Jasper the cat is dead, long live Jasper the cat

[guest]

The story doesn’t need an introduction, just read the tweets.

RIP Jasper the cat.

Oh. This cat has been a neighbourhood character. Walking the sidewalks like he had appointments. pic.twitter.com/U1dI7vxp2Q

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 12, 2016
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@JordanTimm Forty people showed. pic.twitter.com/9GR9HnVzdc

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 12, 2016
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The 40 people at the memorial for the cat are aware that it's the most Glebe thing ever. But Jasper was 20 years old and the coolest.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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He was found as a stray by Highway 5 a long time ago. Neutered and declawed. Couldn't get along with his rescuers' cats.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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Jasper the cat was fed at at least four houses. And by craft services for a TV series shot in the Glebe for a bit.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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He went out at Pretoria pet hospital with his face in a can of Tuna Supreme. We should all be so lucky.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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One woman told a story about moving into her place 10 years ago, knowing nobody in Ottawa. Jasper walked in the open door and hung out.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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Three housemates in their 20s often saw him lying in their planters. They called him Plant Cat.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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(Much of this was news to his "owners," Henry and Jenny. They owned him inasmuch as they paid his vet bills.)

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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The main thing about Jasper was he didn't give a damn about threats. He crossed streets slowly. He slapped dogs.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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He was once recovered from a woman in Nepean who'd come upon him in the rain and thought he was a stray. Posted a notice on Kijiji.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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Henry had to schlep out there to retrieve him after, by chance, a friend saw the posting and emailed it over. "Isn't this your cat?"

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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His ashes are now in a box engraved with his name, buried under a tree in the park he haunted, marked with a white cross and a photograph.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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"I didn't know he was a Christian until tonight," one neighbour remarked.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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After Jasper was buried, his owners distributed little cups and went around with bubbly. The neighbourhood toasted him. -30-

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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I didn’t go to the Jasper memorial intending to be a reporter, BTW, so I tweeted from memory after. It was just very sweet and touching.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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They let the children present take turns spading earth onto his little box. Mine knew Jasper from the park and did their bit.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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(A couple of weeks ago he nosed around them as they dug in the sand by the swings. Just wandered over like, hey, what’re you guys doing?)

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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My five-year-old was good at the memorial. When we got home, he burst into tears.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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Jasper was a first-rate cat and it’s neat that a whole neighbourhood got to share him. -30- for real.

— David Reevely (@davidreevely) July 13, 2016
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