10/05/2026
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In Loving Memory of Shooter Trouble Lowell…
October, 2006 ~ September 28, 2026
They say that sometimes, a soul is just meant for you. In the Fall of 2006, at my old lucky apartment on 7809 21st Avenue, my neighbor’s cat had a litter of kittens. Right there in the middle of the bunch was one single, solid black kitten with his signature white bow tie.
The very minute I laid eyes on him, I knew. We were meant to be together. I waited anxiously for a month until he was ready, and the moment he was, I carried him upstairs. That lucky apartment at 7809 had already known the love of a true feline family, and we all shared that home together.
The only difference was that Shooter was the only one actually born there. Spyke was my oldest cat, and she paved the way for the others, before passing away in 2003. The following year, in 2004, JR joined our family, though she tragically left us far too young when she passed away in 2012. Finally, there was Brown, who went on to become the oldest of the bunch, living to the incredible age of 22, before passing away in 2014.
To say Shooter was a wild cat would be an understatement. He was pure, untamed electricity. Hoping to give him a gentle start and let the others adjust, I set him up in the bathroom with his food, water, and litter box. He was so tiny, and the space seemed to be a perfect fit. JR would linger by the door, sniffing deeply, wondering who this mystery newcomer was.
But, Shooter had no intention of being contained. The very next morning, I opened the door to absolute chaos. This tiny, minuscule kitten had somehow pulled down the clean towels, shredded the toilet paper to confetti, and completely flipped his food, water, and litter box upside down.
As if that weren't enough, the second the door cracked open, he launched himself like a little rocket, flying out of the bathroom, landing squarely on the kitchen table, and immediately started knocking things off the edge. He was wonderfully, beautifully insane. He drove JR up the wall, and back then, I’d lay in bed listening to her hissing at night, begging him for just one moment of peace.
Tragically, JR left us far too young in 2012, but during her time with him, Shooter was just so incredibly thrilled to have a sister to play with. While his boundless energy annoyed almost every cat he met, our gentle giant Brown loved him unconditionally, forgiving him even when a chaotic kitten mishap resulted in a scratched eye. Shooter didn't mean any harm; he was just overflowing with life, and Brown cherished him for it, until he too passed away in 2014.
As the years unfolded, Shooter became my absolute good luck charm. He was my "7809 Kitty," born in the place where my finishing business and Mark After Dark first came to life, sharing that sacred space with the memories of Spyke, JR, and Brown. When Shooter was 13, he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a diagnosis that terrified me, as it was the very same illness that had taken Spyke from me, all those years ago.
But, Shooter was a fighter. For seven beautiful, hard-fought years, he battled through it.
The last few months of his 20-year journey were the hardest. The wild, energetic kitten slowly faded as the illness took its toll. He grew so frail, his little body dropping down to just two pounds.
This past Summer, the vet discovered tumors on his neck, confirming it was likely cancer. I tried so hard to prepare my heart for the inevitable. But, nothing truly prepares you for the moment the light begins to dim. By Friday, September 25th, the tumors had grown heavily, and my sweet boy stopped eating. He could only manage sips of water.
As his body began to fail, he had accidents on the floor, which I quietly and lovingly cleaned up. The fiery excitement that had defined his entire life was gone, replaced by a quiet, heavy pain. By Monday, he could no longer walk. With all the love left in my heart, I wrapped him gently in a blanket and placed him safely on the couch.
On Monday night, September 28th, Shooter took his very last breath right there on the couch, wrapped in comfort, with me and Bullet right by his side. For twenty years, Shooter was my boy, my shadow, and my family, the very last link to those beautiful years at 7809. He was there for the brightest beginnings and stayed through the darkest nights.
I love him with everything I have, and I cannot, yet, picture a world without him in it.
Run free, my wild, beautiful 7809 boy. You were my favorite hello and my hardest goodbye. 🐾🐾
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Pawsitivite Veterinary Clinic @ https://pawsitiveveterinary.com Thank you for the profound compassion you showed to Shooter during an incredibly difficult time. Your kindness, dedication, and gentle care brought immense comfort when it was needed most, and we are forever grateful for your support.
