Happy Birthday to Jack!

Littermates: Leo, Lucky, Piper and my Jack on the far right

My little Jack O'Neill is celebrating his 3rd birthday tomorrow - Saturday, the 1st of June.  It doesn't seem possible that we've been together that long already!

When he came to live at my house he was about this big:

Jack and this two brothers and their sister had been rescued from behind a trash dumpster in an alley up in North Hills. They were tiny, full of fleas and not fully weaned.  Had my friends Jackie and Maura not taken the time to set a humane trap for them, they would not have survived.

Now, all four are healthy, beautiful cats with loving homes.

After he'd been at my house a couple of weeks, Jack looked like this:

What a great face, huh?  

He grew and grew, and in no time at all he was very very looooooooong:

This tummy loves getting tickled!

He grew up fast.

And there were a few mishaps along the way... like the day he broke the window in the front door .

The culprit next to his handiwork!

Surveying the damage

Well, the window got repaired, and, more importantly, Jack was not hurt.  He was pretty darned surprised when it happened, though!

Things have gotten quieter as we've settled into a comfortable routine.

He has become very grown up in three years.

My beautiful boy

Like all kitty boys, he loves playing games and chasing balls and mousies. Unlike most kitty boys, he's a retriever (!) and will play fetch with you until your arm is sore.

Jack has stuffed animals he loves to fight with (he gives them a real good thrashing!).  He also enjoys stealing plastic forks out of the trash and batting them around the house... and hiding them in my shoes.

Thrashing Mr. Bunny

Jack loves having his feet rubbed and watching the world (we have hummingbirds, mockingbirds, squirrels, raccoons, skunks and one very fat little possum who visit on a regular basis) from that window he broke when he was little.

He likes going out in the courtyard to play, but when it's time to come in, he comes running.  He is obedient and bright and gentle with me.

He is a good roommate!

We've celebrated each year on his special day.

We always have little cake - Jack likes a dab of frosting

But his favorite is his special cat grass

I may call Jack my little pumpkin, but don't let that fool you.  He is muy macho!  After all, he is part Korat, and on his mother's side can claim as ancestors the wild mountain cats of Thailand!

Jack O'Neill 

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Jack!

Three years old already!

..and many, many more to come!