Remembering Bumble

For over ten years Bumble has been a significant and constant part of my life.  He was a source of comfort and companionship, of unconditional love and acceptance, of fun and joy.  Our time together ended way too soon.

Bumble went missing from my home the night of October 27th, 2014 and never returned.  He some how got passed the fence, even though he had his Petsafe collar on, or something came to his side and took him away.

The next morning when I came home from work, I noticed he was missing.  I called for him time and time again and walked the area nearby my home.  I added him to lost and found pet sites.  The next day, I put out posters and flyers.  The day after that, I put out more flyers and contacted area shelters and veterinarians and sill nothing.  My gut feeling is that he wasn't coming back.  My heart was broken and it sill is.

I wanted to write, share some photos, and videos of Bumble, so I would have a place to go back and reminisce.  I don't want to forget the silly things he did to make me smile.

Below are some things I remember about my sweet boy Bumble.


*Bumble was a gangly kitten.  I saw these photos on a rescue page, and went soon after to meet him and claimed him and Willabee.  He was around three weeks old.

Bumble with his mom

 

*Here are some photos of Bumble at four weeks old when I first laid eyes on him on February 28th 2004.  I chose their birthday to be January 31st, 2004, as the rescue organization didn't know.

*Homecoming March 6th 2004!

*My dog Gorgeous just adored Bumble as they would play daily.  I wished I had caught them on video.  I don't even have many photos of them together, but I found this one.

*Bumble would sleep with me under my arm and my face rested on his body.  Then I would wake up with him on top of me... usually on my hip. 

*Bumble made changing the sheets on my bed very difficult.

*Oh how Bumble loved liver!  I always made sure he got extra.

*Bumble would jump into my arms when asked.  Go to time 1:48 on this video and you'll see him perform.

*The paws of Bumble.

*Bumble always came when called.  That was very hard for me when he went missing... calling for him and he didn't respond.

*Bumble would hang around my neck and sleep.  This was also a way to get closer to my food when I was eating.

*Bumble would walk up to me (sometimes I noticed and sometimes not) when I was in the backyard watering,  he would jump on my back and lay across my shoulders.  Me... I continued to water with a cat around my neck.  Yes, crazy cat lady here!  

*At the veterinarian's office, everyone loved Bumble.  He behaved nicely any time he came in... sick or not.  He was my very expensive cat, spending a total of almost $7000 on vet bills getting him fixed twice when he ate plastic and the debris got stuck.  Yes he had this expensive fetish of eating things, but he was worth every penny!

2012

2011

 
*Most every morning before I went to bed, Bumble would follow me to the bathroom or he would hear that I'm washing my face and come right away.  While I'm bent over at the sink, he would jump on my back and lay there until I was finished.  Then as I lifted up, he would wrap around my neck and lay there while I finished up.  He  would do the same when I brushed my teeth.  Silly boy.  

The last time he did this was the morning before he went missing.  I thought of video taping this antic as it's hard to believe.  I guess folks will have to take my word for it.

Here's a photo of him lying on my back while I was finishing cleaning my face in the sink.

*When Bumble was content he would drool.  A lot of times when he was around my shoulder or in my arms he would drool then... ugh!

*I loved holding Bumble like a baby.  He would look up at me with such contentment.  Then he would start purring and drooling.  This picture is how he would look at me before he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

This was how I looked back at him.

*Bumble could fetch!  Here's a video of him fetching in 2009.

Here's a video of him fetching a ball in 2005.

*Bumble liked catnip toys.  Here's a video of him playing with one in 2011.

*I would pick Bumble up and lift him close to the ceiling or light to get the bug... like this photo.  It worked every time!  Good boy Bumble!

*Bumble would sit at the window wanting in while the door was wide open!  He would also stand in front of the door wanting out even when the pet door was available for his use.

 

Seriously Bumble?

Bumble trying hard from the kitchen window!

I eventually took the screen off the window and started to let him in through the window.  This way I didn't have to leave my computer.

*If I got out of my chair, Bumble would take the opportunity and lay on it.  When I would come back, instead of moving him, I would sit on the edge of my seat like this photo.  Yes... for the love of Bumble.

 

*For the first year of Bumble and Willabee's life, I took photos of them each week.  I didn't want to miss any part of them growing up.  I still have all those photos and treasure them.  Here's baby Bumble at about two months old.

*Here's a self portrait I took of Bumble and I in 2005.

*Bumble's picture received Honorable Mention at the 2013 State Fair of Texas Photography competition.  

*Bumble would swipe from underneath my computer to get at the food I was eating.  Sometimes he would succeed because of his quickness.

*He loved cuddling with Bocelli.  They were my odd couple.

Then sometimes there was a threesome.

*In the kitchen, Bumble and Willabee would be in or near the basket waiting to be fed.  Even if it's two hours before it was their time to eat.  I normally would be sitting on my computer across from them.

 
 *He was the best mouser ever!

 

 But not so good as a birder.  I wonder why?

*Here's a picture of the whole family together in 2011.

*This is Bumble's favorite place to hang out in the evening... the dog walk.

*In 2005, my parents were visiting me at my place.   My mom took this picture of my boys waiting for me to come home from work.

 

*Forever Young video.  Bumble still has it in him!

 

*Oh how they loved each other.

Already Willabee has been sleeping on my lap a lot and with me in bed.  He hasn't done that in the past much.  I believe he knows that his brother is gone.

Below are the last photos taken of Bumble.  It was sunset on Friday October 24th, 2014.  A few days later... he was taken away from me.

Sweet dreams my Lord Bumble... until we meet again.