This is the love story as told to me by Susan Doraz Jacobson, mama of Trouble, the Tabby cat from Lakewood, Washington.
Tell me about the first time you met Trouble, when and where was it?
She was my friend Valerie’s cat and she moved here from Florida. Her husband put three dogs and one cat on a flight in crates. I went to their house to meet them. I love animals to death. Trouble always had her own hiding spot. I was nice to her, we got along. At one point, I was Valerie’s roommate for a while. Trouble let me know she liked me. She would always be near me, on the computer wanting attention and she’d go away only to come back again. We had this bond, she jumped on my bed, and we would talk. If you rub your head against a cat's head, that’s a sign that they know you love them. She always wanted to snuggle with me. My roommate said, “My cat likes you more than me! There is no way this cat is going to live without you. You take the cat, it's my love gift to you.” One time we were sitting on an air mattress, I fell off, and she just sat on the floor with me! She was so smart; she would sit where I was to put her bowl. She would eat a little while I sat in the recliner. She’d look up at me and we’d acknowledge each other as if to say, “Hi!” Trouble would sleep on my right shoulder purring. She was a very good listener; and she took all my secrets with her when she left. There was a time when we thought I might have cancer; Trouble knew I was worried, and she placed her paw on my hand to comfort me and tell me not to worry. She adored my then-boyfriend and he loved her right back.
Thinking back, how would you describe Trouble’s personality?
Friendly, loving, she knew what she wanted, and she let you know about it. Like at breakfast, she’d let you know it was breakfast time. I remember one time when I forgot to clean her litter box when I went out. After getting home, she let me know if was time now to clean it! Another time we heard a noise in the living room, she looked at me and I looked at her to go investigate, “You tell mama what it is.” Trouble looked at me as if to say, “Are you, crazy lady?” She was so smart.
And now how would Trouble describe your personality?
I was very loving and giving. I’d be very excited when I got her something, “Look what mommy got you!” She enjoyed the wrapping paper more than the actual gift, go figure. I was very depressed when I broke up with my boyfriend Michael, but there was Trouble comforting me.
What did you learn from Trouble?
I learned how to give unconditional love and how to be a good listener. How to have fun because she would do things that made me laugh and I think she did them just to make me laugh. She taught me how to trust.
What are the top three things you always want to remember about your love?
1. The fact that she always wanted to be with me.
2. She loved me no matter what even if I was in a bad mood and she would give me love in return.
3. She will always be my number one sidekick; I’ll always remember her. She trusted me, I appreciate that she trusted me, I could flip her around when I brushed her, she trusted me completely.
When did Trouble earn their wings?
October 10, 2016
When did you join Paws?
Sept 20, 2015. Trouble was 15 and I thought I never know when I would need this support. I’ve lost animals in the past so I knew this would be a positive resource when I needed it
Do you remember how you found Paws?
I think a friend lost an animal and went to the sight and I went to look at her post and thought that this was pretty neat, a group of people being there for each other.
What has or is helping you get to the other side of grief? What advice would you share with someone who recently started grieving?
I didn’t sleep for three days after she died. I would remember her and accept that she’s not here physically, I was so blessed with her, God blessed me with this beautiful furry girl, knowing all the things we did together, we’d watch movies and would cuddle up. We both had arthritis and I said to her, “We are two old gals with arthritis” and in her own way she told me, “I am not old!”
Where are you now in your grief?
I miss her. There are times that I really miss her, I’d give five minutes to cuddle once more. We made the most of it, we cuddled a lot, and I am grateful for that. I had good insight, when she turned 16, I told myself remember her time now, you’re not going to have her, remember her face, remember her. It really helps. The Facebook memories come up, the one where she is playing with her turtle and the wrapping paper. I’m more accepting, it is a wonderful life. I would replay it and even her dying the same way, I wouldn’t trade anything about it. She was an important being in my life
Using your spiritual and intuitive mind, if I could get a message to Trouble from you, what would you want to say? What would you want to let Trouble know?
I loved you more than any other animal ever. You were there for me, you cared about me and you know how much I love you and will always be in my heart. Never forget you and cant wait to see you when I get to the other side.
And if I could get a message from you to Trouble what would you like to know?
Is she having fun, running around having fun, Eating all the catnip, and her favorite foods like shrimp and salmon? I hope she never forgets me and that I was a good mommy to her and that she cant wait to see me when I get to the other side
Is there anything else you would like to share with you Paws Pack about Trouble?
She was one of a kind. She was so loving and giving. If people were over at the house she acted like the hostess. She went from person to person, greeting them, and saying hello. I’d come home from my nursing job and she’d lay across my shoes, and she wouldn’t let me leave. She'd come and jump on me so that I couldn’t get up, I refer to it as feline paralysis! When God made Trouble he broke the mold. She was amazing. I couldn’t close the bathroom door, if I didn’t tell her ahead of time I was going to the bathroom, shed race in there, and scold me for not telling her where I was going. And when I blow dry my hair she’d be right there with me. She was priceless.