Thursday, December 31, 2020

Spackle Puss (2006-2020)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 01 (2006)

Our beloved, unique, demanding little kitty Spackle Puss passed away in her sleep Sunday night.  Leslie and I are saddened at this loss.  Spackle has been a daily part of our lives for over 14 years.  We've begun to notice many small emptinesses caused by her absence - most especially at dinner time.  She was a tiny cat yet always first in line (and very hungry and very vocal about it!) whenever food was being prepared.  

Spackle Puss (the cat) 03 (2006)

Click on pictures for enlargements.  Hold your mouse over them for a very brief description plus the year the photo was taken.

Spackle Puss (the cat) 05 (2006)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 08 (2006)

Of course Spackle has been part of Mixed Meters' essential ongoing coverage of our pets.  In 14+ years I've taken lots of pictures of Spackle.   This post shows mostly previously unposted pics.  If you have plenty of time to kill you can review all previoius MM posts tagged "Cats".  Here's a Google search for previous pictures of Spackle

Spackle Puss (the cat) 22 (sunlight 2013)
 
Spackle Puss (the cat) 24 (2017)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 30 (on floor 2019)

Spackle Puss never spent a day of her life separated from her twin brother, Crackle Pop.  They were inseparable at first although their relationship became less cordial as they aged.  We chose them from a litter of five.  Here's the introductory blog post about their arrival.   

Some pictures of Spackle and Crackle together:   

Spackle Puss (the cat) 02 (Leslie holds very young Spackle (L) and Crackle (R) by the nape of the neck August 2006)

Spackle Puss (the cat) (top) 10 (with Crackle bottom) (2006)

Their markings were so similar that they were often hard to tell apart.  She was smaller, softer and had no tabby markings.  And she had several unique habits including the desire to lick human skin - often quite painfully for the human.  Also she drooled a lot - sometimes leaving an annoyingly large wet patch on your clothing.  Despite that, she was a cute kitty.

Spackle Puss (the cat) (facing camera) 11 (with Crackle 2006)

Spackle Puss (the cat) (foreground) 14 (with Crackle 2008)

Spackle's most unique marking was the light colored stripes behind her ears, along the edges.  The name 'Spackle' was suggested by one of the ladies in the cat rescue group who had said the ear coloration reminded her of actual spackle.  We never understood exactly why.  Spackle just seemed like a good name for a cat and it inspired her brother's name.  We added the "Puss" to make her full name "Spackle Puss" because both Leslie and I like to name things.

Here are some pics that show her ear stripes:

Spackle Puss (the cat) 17 (on staircase ears 2010)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 20 (rear view 2012)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 21 (on staircase ears 2013)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 27 (in a box ears 2018)

Yes, that last picture shows Spackle in a box.  How very catlike.  Here are plenty more pictures of Spackle hunkered down inside of things: 

Spackle Puss (the cat) 29 (in a box 2019)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 26 (in Bag 2018)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 15 (on a scratching box 2008)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 18 (in a bag on a bed 2012)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 31 (in a box 2019)

Here is a very short video (with music) of Spackle Puss in (and out of) a box:
 

Spackle, in a box by David Ocker - © 2020 (42 seconds)

Here is Spackle wearing a musical vest.  Clearly, she's not too happy about the music.
Spackle Puss (the cat) 06 (in vest)

Here is another of Spackle in a box.  This picture shows artwork by our friend Albert Marsh.
Spackle Puss (the cat) 28 (in a box 2019)

Here is Spackle after indulging in some cat drugs.

Spackle Puss (the cat) 19 (with catnip 2012)

I found a number of pictures showing her with computers.  I guess Spackle felt that humans needed help in their work. 

Spackle Puss (the cat) 16 (between 2 laptops 2009)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 12 (at computer 2007)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 13 (with music - a score by Christopher Rouse, I think - 2008)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 34 (with computer & microscope 2020)

Here's one of my first YouTube videos.  It shows Spackle Puss hunting a hummingbird on my computer monitor.  (All our cats are indoor only.  Spackle never spent even one moment of her life outside hunting real birds.)

Re: Birds Who Don't Know The Words by David Ocker - © 2007 (151 seconds)  (No music in this video.)

And now . . . another Mixed Meters Meta Moment: a picture of Spackle watching the video of herself hunting a video of a hummingbird.  

Spackle Puss (the cat) 36 (Watching Herself Watching a Hummingbird 2007)

Here are three shots of Spackle with Leslie.  In the first one, Spackle seems to be checking Leslie's worm IDs.  Leslie started referring to Spackle as her 'supervisor'.

Spackle Puss (the cat) 33 (Supervising Leslie's work 2020)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 32 (sleeping with Leslie 2019)

Spackle Puss (the cat) 07 (being held by Leslie 2006)

Finally, here's Spackle's last picture, about a month ago.  Spackle had decided she was comfortable sleeping on top of a shelf of ring binders.  She could watch Leslie at work from this spot.  By this point she was all skin and bones and it was clear that she didn't have much time left.  

Spackle Puss (the cat) 35 (on binders - last picture 2020)

Leslie and I are so sorry to see you go, little kitty.  I hope you enjoyed your stay with us, whatever that means for a cat.   We enjoyed having you around.

Rest in Peace, Spackle Puss.