like myself, value animals as family...For me, Jacqueline's Cat House actually became a photo album of these precious babies that I have been blessed to love and hold in my heart forever...In January 2020, the blog changed after daily posts for 10 years to a once a week post, the result of losing 3 of my babies; now, after Halle's sudden loss, I have decided to stop regular posts and will only post sporadically, on special occasions...I started this blog for 5 very exceptional cats and with only 1 remaining, I'm finding it hard to continue...So, while there will be other posts, I would still like to give thanks at this time...Thank you for every single kind word and comment=they have put many smiles on my face and lifted me on many days...Thank you for caring about these sweethearts I've been so fortunate to call my own...And of course, I want to thank everyone for sharing our lives over the last 11+ years, it has truly been my honor to share these sweet, extraordinary babies with you all.

Adored, cherished, loved and treasured forever...

Calle, Halle, Sukki

2009

*****A special thanks to Ann from Zoolatry for her friendship and help over the years.*****

And Then There Was One...

I am devastated as I write this post...It is with a heavy, sad heart that I let you guys know my Halle Cat passed away last week in my arms...On Wednesday, 08.25, Halle was fine when I got home from work; a few hours later, she stumbled over to me and I realized she had suffered a stroke...After speaking with my Vet, I thought she could recover and made an appointment for the next morning...I spoke to Halle constantly, reassuring her "Mommy was with her and she would be fine", "I knew she was scared but I would not leave her"...I was holding her in my arms like a baby, looking into her sweet face, talking softly to her when she suddenly had a heart attack and died; it was reminiscent of my Calle's death...She was cremated the next day...It was a complete shock and I still can't believe she is gone; I truly never saw this coming...Halle and Sukki had their yearly Vet visit about 2 weeks before and while Halle's medication for high blood pressure was increased, her blood work looked good and she seemed fine until the last hour of her life...Sukki misses her sister like I do~deeply, terribly, constantly...Our home just doesn't feel right without Halle there...The last time I had only 1 kitty, I was in my 30s and Sukki has never lived as an "only cat" in her life so Halle's death has created a great emptiness that feels overwhelming at times...I'm grateful we have each other, but we are both truly heartbroken over Halle's loss...I was so blessed Halle chose me to be her Mommy for almost 17 years and that is what I will try to remember through this tremendous grief.

I know her family that went before, including Daddy Cat, Mommy Cat and her littermate, Calle, were waiting to greet my precious Halle as she went to the Bridge...

My darling angel Halle Cat.

Halle (10.23.04-08.25.21)

Love never dies...Love is eternal.

"What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose...All that we love deeply becomes a part of us."~Helen Keller

"Always the years between us...Always the years...Always the LOVE...Always the hours..."~Virginia Woolf 

Throwback Thankful Thursday

Mommy Cat's 21st birthday is next week...how I miss this precious girl. We were all blessed by her sweet presence.

Mommy Cat (09.01.00-03.19.19)

Winter, 2018

Throwback Thankful Thursday

It makes my heart happy to remember these two like this~happy and always together, in our old back yard.

2009

Throwback Thankful Thursday

2019

I'm very grateful for the time Mommy Cat lived indoors with us...AND

I love that Mommy Cat was able to enjoy fun activities with the girls like "hanging out in any box"!

MOL

Throwback Thankful Thursday

So grateful this sweet baby moved into the house with my 3 girls after Daddy Cat passed away; it was a happy experience for all of us...Mommy Cat grew very close to everyone and was deeply loved.

2018

Throwback Thursday

My sweet Mommy Cat was pretty adorable on her cat pillow!

2012

Throwback Thursday

        2010    

These sweethearts had just recently moved into their garage apartment when I got this cute photo on our cat rug!  

             

                          

                                           

Three For Throwback Tummy Thursday

I miss this precious girl.

At 10 years old, after moving into her garage apartment, she learned to enjoy toys and nip!

2016

Happy Valentine's Weekend...

These adorable images are from last year, but they speak of unconditional, true, eternal love; we hope you all experience that priceless gift.

Happy Valentine's Weekend.

Throwback Thursday

These two sweet, precious girls loved relaxing in front of the fire; they are missed so very much.

2018

Throwback Thursday

Always together...

2015

Throwback Thursday

This picture is one of the first photos of these sweethearts exploring their new garage apartment...After living outside at our other house for 10 years, I worried about bringing them inside but knew I could not leave them alone in our old neighborhood...I was relieved to realize they were both very happy and content to have a comfortable place of their own where they were safe and together=look at those Happy Tails!

2010

Throwback Thursday

I was always happy to see this sweetheart enjoying the comforts of home...2018

I'd like to wish my wonderful Mom, Ann, a very Happy Birthday!...I love her so much and realize how lucky I am to be her daughter!...She has always been close to my babies and she shared a special bond with Mommy Cat...Ann spent many hours rocking Mommy Cat like a baby in her arms during the last few years of Mommy Cat's life, sharing comfort and companionship after Daddy Cat passed.

Throwback Thursday

Mommy Cat's 20th birthday is on September 1 and when I think of her and Daddy Cat, this is how I like to remember them...together forever.

2009

Throwback Thursday

Once she moved into the house with us, my sweet Mommy Cat enjoyed watching our regular TV and our kitty TV too!

Summer 2018

Thankful Thursday

A neighborhood cat gave birth to Daddy Cat in my garage on May 2, 2000 and I found Mommy Cat sleeping in my garage on November 1, 2000, she was about 6-8 weeks old: I cared for them as outside cats for 10 years and brought them with me to my new home in October 2010...I had central air and heat put in my 2 car garage and it became their retirement home...Almost immediately after moving into their garage apartment, Mommy Cat and Daddy Cat became more accepting of love from me and started bonding with the indoor girls...They enjoyed exploring the new house much more than they ever did at our previous home=they would roam and hang out in our new home, but would only dart in and out of our old place occasionally, even though I invited them in often...I didn't know what to expect, but they happily embraced their new life indoors and I am grateful we were all closer for it=after 10 years of caring for them on their terms, they truly, finally became my babies.

 2015

Throwback Thursday

The garage at our old house...I could pet her but not hold her yet=I had been caring for her since 2000, but she was still embracing her feral side.
2008

Throwback Thursday

These two sweethearts hanging out in our old back yard.
2009

Throwback Thursday

A portrait session with my beautiful girl on one of her cat trees in our old garage.
2009