Mr. Chance, the gray and white tuxedo cat we inherited from my mother-in-law, died today, age probably around 15 years. He had been in good mental and physical condition since we brought him home with us on Thanksgiving 2022. My mother-in-law’s health was declining making a new home for Mr. Chance a necessity. He quickly became a member of the family, we being familiar with him due to our annual visits with the mother-in-law. He enjoyed robust good health, as his tally of twenty mice dispatched to the next world would attest. That is how many he eliminated down here. I have no idea how many he killed at the mother-in-law’s house. I called him the hardest working cat I knew. He took being a hunter seriously.
He quickly became buddies with our Jack Russell Terrier Cali. Most mornings would find them waiting outside our bedroom door to greet us, Mr. Chance sometimes pushing at the door with his forepaws if he thought we were not getting up swiftly enough at 4:00 AM.
If he wanted attention, he would jump onto my computer desk and stare at me until attention was paid to him. In the morning he would accompany me to the basement where I would take my shower and he would be fed. Given the opportunity he would attempt to knock my glasses off because he loved to chew the temple pieces. When I laid down on the couch he would quickly position himself on my chest. He would come swiftly if he heard the can opener in operation, his appetite being excellent.
As noted, he enjoyed good health. This ended a few weeks after the death of my mother-in-law last month. He ate less and less, until this week he ate nothing at all. He continued to drink water, but in lesser amounts. He bore all this with his customary dignity and grace, the dignity which had caused me to add Mr. to his original name of Chance. Death found him today sleeping, peacefully drifting off to whatever awaits cats after this life, surrounded by those who loved and love him. Perhaps the mother-in-law has reclaimed her cat.
Like most cats he was clean and self-sufficient, always presenting himself well groomed to the world. He became a cherished member of our family, and I will greatly miss him.
Enjoyed this tribute.
Good cats are a treasure … My condolences, Don.
All cats go to heaven.
Rest well, Mr Chance.
A nice summary, a good cat.
I’m sorry for your loss. Our Sarah, black cat, passed away on Divine Mercy Sunday. She adopted us. She was 14 years old.
Mr Chance sounded like a wonderful companion. It’s incredible how Gods four-legged creatures have a sixth sense, in that he deteriorated after the passing of your Mother-in-law. Sorry for your loss Donald.
Thank you my friends for your kind comments. Amazing how quickly the little furballs can find their way into our hearts, but there it is.
Sorry for your loss! He was a very handsome kitty and not unlike our mama cat and her 4 (now young adult) kittens in his habits of waking us up at 4 am, parking himself on your chest, running at the sound of a can opener, etc.
When my maternal grandmother died, my family took in her Pekingese pup. When she passed we all felt like we lost our last connection to Grandma, but my Dad was affected the most. I’m sorry for your loss Don.
What a wonderful companion for your mother-in-law and then for you, Don. Mr Chance had quite the personality.
Ginger an orange cat each morning would greet my husband by flopping over for a belly rub. She escaped recently from the house. We think she must be in the corn field. I trapped her and her brother Tiger also orange at the dump. I’ve kept the light on the back porch hoping she returns.. Tiger and Tory look out the window for Ginger. The house cats are unsettled.
Meanwhile 4 kittens came out of the cornfield and immediately joined the book club meeting under the barn pergola. Next morning they had taken up residence on the front porch where there is an outdoor cat house. No complaining at the vets when they received the various vaccines. My husband feeds them in the morning and allows them in the office where they explore and take afternoon naps. I provide ping pong balls to keep them busy in the evening. Cat soccer is fun for me to watch. They are quite adept at it.
I ‘m hoping that St Anthony and St Francis guide Ginger home.
I love cats. I am sorry for your loss, Donald. I hope God has something for our four-footed friends in the hereafter.
My Bengal cat Bong Ghee is 15 yrs old and believe it or not, she caught her first mouse just a couple of months ago. And she has slain several more since then. And like most of you, I’m heartbroken when a pet passes. RIP Mr Chance.
My condolences also, Donald. We have been privileged to be the servants of seven different cats over the course of our marriage of now 45 years, two of whom are still with us, and each one has been a unique personality, if I may use that word. We greatly miss all who have preceded us beyond the veil.
We know the Church teaches that animals do not have immortal souls like humans do. Nevertheless, I have great hope of meeting them all again someday. My favorite statement about seeing our pet friends in the hereafter came from the late Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, who said (paraphrasing): “The Lord Jesus told us that Heaven will be paradise. And God can do anything He wants to do. So there is no reason not to believe that He will re-create our pets for us in Heaven, as most of us would not find it a paradise without them.” Makes sense to me.
We have been privileged to be the servants of seven different cats
Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.
Aww, such a sweet tribute!
“God created the cat so that Man may stroke the tiger.”
My sympathies. Losing pets is always hard, but you gave Mr. Chance a good life.