Zack is of the famed duo Ziggy and Zack.  Often mentioned in the book “Secrets I Learned From Ordinary House Cats” Zack was Ziggy’s brother and litter mate.   The litter was abandoned when the momma cat was found dead in the road and later rescued by a local vet tek at Paoli Pet Care in Berwyn, PA.  Since I had lost Maxx six weeks before, I was ready for two kittens.  Little did I know that Zack would be way more inquisitive than expected.

 

Zack was barely a half pound when I first saw the fuzzy 4-1/2 week old tuxedo kitten, who hissed and spat at me initially, then quickly fell asleep as I held him close to my neck.  He was my first choice when I saw him and his other two brothers.  I wanted a tuxedo cat, and at the time, he looked like he would be a long haired tuxedo.  He was the outgoing one, from the very beginning, and his brother Ziggy was chosen with him because Ziggy was so laid back compared to Zack’s wildness.  Zack turned out to be into everything, instigating, exploring and ultimately a champion at catching bugs and rodents.

Zack wanted all the attention, and was jealous when his brother Ziggy received any attention.  Most interesting part of have Zack and Ziggy, is they were never friendly to anyone by me their human.  Visitors would come to my home, and would not know I had a cat except for seeing the litter pan in the bathroom.  But when visitors left, Zack would be in my lap or by my side within seconds.

We lived on the 2nd floor of Main Line Berwyn Apartments.  We had a 30 foot patio with a railing that Zack would sit on and taunt the birds.  He grew to about 15 lbs and balanced himself on that thin railing that made me wonder just how on earth he didn’t ever fall off.

 However, when it came time for us to move down the hall to a larger apartment to accommodate my aging mother, Zack didn’t do so well with the move.  He became very stressed once we were in the new place and the first 24-48 hours none of us slept.  It was all I could do to comfort my kitty Zack who hyperventilated for what seemed like hours.  I had never experienced a cat panting from fear.  But somehow, I was able to comfort him and keep both he and Ziggy from any further stress.

Two weeks later my mom moved in and Zack found a new friend.  He kept my mom company in her room during the day.  Due to her blindness, he lead the way down the hallway when ever she headed to the dining room for her meals..  She always called him Blackie.  When my mom would be away in the hospital, he would sit in her room waiting for her return.  When my mom died, Zack died too just a few months later.

“Zack” Augustine – In Loving Memory

April 15, 2005 – October 8, 2014

Zack was laid to rest on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 after being hospitalized earlier in the week and diagnosed with advanced stages of Congestive Heart Failure and elevated Kidney functions. The last 20 hours of his life he spent in an oxygen tank to assist with his breathing.  Zack was just 9 years old.  Zack will be fondly remembered as the feline duo of Ziggy and Zack in the book “Secrets I Learned From Ordinary House Cats.”  He will be sadly missed by his life-long human companion Rosemary Augustine, his litter mate and brother Ziggy, all the birds and squirrels of Main Line Berwyn Apartments, and many friends and neighbors.  He is resting comfortably now with former feline companions of Rosemary’s, Byron and Maxx, and Rosemary’s mother who died four months prior.

Zack enjoyed the 2nd floor patio at Main Line Berwyn Apartments, often walking the railing the first 8 years of his life.  When moved to the opposite side of the building a year ago, he thoroughly enjoyed the patio overlooking the parking lot, as he could watch neighbors come and go.  He was excited when the birds were at the feeder just outside the window.  And Zack was a champion in catching bugs – his favorite was the summer cicadas that would nest in the surrounding trees.  He would catch them in mid air, but share them with his big brother Ziggy.  It was nature at work watching him during this bug decimation.  When Rosemary’s mom moved in, Zack was instrumental in “showing her the way” as she used her walker up and down the hallway.  She called him Blackie.  In his lifetime, he caught a rat… a big one that hung from his mouth to the floor.  He was thrilled to show me and then he released it to safety under the refrigerator (somehow knowing it would escape totally).

Zack was a feisty kitten.  He grew into a quiet, reserved adult cat, always wanting attention and for sure getting it.  He especially liked to roll on his back so you could rub his belly – even by strangers once he approved of them.  When Rosemary was first introduced to the tuxedo kitten (later to be named Zack), he hissed and spat with claws extended as she held him by the scruff of the neck and looked at him eye to eye.  Rosemary then took the hissing/spatting kitten and tucked him under her chin, where he quickly began to purr and fell asleep.  “I’ll take this one for sure” was her response.

It was often thought that Zack was the lead cat, because of his aggressive nature with his more laid back brother.  Zack would instigate play and roughhouse with Ziggy.  Often Zack would straddle Ziggy and bite him until you heard cat screams.  However, many mornings clumps of black fur were often found where it was obvious that Ziggy got him back.  They were brothers, but they were complete opposites.

Zack’s ashes will be included on the kitty memorial shelf along with the other deceased Augustine felines – Byron (1985-2003) and Maxx 1992-2005).  And, daily thoughts and memories will be part of a journaling practice to help ease the pain of this great loss.

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