Jackson the Cat; a Fourth Anniversary.
Posted: Monday, February 23, 2009
by Mike Fak
http://mikefak.com
Somewhere in my archives is the story of how Jackson the cat came to live with my family. The story is called; a cardboard box for a home' for all those interested in looking.
I knew that cold day four years ago that Jackson wasn't an ordinary animal but I had no idea how unusual and faithful a friend she would be.
She also has some of the quirkiest habits I have seen in a cat or a dog and although I'm sure all of you can say your pet has some of the same habits, I wonder if any of you can say your pet is as quirky and regimented as Jackson.
When I walk in the door, within seconds she is there to greet me. The times she isn't is because she is still asleep upstairs on my pillow and just doesn't feel like getting up.
She has this odd habit of wanting to get under my flannel shirt and stick here head out of the top like a baby kangaroo to watch me type. She is a very loud purer and I think her vibrating on my stomach helps knock off a few pounds.
Like all cats she is extremely finicky but she has a few vices. For one she likes ham and bean soup. For another, she likes about an ounce of red wine. Now if it isn't red, she doesn't care for it. I believe her favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon but she has been known to slurp down a Merlot but never any Chardonnay. She is better than I at moderation. She just wants that little bit and then she is done with it.
She also wants to sniff everything I eat but she only wants to sniff it and then plops down satisfied she didn't miss any culinary delight. Every time I open the refrigerator and look down there is Jackson looking in too. She gives me that look of, "Hey any tuna in there" which is another vice of hers.
She has a nightly regimen that is also quirky. She won't go to bed until I do. If I am staying up a little late lying on the floor watching a show, she will sit right in front of me between me and the TV to give me a hint it's time to sleep.
When we go to bed, she sits up on the headboard waiting for me to stop twisting and turning. Then she comes down and snuggles up on the right hand side of me. Never my left, if I happen to be in her spot she starts giving me the pawing routine until I scoot over.
Since I started getting up at 5:30 to post news, she has abandoned me a bit. As I leave the bed, she gives me that look that tells me she doesn't care for the hour and then goes back under the covers until a saner hour of the day; such as noon.
Although I believe she is extremely intelligent, she does have some flaws. For one she thinks she still is a little kitten instead of a fairly overweight adult. She thinks nothing of walking across me as I sleep and on occasion will jump onto my chest when I am napping on the couch.
She also has this weird habit of climbing up on the back of my neck and grooming me. When I tell her to stop, it isn't unusual for her to just nap off with her head resting on the top of my head, her legs around my neck like an overweight Davy Crocket cap.
I am not sure exactly what she thinks but in all my days with all the pets I have had, I never had any including dogs just constantly tag along with me like she does.
I'm not sure if she is just thinking we are best buddies or is smart enough to know I usually have something in my hand worth sniffing and occasionally consuming.
The only thing I do know about Jackson for certain is she has been the best little friend a person can have and I am grateful she is part of our family. I like to think she feels the same way.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Mike.I love this story! Jackson is indeed a great cat. You are lucky to have her and she's lucky she found you. Thanks so much for sharing this.DianneThanks Dianne. Always happy to share. That is what we storytellers do.Mike
I thought my in laws cat stayed close but nothing like Jackson. I hope to someday be able to share stories they way you do. I am much too serious.Thanks for sharing,Linda DThanks Linda. From time to time have a little fun. I'm sorry but Jackson can't have babbies so you will just have to find that special furball somewhere else.ThanksMike
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