Goodbye, Jip

It was my daughter’s sleepover.

Just two weeks earlier, we’d celebrated my son’s.

The house was full.

Laughter.

Chaos.

Children everywhere.

Then…

Silence.

A single meow.

Not an ordinary meow.

A cry for help.

I followed the sound and found Jip.

He looked at me.

In that instant, I knew.

“We have to go.”

It was late.

The house was full of children.

I didn’t even have a cat carrier.

I found a cardboard box.

Before I knew it, we were driving to the emergency clinic.

They told me a blood clot had cut off the circulation to his leg.

The veterinarian kept talking.

I couldn’t hear the words anymore.

I looked at her and asked,

“Do we have to let him go?”

She looked back at me.

“Yes.”

My heart started racing.

Heat filled my body.

Panic rose inside me.

Not death again.

Not those eyes again.

He received the injection.

Within seconds, he was gone.

His soul had left.

Only his body remained.

We drove home in silence.

A house full of children was waiting for us.

Everyone expected a broken leg.

No one expected death.

We walked in with empty hands.

The room fell silent.

Tears filled the space.

Rest gently, sweet Jip.

Thank you for finding your way to us.

You were deeply loved.

The Symbolism of the Cat

For thousands of years, cats have been associated with intuition, protection and the unseen.
Unlike many animals, a cat doesn’t seek constant attention.

It watches.

It senses.

It knows when to come close and when to retreat.

Many traditions describe cats as guardians of thresholds, beings that move comfortably between the visible and the invisible.
They remind us to trust our instincts, protect our energy and honour the quiet wisdom within.

Jip carried that energy beautifully.

Gentle.

Observant.

Independent.

Deeply present.

Some souls stay for many years.
Others come to teach us something in a much shorter time.

I believe Jip was one of them.

Your brother misses you like we all do.