06/07/2026
In spring of 2014, I met 2 little black cats outside of my old office at Edge Hall. 1st, I met Jake. About 2 weeks later, he convinced his big brother, Heckle, to come with him to my office. Heckle was quieter (briefly!) and more aloof in those early days, but once he trusted me, he became the (Philosopher) King of Edge Hall and the rest of FSC! The other cats would say he was a tyrant, though.
Through them, I met Nan and learned about the campus cat program. I’ve been involved ever since, thanks to these 2 little ambassadors. ❤️
To cats, Heckle could be quite the bully (Hobo could attest to that), but to people, he was a loving, gentle baby. Heckle would have a full conversation with you, and judge you with the knowledge of one who KNOWS he’s superior, but is too lazy to take over the world just yet. He’d just settle for letting humans be his servants. 😹
In January of 2016, Heckle nearly died from a blocked bladder; thus starting a life of bladder issues. The best thing to come from this was meeting his incredible vet, Dr. Jennifer Kimble at All Creatures Animal Clinic. She saved his life.
To help cover that vet bill, we held the very 1st yard sale. We’ve been holding the yard sales ever since as our biggest fundraiser. Heckle started that, because of course he loved to be bougie and expensive. 😅
In August of 2019, I was finally able to adopt Heckle and Jake. Heckle immediately got on my bed and purred. He became head of the household! He continued to have health issues—dental, more bladder issues, and finally, diabetes. He struggled with pancreatitis, 2 hypoglycemia events, neuropathy, bladder spasms, and UTIs. We tried everything.
On Thursday, Dr. Kimble told me she needed to try to catheterize him to find out why there was so much inflammation and bladder swelling, as a UTI wouldn’t cause this. Maybe there were crystals again. When she called me later, I knew this was different. My boy who had survived so much had come to the end. There were no crystals, but his urethra had ruptured. She told me, “I can’t fix this.” I had to call Nan.
I went home and got his most comfy blanket, Nan picked me up, and together we loved him across Rainbow Bridge with Dr. Kimble crying with us.
Oh how I miss you, my sweet, chatty, gentle Heckle! Tell Hobo, The Mooses, and Dexter I love and miss them, too. No more pain, my baby boy. I tried my best. I tried so hard. I love you forever, Heckle.
~Renee
