StarJumper.

Herringbone tabby, Siamese build, golden tawny eyes.

Nickname: Madame Lash. Star. Starry Night.

She had a beautiful litter of kittens before being neutered, and was an excellent mother to them. She also taught (or tried to teach!) Ptolomy, Sebastion and that ratbag SouthernCross to hunt.

How she came to live with us: I had a little summer type job attempting to sell soda deliveries door to door. I didn't sell a thing, but at one house there was this cute litter of kittens. The owner said the mother was an Egyptian Mow that had got out and met the local toms. The litter (you know, she may have been telling fibs, I think) was to be put down. One little kitten did this tremendous standing leap sideways over one of her littermates, and StarJumper was named.

She came to live with us, and was readily accepted by Theakin, Ptolomy, Dea, K9 and Sasha. Thea taught her to hunt and she never looked back. They both tried teaching Ptolomy, but he never became the death on four paws they were.

She loved head butts. Star would sit and rub chins with you for hours.

She never got on with SouthernCross, (or later with Lucky). She would pounce them on site, ever stalking and being stalked. Because of this she stayed with mum when I moved to town

Star had a strident call and a deadly paw. She once brought a live snake into the house for SouthernCross. Not sure of her motives there ;)

Delighted in bringing her catches into the house to eat. Rat's crunch, did you know that? Crunchy, crunchy, snibble, smack, smack. Out to the hay shed for another rat.

Star loved K9. She would hide and pounce on the white tip of the dog's tail. She loved to great K9 with generously applied head butts.

When SouthernCross came to stay, my head butts stopped. Only when Southern was gone to Valhalla did my grand lady re-aquatint herself with me, and head butts again became part of our greetings.

StarJumper and my friend Nina enjoy a bit of a rest.

Star would only accept raw roo meat for her dinner. No icky tinned or dried stuff for her. I think she liked the blood.

One day, when the air was sweet with eucalypt pollen, the hunting had been good in the fields, that brute Lucky had received a taste of her claws, K9 a final loving farewell, StarJumper, huntress, teacher and friend, curled up tight under the old beach umbrella next to the pool, closed her eyes and saw no more.

StarJumper.

Remember always running wild,

Favored is this wayward child.

Fiercely her own self - gentle but strong,

A part, now forever, of the nights song.

RIP