Little Joe, 199?-2013
Submitted by Sarah D. Bunting on February 5, 2013 – 11:43 AM245 Comments
Angels, prepare to receive among you my little friend. Please make him welcome with people food, especially Kix, because he likes to chase them, and lettuce, because I still don’t know why, but I know he deserves it. No fuzzy little butterpants ever took better care of a broken heart. Except for this one.
Little bear, I miss you terribly. Until we meet again, remember that I love you, and that shoelaces are toys, always.
Sarah
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Sars, I am so sorry for your loss. I am also one of the stalkers, I mean lurkers, on your website for a long time (my God, over ten years now!) and loved all the stories about your cats. They are what kept me returning when I first started visiting your website all those years back. I loved hearing about Hobe and Little Joe and their misadventures. I am truly sorry for your loss and hope you know how many have you in their thoughts. I went home last night and hugged my big kitties a little bit tighter. Thank you for sharing Little Joe with us; he will be missed.
Oh Sars, nothing hurts like losing a beloved pet.
Prayers and thoughts to you. And,Godspeed Little Joe. You will see him again one day.
Thanks again, everyone. It means so much to me that he meant something to you guys. And your various excellent pet names are cheering me up as well. Thank you for taking a minute to check in.
I’m sad that he’s missing this upcoming storm; one of his favorite hobbies was sitting in a windowsill during severe weather, surveying the neighborhood. (And…bowing the sill out of shape.) (You were thinking it.) (Faaaaat.)
Poor Joe. Thoughts are with you. Are the other kitties dealing okay?
Good luck in the upcoming storm. I hear it’s gonna be a doozy.
I think if Hobey could order himself an “outwit, outplay, outlast” cat-size shirt from the Survivor store, he would — if he weren’t so busy sleeping spread out over the entiiiiiiire barrel chair just because he can. So, he is fiiiine, which is actually kind of funny.
Mabel keeps visiting Joe’s “usual” spots and looking at me all, “So when’s he coming?” She’s more baffled than upset; it’s sweet.
They’re both spending more time on my lap than usual, which is either their way of comforting me, or a natural side effect of Joe no longer hogging said lap 24/7 and forcing them to balance awkwardly on one of my kneecaps. Hee.
(Mr. S’s turn to shovel/salt, so saith the chore wheel woooooooo!)
Aw, Sars, I’m just seeing this. So, so sorry. Thinking of you and sniffling a little.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Oh, Sars, I am so sorry. I have loved the stories of Little Joe for years (Heavy Duty has been one of my go-to re-reads when I need a pick-me-up) and I will remember him fondly, even though I never met him. RIP, Joe.
Oh, no. Ah, damn it. I am so, so sorry. It fucking sucks to lose your furry friends.
So sorry.
I’m just so sorry.
So sorry to hear about Little Joe. I remember when you first got him, and enjoyed hearing about his antics.
I’m so sorry that you lost your baby kitty. He was a charmer, in a complete and total lack of cat suave-way. I hope he has all the foods, now. Love and Hugs to you.
Aw. And hee, regarding Hobey. I know I’ll be an absolute wreck once my pup, Melody, goes. She’s seven now, but the vet found a (thankfully benign) mass on her bum and removed it. I’m hoping that’s the only one they’ll ever find, but I kind of doubt it…she’s a dachshund/terrier/beagle mix, and I guess rectal masses are common in doxies? Or one of the breeds, anyway.
One of the largest cats I ever saw was a maine coon, and I swear looked just like the human counterpart in the musical (Rum Tum Tugger). Spitting image of the costume. Pissiest cat, too, but beautiful.
I am very sorry to hear about Little Joe. The Little Joe and Hobey stories are what brought me to the nation, and I have missed hearing about their adventures. I hope you, Hobey and Mabel are all doing okay.
Your comment about Hobey getting a survivor shirt made me LOL.
It’s so hard when things happen that they would have loved, or had some interaction with, and they’re just… missing. Kitty dinner-time was the hardest for me at after I had to say goodbye to Boo. He spent a *lot* of time hiding under the bed (most nervous cat ever) but the boy LOVED FOOD. So when I would go to the kitchen to prepare wet food he would scrabble out from under the bed and be the first one to arrive, every time.
Also? Apparently an under-appreciated service that he performed very effectively and often was Getting Loud-Cat Charlie To Shut His Damn Pie-Hole. Sooooo yeah, it’s been a lot louder at my house in the last few months.
@JenV, you’re so right. There was a brief period, from about 2007 to 2010, where we didn’t have any pets in the family at all– my 15-year old cranky cat Shadow had passed on, having outlived all the other pets. For the first time since 1987, there were no cats or dogs around. We could fully shut the basement door since there was no longer a litter box down there that the cat needed to get to. No food dishes in the pantry or by the back door. No leashes or pet collars floating around.
And it was felt so wrong and weird.
Godspeed “Little” Joe. May you finally kick that Roomba’s uppity butt in the Cat Afterlife.
Sars, I’m so sorry. I’m another person who’s been reading/lurking for years, and your cat stories in particular never failed to make me (sometimes literally) cry with laughter. I returned to those stories over and over again, because it was clear, even through all their naughtiness and oddball quirks, that these were great cats, and that you loved them even when you wanted to launch them into orbit. Thank you for sharing the stories with us all these years; again, I’m so very sorry…all my best to you and the rest of the feline brigade.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I just had to put my cat to sleep, Pythagora was 19 and in kidney failure. Afterwards, a friend sent me a quote, which I hope will help a little: “We who surround ourselves with lives, even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached . . . We still would live no other way.” The Once Again Prince, by Irving Townsend.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Sarah. Little Joe was so lucky to have you for his person. I hope it comforts you a little to know that you gave him a wonderful life.
Sars, so sorry for your loss. We have a belief in my family that my Italian grandma cooks in heaven for all the pets we’ve loved and lost. Little Joe is welcome at the table…Friday is pot roast night.
I’m so sorry, Sars. I loved your tales of Little Joe and The Hobe, partly because of my own cranky geriatric kitty. Godspeed, buddy.
Goodbye, dear kitty. :(
I’m so sorry, Sarah. Over the years, Little Joe felt a little bit like a member of my family. Thinking of you.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Sarah. I’ve been reading about Little Joe’s, or “Little” Joe’s, rather, adventures for years and always thought he sounded like an excellent cat.
I am so, so sorry!!! /hugs/ I know when my Ming (the merciless) passed a year ago I was broken hearted, and my husband still isn’t completely over the loss.
You know, whenever I point people to your website I always mention two things you’ve written. the first is about the snarking on TV shows start. the second is the vet just calling him Joe, because the little? not so much.
again, you have so much sympathy from me, I’m sure Little Joe and Ming are upstairs licking post it notes, gobbling their people food and doing the poo gallop all over together.
Thank you so much for sharing him with us.
Sars, I am so so sorry! I will be thinking of you and Little Joe.
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s clear how much you loved Little Joe, and I appreciate the stories you shared of him (and of the rest of your feline clan).
Oh, Little Joe. The sheer number of comments on this post are a testament to your hilarious, adorable legacy.
Ahhhh… I’d been away from the site for about a week … and when I saw the picture on the front page, I felt a real pang. Your gift for storytelling brought Little Joe and Hobey to such vivid life. I love the stories. I’m sorry for your loss. Such a beautiful picture.
Words are really so, so inadequate.
So sorry for your loss, Sarah. There is currently a cat draped across my forearms as I type, and I just gave her an extra smooch for Joe.
After our dog died, our cat greeted us at the door every night meowing and meowing as if to tell us: the dog is missing! The dog is missing! It was so sad we had to get her a kitten (the aforementioned forearm-draper, now 5). It certainly doesn’t negate the loss of Joe, but I’m glad your cats have each other, and you them. Take care.
Rest in Peace, Little Joe. Sars, I am so very sorry for your loss. My favorite parts of TN have always been the cat stories, and I hope that your memories of Little Joe will be a comfort to you. Know that there are a lot of folks who know exactly what you are going through and who wish you the very best in this awful time.
The world has lost a very special kitty. I’m pretty sure my Roxie Kitty will meet Little Joe at the pearly gates with a leaf of lettuce–she, too, had a thing for salad!
Little Joe was the first thing on the Internetz that made me laugh out loud! Vale, Little Joe!
Thank you all, again. My desk is still feeling sadly empty without the little placemat with ears sleeping next to my laptop, but we’re forging ahead.
(Hat tip to @Crass for the Latin.)
I’m sorry.
Oh, Sars! My deepest sympathies! Pets bring so much to our lives; there is a great big hole when they’re gone! I will say a prayer to my departed kitty, Spike, (the cat that actually smelled GOOD!) to watch out for Little Joe. Take care and God Bless!
Oh Sars, I’m so sorry for your loss. I always looked forward to your stories of the boys over the years and would often regale my other half about the latest exploits of Little Joe & The Hobe. It always made us feel like we weren’t the only ones with cats that drove us nuts with their weirdo behaviour and idiosyncrasies. From reading the comments, it seems that we weren’t the only ones. He will be missed. Take care.
Tales of Little Joe made me laugh until I cried. I’m so grateful you shared him with us, and so very sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry! I loved reading about Little Joe (hilarious) adventures! Thoughts and prayers for you at his passing!
Sympathies. It’s hard when they go.
Hi Sars: I know it’s a couple of weeks out, but I just saw this and wanted to send my condolences. I had to make the decision to put my beloved girl, Elvira, to sleep in July, and losing her was just so hard, so I empathize.
I’m so sorry about you losing Little Joe! Wishing you comfort.
I’m so sorry, Sars! Sending you hugs. I hope Little Joe and my long-departed Sasha (Joe’s smaller and fluffier doppleganger) will become fast friends.
Hugs for you.
I just saw this. I’m so sorry. I loved hearing about Hobey and Little Joe. He had an awesome life with an awesome mom.
So sorry for your loss.
Holy crap! I was so busy with grad school that I missed out on a few months… I’m sad to hear he passed. :(