My Beloved Little Kitty Mary Jane
Most of the time I called her "Janer" or my "Janer Butt"
Her Mom was one of our barn cats that we called Camo Kitty, because of her camo like pattern on her coat.
July of 2001 was extremely hot & dry. The barn cats usually didn't come up to the house because we would feed & water them, so seeing Camo on the porch made me curious. I looked around & in a planter she left 2 kittens for me. One of them, the little girl, was Mary Jane & the other, her brother, Lightening. Both were healthy but warm &, of course, adorable!
Just prior to this we had found homes for 12 kittens/3 litters that had been born in March & April.
Mary Jane was extremely tiny but she had this HUGE voice which rang true until her death. If she wanted something, she let you know it. Sometimes, I swear it sounded like she was yelling, "MA!" for me.
We fell in love with Mary Jane. She was sweet, loveable, & tiny. Our oldest cat Rath loved her & that sealed the deal for us.
Mary Jane got her name because she spent her 1st 2 weeks with us sleeping on the fresh catnip I was drying for my other indoor cats.
Our other cats would go & get their catnip high & play all around her & Mary Jane would just lay there, all mellow, & watch them play. Even when she got older she prefered to lay on her catnip & chill instead of acting all crazy & running around.
Mary Jane played right along with the other cats, when she wanted to & on her terms. She never got pushed around because she was tiny. She had quite the growl for a little girl if she got mad at one of the other cats.
Mary Jane was always a tiny little cat. She never weighed more than 5 pounds & never went into heat, yet she was healthy. Unless, of course, bad gas counts.
She did have anxiety problems when it came to strangers but was so loving to John and me. She was kind of an enigma to our families because she always hid when they came over. Only my nephew & a close friend ever saw her in her 9 years 4 days.
There were times when she was young & would hide @ the back of the bathtub while John or I was showering because we had visitors earlier. Not caring if she got wet, just knowing she was safe. We started calling her our bathroom cat. At times, she'd even try to sit on your lap or shoulders when you were busy in the bathroom.
Mary Jane really loved to sit on your shoulder like a parrot long before we even got Rio. She'd just purr away as she would sit on your shoulder.
Quite a few times I had her on 1 shoulder & Rio on the other. She loved to be held & would crave it. She would be very pushy about it too.
She acquired the habit from Rath of wanting to sleep in bed with us. She'd have to be in the middle cuddled with Rath, her head on the pillow, covers up to her chin, & one of us touching them in some way.
During the day she had her "Janer hole", a spot between John's pillows & my pillows where she'd crawl in & snuggle up to sleep.
Never did I expect when I walked into the bathroom to find Mary Jane dead in the bathtub.
This time she wasn't hiding out or catching drips of water from the faucet, my dear sweet little Janer had passed on.
I am so sad & I miss you Mary Jane.
Rest In Peace.
~An Eerie Update~
We found out a couple weeks after Mary Jane died that her brother Lightening had also died. He died on the same day as Mary Jane. He had just had a regular vet check up & had been given a clean bill of health. His owners came home & found him dead, just as I had found my Mary Jane.
An eerie coincidence to have 2 healthy cats, litter mates, just die on the same day.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
*Written By: William (Bill) N. Britton*
Most of the time I called her "Janer" or my "Janer Butt"
Her Mom was one of our barn cats that we called Camo Kitty, because of her camo like pattern on her coat.
July of 2001 was extremely hot & dry. The barn cats usually didn't come up to the house because we would feed & water them, so seeing Camo on the porch made me curious. I looked around & in a planter she left 2 kittens for me. One of them, the little girl, was Mary Jane & the other, her brother, Lightening. Both were healthy but warm &, of course, adorable!
Just prior to this we had found homes for 12 kittens/3 litters that had been born in March & April.
Mary Jane was extremely tiny but she had this HUGE voice which rang true until her death. If she wanted something, she let you know it. Sometimes, I swear it sounded like she was yelling, "MA!" for me.
We fell in love with Mary Jane. She was sweet, loveable, & tiny. Our oldest cat Rath loved her & that sealed the deal for us.
Mary Jane got her name because she spent her 1st 2 weeks with us sleeping on the fresh catnip I was drying for my other indoor cats.
Our other cats would go & get their catnip high & play all around her & Mary Jane would just lay there, all mellow, & watch them play. Even when she got older she prefered to lay on her catnip & chill instead of acting all crazy & running around.
Mary Jane played right along with the other cats, when she wanted to & on her terms. She never got pushed around because she was tiny. She had quite the growl for a little girl if she got mad at one of the other cats.
Mary Jane was always a tiny little cat. She never weighed more than 5 pounds & never went into heat, yet she was healthy. Unless, of course, bad gas counts.
She did have anxiety problems when it came to strangers but was so loving to John and me. She was kind of an enigma to our families because she always hid when they came over. Only my nephew & a close friend ever saw her in her 9 years 4 days.
There were times when she was young & would hide @ the back of the bathtub while John or I was showering because we had visitors earlier. Not caring if she got wet, just knowing she was safe. We started calling her our bathroom cat. At times, she'd even try to sit on your lap or shoulders when you were busy in the bathroom.
Mary Jane really loved to sit on your shoulder like a parrot long before we even got Rio. She'd just purr away as she would sit on your shoulder.
Quite a few times I had her on 1 shoulder & Rio on the other. She loved to be held & would crave it. She would be very pushy about it too.
She acquired the habit from Rath of wanting to sleep in bed with us. She'd have to be in the middle cuddled with Rath, her head on the pillow, covers up to her chin, & one of us touching them in some way.
During the day she had her "Janer hole", a spot between John's pillows & my pillows where she'd crawl in & snuggle up to sleep.
Never did I expect when I walked into the bathroom to find Mary Jane dead in the bathtub.
This time she wasn't hiding out or catching drips of water from the faucet, my dear sweet little Janer had passed on.
I am so sad & I miss you Mary Jane.
Rest In Peace.
~An Eerie Update~
We found out a couple weeks after Mary Jane died that her brother Lightening had also died. He died on the same day as Mary Jane. He had just had a regular vet check up & had been given a clean bill of health. His owners came home & found him dead, just as I had found my Mary Jane.
An eerie coincidence to have 2 healthy cats, litter mates, just die on the same day.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
*Written By: William (Bill) N. Britton*
My Beloved Little Kitty Mary Jane
Most of the time I called her "Janer" or my "Janer Butt"
Her Mom was one of our barn cats that we called Camo Kitty, because of her camo like pattern on her coat.
July of 2001 was extremely hot & dry. The barn cats usually didn't come up to the house because we would feed & water them, so seeing Camo on the porch made me curious. I looked around & in a planter she left 2 kittens for me. One of them, the little girl, was Mary Jane & the other, her brother, Lightening. Both were healthy but warm &, of course, adorable!
Just prior to this we had found homes for 12 kittens/3 litters that had been born in March & April.
Mary Jane was extremely tiny but she had this HUGE voice which rang true until her death. If she wanted something, she let you know it. Sometimes, I swear it sounded like she was yelling, "MA!" for me.
We fell in love with Mary Jane. She was sweet, loveable, & tiny. Our oldest cat Rath loved her & that sealed the deal for us.
Mary Jane got her name because she spent her 1st 2 weeks with us sleeping on the fresh catnip I was drying for my other indoor cats.
Our other cats would go & get their catnip high & play all around her & Mary Jane would just lay there, all mellow, & watch them play. Even when she got older she prefered to lay on her catnip & chill instead of acting all crazy & running around.
Mary Jane played right along with the other cats, when she wanted to & on her terms. She never got pushed around because she was tiny. She had quite the growl for a little girl if she got mad at one of the other cats.
Mary Jane was always a tiny little cat. She never weighed more than 5 pounds & never went into heat, yet she was healthy. Unless, of course, bad gas counts.
She did have anxiety problems when it came to strangers but was so loving to John and me. She was kind of an enigma to our families because she always hid when they came over. Only my nephew & a close friend ever saw her in her 9 years 4 days.
There were times when she was young & would hide @ the back of the bathtub while John or I was showering because we had visitors earlier. Not caring if she got wet, just knowing she was safe. We started calling her our bathroom cat. At times, she'd even try to sit on your lap or shoulders when you were busy in the bathroom.
Mary Jane really loved to sit on your shoulder like a parrot long before we even got Rio. She'd just purr away as she would sit on your shoulder.
Quite a few times I had her on 1 shoulder & Rio on the other. She loved to be held & would crave it. She would be very pushy about it too.
She acquired the habit from Rath of wanting to sleep in bed with us. She'd have to be in the middle cuddled with Rath, her head on the pillow, covers up to her chin, & one of us touching them in some way.
During the day she had her "Janer hole", a spot between John's pillows & my pillows where she'd crawl in & snuggle up to sleep.
Never did I expect when I walked into the bathroom to find Mary Jane dead in the bathtub.
This time she wasn't hiding out or catching drips of water from the faucet, my dear sweet little Janer had passed on.
I am so sad & I miss you Mary Jane.
Rest In Peace.
~An Eerie Update~
We found out a couple weeks after Mary Jane died that her brother Lightening had also died. He died on the same day as Mary Jane. He had just had a regular vet check up & had been given a clean bill of health. His owners came home & found him dead, just as I had found my Mary Jane.
An eerie coincidence to have 2 healthy cats, litter mates, just die on the same day.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
*Written By: William (Bill) N. Britton*
Most of the time I called her "Janer" or my "Janer Butt"
Her Mom was one of our barn cats that we called Camo Kitty, because of her camo like pattern on her coat.
July of 2001 was extremely hot & dry. The barn cats usually didn't come up to the house because we would feed & water them, so seeing Camo on the porch made me curious. I looked around & in a planter she left 2 kittens for me. One of them, the little girl, was Mary Jane & the other, her brother, Lightening. Both were healthy but warm &, of course, adorable!
Just prior to this we had found homes for 12 kittens/3 litters that had been born in March & April.
Mary Jane was extremely tiny but she had this HUGE voice which rang true until her death. If she wanted something, she let you know it. Sometimes, I swear it sounded like she was yelling, "MA!" for me.
We fell in love with Mary Jane. She was sweet, loveable, & tiny. Our oldest cat Rath loved her & that sealed the deal for us.
Mary Jane got her name because she spent her 1st 2 weeks with us sleeping on the fresh catnip I was drying for my other indoor cats.
Our other cats would go & get their catnip high & play all around her & Mary Jane would just lay there, all mellow, & watch them play. Even when she got older she prefered to lay on her catnip & chill instead of acting all crazy & running around.
Mary Jane played right along with the other cats, when she wanted to & on her terms. She never got pushed around because she was tiny. She had quite the growl for a little girl if she got mad at one of the other cats.
Mary Jane was always a tiny little cat. She never weighed more than 5 pounds & never went into heat, yet she was healthy. Unless, of course, bad gas counts.
She did have anxiety problems when it came to strangers but was so loving to John and me. She was kind of an enigma to our families because she always hid when they came over. Only my nephew & a close friend ever saw her in her 9 years 4 days.
There were times when she was young & would hide @ the back of the bathtub while John or I was showering because we had visitors earlier. Not caring if she got wet, just knowing she was safe. We started calling her our bathroom cat. At times, she'd even try to sit on your lap or shoulders when you were busy in the bathroom.
Mary Jane really loved to sit on your shoulder like a parrot long before we even got Rio. She'd just purr away as she would sit on your shoulder.
Quite a few times I had her on 1 shoulder & Rio on the other. She loved to be held & would crave it. She would be very pushy about it too.
She acquired the habit from Rath of wanting to sleep in bed with us. She'd have to be in the middle cuddled with Rath, her head on the pillow, covers up to her chin, & one of us touching them in some way.
During the day she had her "Janer hole", a spot between John's pillows & my pillows where she'd crawl in & snuggle up to sleep.
Never did I expect when I walked into the bathroom to find Mary Jane dead in the bathtub.
This time she wasn't hiding out or catching drips of water from the faucet, my dear sweet little Janer had passed on.
I am so sad & I miss you Mary Jane.
Rest In Peace.
~An Eerie Update~
We found out a couple weeks after Mary Jane died that her brother Lightening had also died. He died on the same day as Mary Jane. He had just had a regular vet check up & had been given a clean bill of health. His owners came home & found him dead, just as I had found my Mary Jane.
An eerie coincidence to have 2 healthy cats, litter mates, just die on the same day.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
*Written By: William (Bill) N. Britton*
