Gumble Passed in Missouri 😞
Those of you who have owned, loved and shared your life with animals, know the hole they leave behind when they die. Gumble passed away early this evening , Friday, April 9th in the RV . He didn’t make it back home after all. 😞😢 He’s going to leave a big hole in my life.
When you are traveling solo, as I have done for 3 winters, your pets are your one constant. They share your house, your bed and every new place you encounter. They sniff the air, check the ground and take in the sites and activities. And Gumble was a bold traveler.
Often when we sat outside in our fenced in area, people were surprised it was for cats 😺 and not dogs. Those that were further interested, I encouraged to come over. And Gumble loved it. He continued to be the social cat he was at the Humane Society long ago and would walk toward them within the fencing. Adults pet him, kids pet him, even desk clerks at the hotel I stayed in Corpus Christi, Texas pet him. There were two comments I heard the most from people…they loved how much he loved their petting and how soft he was. He was a Good Will Embassador in many ways at campgrounds….an ice breaker.
Years ago, when Nathan was in high school, he brought an orange tabby 😺 home from the Humane Society. The cat was nearly a year old, very sociable and the facility greeter! Nathan named him after a Simpson’s character. So he’s been part of our family for probably 17 years. He really adapted to a lot of changes as well. Through the years he first lived with all of us, then with Bob, then with Roger and I, then with Nathan and family for a short time and then the last few years with me. He traveled West with me three times. Way back in 2011 with Roger and I, he made it to California. So he has seen a lot and been in a lot of places and met a lot of people!! I truly believe he liked exploring.
Although Gumble & Bandit initially rode in the truck with me when I traveled, they began to hide in the RV and made it plain they preferred to stay back in the fifth wheel. So from then on they did. Eventually Gumbel would just lay on the bed and ride the slides in and out! 😂 Just recently he was meowing at me in the living room while I brought the slides in. As they moved under his feet, he just kept looking at me and lifted his feet and reset them on the slide. Nonchalant as they come! 😏
He was my alarm clock in the morning. If I shut it off and kept sleeping, he would grip my face with his strong paws and pull, or try to lick my eye lids!! Helpful and annoying!!
When we’re traveling, he enjoyed exploring on the leash and it worked for both of us. He was not afraid to check everything out so I’d have to watch him carefully. And much to my surprise, he found out that the prickly cactus made a great face scratcher!!
And no matter where we were, he was not afraid to seek out attention! Even if their attention was elsewhere! 😅
Gumble was one of those cats you swear could think! Again, after 17 years, we knew each other’s mannerisms, gestures, tone of voice ( even his tone and variety of meow’s) and what was OK and what was Not.
Gumble knew very well what he could do and what he could not. But when he was outside, not fenced in and not on a leash but watched closely, he sometimes would start to walk farther and farther away from the RV. I would then call him in a slow low voice, “Gumble…no, come back here” if he didn’t,… he didn’t run because he knew I could catch him cuz he couldn’t run that fast anymore… I would pick him up and put him back in the RV. As time went on all I had to say was ” Gumble” in that tone of voice that meant to come back and he would stop. Then he would stand there, twitch his ears, swing his tail tip back and forth, back and forth and it was very obvious he was thinking! 😂 “Should I come back or shouldn’t I? Can I get a little further before she takes me in? is it worth it?” 🤣 Then he would gradually turn around and come back to me and of course I would praise and pet him effusively!! 🤗
When Gumble was fading, my other cat, Bandit, was nearby and was watching Gumble. After he died he kept watching him for over 25 to 30 minutes before moving over to me. He knew something happened to Gumble and it wasn’t good. After a long time, he had a chance to sniff Gumble and then he scooted away. He knows. He is going to really miss him. Bandit always checked where Gumble was, would run to greet him when he came out from his nap, groomed him every day and even waited for Gumble to come to eat before eating himself. If Gumble left his food to taste Bandit’s, which he often did, Bandit would just sit back and watch and wait. Bandit seemed to respect Gumble’s seniority, like a grandfather.
Bandit has traveled along the last 3 years as well. Gumble taught this skittish cat to calm down and explore. Bandit kept Gumble young and they tusseled with each other periodically.
Bandit would get as close to Gumble as he could when napping. You couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began, sometimes! 🤔😊
And when it was time to eat, how could I ignore both of them!!??
Do animals go to Heaven? Who knows. But if they do, I bet he’s watching over and keeping Mom company.🤗
Rest in Peace, Gumble. You were a great cat! 🐈