The Story of "Jack" and his Transgendered Sister "Grace"...

Did I get your attention? Good, this is a story worth reading. Yesterday one of my beloved kitties, Jack (the black and white one in the pics on here) was savagely mauled and killed yesterday by either a coyote or mntn lion. The brutality of it and that it was during the bright of day (2PMish) causes us to think it was a mountain lion, but you never know because apparently animals such as those are feeding their young right now, and need food more than usualy I guess you could say. For some, their animals being killed would just be a matter of fact sort of thing, but for me quite honestly Im devastated. Yes, its not one of my family members, however my animals have always, always been a critical part of our family.
Jack, and his sister Grace (which later turned out to be a male, but shhh dont tell anyone cuz "Grace" is a transgendered kitty because I refuse to change her name esp for reason below) were a gift from my husband when I was really sick from MS and having a hard time. He thought having a "lap kitty" would help me cope with being in a wheelchair because at that time, we were told it was permanent and would get worse as time went on. Amazingly enough we had been looking for a kitten for some time and had lost another kitty, Stormie about 1 1/2 yrs before that from someone in our neighborhood poisoning several cats in the surrounding area. I didnt think I would ever get another cat after seeing Stormie go thru what she did and trying to deal with the loss of her. So, when we found "Grace" at a pet store close by where they were giving them away for free, we brought her home. When we told my daughter about the other kitties that were there, she said "I want the black and white one!" I was already attached to Grace and knew I wouldnt take her back, so it ended up being that my husband went back to the pet store and brought Jack home. It was great comic relief and "medicine" for me and I attribute my getting well partly because of them. I am amazed at how animals have that effect on a person and its not the first time I have had that happen. My kitties somehow, as did other animals we've had know when Im sick and will stay in bed with me when I am not well. My cats so much as would "investigate" nurses who would come for treatments and such as if to check and make sure they were "ok" and then watch over them every step of the way. People even remarked about them and they way they acted. Animals are great therapy.
Later on, we added a "brother" Olliver who has been an interesting mix to my feline family. Then we got "Roxy" and subsequently "Bruiser". Roxy is a chihuahua and Bruiser is a dauschaund and chihuahua, also known I found out later as a "chiweenie". All of their pictures are plastered all over here...which reminds me, I need more recent pics as I havent been here in a while! Roxy and Bruiser also have this amazing sense of when Im sick and wont leave my bedside if Im not well. I would have never thought I would have 3 cats at one time but now Im glad I did so Grace has someone with her as a companion. Jack recently decided he wanted to be an "inside and outside" cat, which when I got them we knew they would be inside cats because of what happened to Stormie. Unfortunately he got a taste for the outside one day when someone accidently let him out, and now we know the result of that happening. I will say funny enough if you look at more recent pics since we got Roxy and Bruiser aka (R&B ha ha!)you would think I do not have kids! Since my pet family members are way more willing to pose and my kids who are teens and for whatever lame reason shun the camera, somehow know at all times when I have camera. My son Tyler is the most likely to have the most pics since he started dating he has a girlfriend who loves having pics as much as I do....so I have her as part of my ammo :o) Otherwise I have side views of them which arent that good for a scrapbook or the kind of pics you want when they are kids. So, I DO have 3 kids, you just dont know what they look like unless you have seen them in person! Maybe I can get some shots when they are sleeping....hmm thats an idea.
So Jack, I miss you already, Im sorry you had to go thru whatt you did, and hope it was quick and you didnt suffer. I feel guilt in my heart for ever letting you out even if you wanted it and bugged us as much as you did wanting to be let out. I wish animals went to Heaven so I could have the assurance I would see you again, but I have been told since animals dont have souls they dont. I guess someday I will find out and maybe I will be surprised. If you are in Heaven now, I know you are probably sun bathing or if there are gophers up there, you are on it! You were a GREAT gopher catcher, although I didnt like the "presents" you brought home every time. Just know, Im thinking of you all the time loved you so much and hope and pray I can see you again. RIP Jack xoxo your human mommy