Jake is Deceased

Jake, the New Family cat, was put to rest today. He began having respiratory problems in January of this year. After a few vet visits, the then soon-to-be New Family learned he had cancer. They made the most of the time they had left with him. The growth recently impaired his eating and drinking. His health and weight declined significantly this weekend past. He withdrew and hid in a place within the house he never before frequented, a sign that it was time. He was euthanized rather than allowed to suffer further.

Mom and Dad had hoped he would be around to interact with the kids. He had a mellow, patient temperament well suited to small children. He too would have loved snuggling on the couch with Mom and them.

Jake surprised many strangers he met with his sociability. Fearless, at least not having the typical skittishness of most cats, he enjoyed meeting people while riding around in the car, walking on a leash, or relaxing on the balcony. Doing the latter, he developed a small following of human friends that would call to him as they passed by. He greeted them with his usual meow.

Mom and Dad adopted Jake from a shelter a few months before they were married. Jake was the last of several orange kittens they handled that day. They had settled on another and were about to sign adoption papers when he awoke and convinced them that he was the one to adopt, such was his personality.

He was named after a braking device commonly found on commercial motor vehicle diesel engines, a Jake brake. When employed on an unmuffled exhaust, the noise is disruptive, especially during a clam night. Jake purred loudly like a Jake brake and Dad wished on more than one occasion he could muffle his roar.

He truly enriched our lives. He will be missed.