I'm very sorry for the serious post right now and for grieving so publicly. I have never once mentioned my pets on this account, let alone shared any images or stories about the life recently lost. You all will have no attachment to him. But the wounds are still fresh, and I want to share the love for this precious angel now that he's no longer with us. Content warning for mentions of animal cruelty.

Captain Jonas (or simply Jonas, or CJ) was my outdoors cat. We had taken him in roughly a year ago after his previous owners, our neighbors, moved out and left him behind. We quickly bonded to him. He knew that home was our front porch, that he would get breakfast and dinner in his little house every day, and that he had a family who loved him more than anything. We desperately wanted to bring him inside with us, but we were hesitant to because our dogs and other two cats didn't like him. Despite being outside for his whole short life, Jonas always greeted us with his sweet little meows every time we came home. He would sleep on his favorite lawn chair and walk with us in the garden. He loved to sit on our laps. He went crazy for butt scratches and belly rubs. He would roll in the grass to let us know he wanted attention. He knew that he was safe with our family. He was our baby, and he knew it. He had all of us wrapped around his little tuxedo colored paw.

Jonas suddenly went missing a week ago. We had hoped he was simply hiding under the house to stay cool in the Oklahoma summer heat. We were worried, but none of us were expecting the worst. However, this morning, while walking our dogs, my mom found him curled up behind the air conditioner. Some cruel motherfucker in our neighborhood shot him point blank through the head with an arrow, she said. We don't know who, when, or why somebody would do this to an innocent animal who wanted nothing more than to snuggle with every new person he met. It was clearly intentional, and had clearly been there for several days. He was still alive when they found him - But there was no other option that we had to continue giving him a happy, fulfilling life. The arrow had gone through his brain, according to the vet. If he was kept alive, he would only continue to suffer. He had to be put to sleep. I was at work when they found him and never got to say goodbye. I hate myself for it. But I plan to keep his ashes in my bedroom as a reminder.

Jonas was young. Only around 3 or 4 years old. He was healthy, and loving. He did nothing to deserve dying so cruelly at the hands of such a monster. We did everything we could for him, even in his final moments. He was one of the best cats I have ever known. Though his time with us was short, his legacy lives on in our hearts and minds. His life is proof that animals, cats in particular, love us just as much as we love them. Our house feels so empty without him trotting up to us when we pull into the driveway. He was special. I already miss him more than words can describe.

Goodbye, Jonas. I'm so sorry we couldn't save you. I love you.