Jack

The world lost a great cat when Jack Hills passed away around 3:30 p.m. on November 10, 2020. He is survived by his primary caretaker Lisa Hills, his companion cat Clark, and many human friends, most notably Fay and Richard, his home away from home, down the street and up the block on Oak. Jack was preceded in death by cat companion Pirate.

In his prime, Jack was the perfect specimen of a cat: muscular, solid, sleek, bright-eyed, affectionate, and adventurous. He was assertive in his enjoyment of the essential cat activities: hunting, eating, rolling on the sidewalk, sharpening his claws, and sleeping. Jack had a robust purr which he would instantly deploy whenever petted, and would keep it up even when ignorant humans failed to understand his wishes. His most intense desire in life was to go OUT, and he was tireless in his campaigns (employing tactics like meowing, purring, doorknob-rattling, and hopeful glances) to achieve this. Although Jack was physically superior to the other household and neighborhood cats, he was happy-go-lucky and peaceable by nature, and did not engage in territory disputes.

Jack became challenged by serious health problems in late 2018, but he maintained a positive attitude and enjoyed his usual calendar of outdoor exploration and social calls until the very end. Jack is greatly missed by all who got to know him. As his friend Bill said, “He was superb. As fine an expression of the possibilities of certain combinations of cat traits as anyone could hope for.”

Thanks to the Ann Arbor Cat Clinic for providing Jack with excellent health care and boarding services, and to the Veterinary Cardiology Clinic. A special thanks also to Fay and Richard for their great generosity of time, attention, and cat food, and whom Jack appreciated very much. Arrangements are being made for Jack to have a memorial plot at the Whispering Pines Pet Cemetery in Ypsilanti, Michigan.