Zipper Markham

Zipper Markham, aged 18, of Jordan, crossed the rainbow bridge surrounded by his beloved family on November 6, 2024.

Zipper was born on June 1, 2006 on a farm near New Prague, MN. He was the smallest of his litter, not expected to make it past kittenhood but little did everyone know, he would make it well past 18 years! Zipper was truly a small kitten, and very crusty living on a farm! The Markham family quickly picked him up and brought him home to their already full house of cats. Zipper would spend the first couple weeks of his life in the upstairs kids bathroom, isolated from the rest of the cats. Mostly out of concern of infectious diseases like worms! Once Zipper was cleared of any and all ailments, he was let free into the house.

Alongside the six other cats in the house, he would also grow up alongside three young children! Although his size made him an easy target, Zipper knew how to hold his own against the bigger cats, and many of them eventually learned to love him too. Once the dogs were introduced to the house, Zipper found his new best friend. Willie, the 80 pound greyhound would soon be followed around by this small orange fluffball. Due to Zipper’s young age, he decided that the dogs were who he was better related to. Zipper and Willie would become inseparable, although Willie didn’t care much for the cat. Zipper would often rub up against Willie's face and like to lay with him in the dog bed. Zipper also preferred the large dog beds over the smaller cat beds. 

As Zipper got older, he of course got bigger, and LOUDER! He soon got the name Opera Cat due to his incessant meowing. He mostly meowed to let us know that he wanted to go out on the patio. Although all the cats were strictly indoors, Zipper would always push the boundaries and go out and roll on the concrete and inevitably eat the grass. Zipper would eventually push the boundaries so far that he spent a whole weekend outside while his family desperately looked for him. He came home after a couple days, deciding that he liked the food we had there better. 

Zipper would remain spritely even when we would add a new friend to the family. Towards the later years in his life, he would just want to sleep with his parents on the couch or play with a tennis ball. He remained strong and maintained his routine. He found new friends in the newer cats, especially Bix. Bix joined the family in 2018 with his brother Buzz. Bix loved Zipper and would often run to him and meow quite loudly when he saw Zipper. Zipper and Bix would often be found sleeping together or at the food bowl enjoying a meal. 

Due to his age, Zipper began to decline, suffering from arthritis and different chest infections. It never stopped him from getting up and greeting the family as they came home. He continued to slow down and his health continued to fail. He remained full of life until the end and we were all so blessed to have had his for over 18 years. He will forever be in our hearts and memories of the small orange kitten we brought home all those years ago. 

Zipper is forever remembered by his beloved family, Matt, Jessi, Dmitri, Adya, and Otylia; and his other furry cat brothers, Mezzo, Bix, Buzz, Cassowary, Cheddar, and Furby.

Zipper is greeted at the rainbow bridge by his cat brothers, Aries, Phuzzbutt, Limee, Daley, Atlantis, and Wilburt; and his dog siblings, Willie, PoPo, Angie, Darwin, and Steven.