Jellicle Cat

My beloved and beautiful cat of 13 years has disappeared. 5 days ago she went out to do her evening rounds of the front garden, she never went further unless it was to hide in the nextdoor's overgrown rose bushes because there were children around. The general consensus is that she has gone to die...

I spoke to my mum on the phone the other day and she found it upsetting but said that it was a natural thing for cat's to do. That they know when their time is up and like their predecessors the lions, they leave the pride and do it in private with dignity. Jelly was a house cat, only going out as far as the front garden every so often and then only in the summer months after a couple of days being inside. So after 2 days of her not being seen we thought the worse as the circumstances were odd.

Jelly, or more frequently Dame Jelly Melba, was a very soft cat. Her fur was always soft and fluffy, like cotton wool... It malted everywhere in the summer but running my hands over her belly as she purred beside me was almost a luxury. She was always suspicious of new people who wouldn't stroke her, and always more so of the females. Never quite understood why. She was never bad tempered, for long, and always found it necessary to kiss you.

She has been ill over the past few months. She had a cyst on her back which recently disappeared, then grew again.Then she started to bleed. I think sub-consciously we knew she was going to do it soon but that still doesn't prepare you.

I know in my heart of hearts that she has gone to the heaviside layer. I'm finding the grieving process quite hard. Not fully grieving, holding out some hope that she will return, yet still knowing she will never return. I'm not sleeping well and have irregular eating- which is something my Jelly would not have approved of under ANY circumstances!

It is hard, but in time I am sure all will be well. I have framed a photo of her and have put another in my weekly diary... each time I open it to check what I'm doing, or where I'm supposed to be, her cheeky whiskers and big eyes peer at me. I know she wouldn't want me to be sad but that isn't an option right now. I was 10 years old when I got Jelly, and she has been there through the most important and difficult moments. Ever a source of comfort and love.

She was the greatest, most beautiful, funny, cuddly, intelligent, sophisticated and bitchy (at times) cat that ever owned a human. And will ALWAYS be loved...





P.S. I was searching on the internet in a fit of 'trying' and I came across this.... It was helpful to know that I am not alone.

'On July 28 my beloved 14 yr old cat Alladin just dissappeared. He never left the house except to use the bathroom in the front yard, the litter box being way to undignified (except if it was raining or cold!) He had no health problems that I knew of and was eating well and in good spirits, but some of the other cats had been acting strangely around him. One in particular two days before he left, got up on the sofa and literally put her arms around him and slept that way all night.Everyone is telling me that he went off somewhere to die. But I have searched my neighborhood and put fliers in mailboxes to ask if anyone has seen anything. I can’t get closure. He was an amazing cat. Has anyone heard of a house cat going far away to die? Thanks for any help.'


— Leslie Ferguson Monday August 20, 2007 #