Orion

Bailey was rescued and loved for three years. Now, she will be in kitty heaven with her two sisters that were also taken by FIP, Ruby and Little. There are so many wonderful memories of Bailey I cannot even begin to tell you about them. She was the happiest, most loving cat ever and will be missed forever.

Love, Amy & Brent McClellan

My heart is left with void, until we meet again one day. I love you my forever Kitty.

Resi Meade

I am a 911 dispatcher. On January 2, 2003, we got a call from a woman who reported that someone had dumped off two 3/4-grown kittens by her house. This particular town has no animal shelter and the police dept. doesn't typically handle cat calls. But, this officer had a soft spot for animals and knew how animal calls affect me, so he went. Knowing that I have a weakness for anything with fur and a heartbeat, he called from the house and asked if I would take them. It was a cold night and they were very hungry. How could I say no?

Bootsie was named after two former cats who had been in my family named Boots. He was black and white, as were they. Happy is gray and white and I called him Happy

because of Happy New Year. They immediately took over my heart. Unlike most new pets, they never were nervous or disoriented. They acted like they'd lived there all their lives. They knew the layout of the house, made immediate friends with the other cats, etc. That first night, Bootsie slept on my shoulder. If I turned my head or rolled over, he came around to the other side so as to have his face to my face. He did that up until the time that he got sick. And, he'd purr like the dickens, which he did right up until the day he died. He was so sweet and always the peacemaker with the other cats, too.

In early April, he was diagnosed with dry F.I.P. through blood tests and clinical signs after having become ill with what the vet thought was a respiratory infection and antibiotics failed. I had lost a cat last year to wet F.I.P. and knew the devastating, horrible progress of this awful virus. I prayed for more time with him. I expected a few days. I got nearly a month. He hung on for a month without a lot of change other than losing weight. Then, he took a turn for the worst. I had him euthanized May 6, 2003. It was a hard decision, but I couldn't let him suffer like my other cat had. He was in pain. He was my friend and I
owed him that gentle death rather than suffering. Booter, Thank you so much for blessing my life for the short time you did. You gave me so much joy and I hope that I gave you joy, too. I know you knew I love you and I know you loved me back. I love you always. With my whole heart, in fact.

I got Strider in early April 2003 and May 5th 2003 was when he had to take the final journey. I had lost my beloved cat Phoebe on St. Patrick's Day (17 years old) and needed to find another kitty or two to help fill the empty-pet household. I got one beautiful cat named Asia the week before Strider and was so happy to have a second cat come. Unfortunately, his stay was too short. His "little cold" only got worse, and eventually I realized he was having difficulty breathing. When I brought him to the vet, they gave me the terrible news. I had not yet completed mourning my other baby when I had to face the loss of another. He was with me so short a time that I did not get photographs, but I will never forget the impact he had, and the impact FIP has on a family. I dearly hope they find a cure so no one ever has to go through the loss of a wonderful pet again.

I beloved Gonzo! We only had him for 6 months, until we had to put him to sleep because of FIP. It’s so unfair that we had to lose our little prince.

Gonzo, you’ll always be in our hearts. We miss you so much, but we know, that you’re in peace now. No more suffering.

Kisses & hugs from Mum & Dad
Please visit Gonzo on our homepage: www.shunozahra.dk

Sweet Nipper was a rescue kitten. She was found under some bushes crying with two large holes in her neck from a dog. After her wounds were cleaned she needed a home as no one wanted her I brought her home with me. She was fond of nipping fingertips that is how she got her name. She was a delight, a handful and precious as they come. On 19 February she didn't feel well so she was taken to the vet. By this time her neck had healed beautifully. By Friday the diagnosis was FIP. Her last days were filled with love. On the morning of 27 Feb she seemed to feel really bad. I held her and told her if she needed to go it was OK, I loved her immensely and would miss her terribly but that I'd be OK. Less than 3 hours later she was gone. She was cremated and is here at home, I wrote the following for her, but feel it belongs to all the angel furbabies and their loved ones left behind.

It's night again and I begin to cry.
As I see you in my minds eye
a bittersweet smile crosses my face,
And I am transported to that special place.
That place where you still run and play.
Our time before you went away.
Sometimes I feel you in my lap
All curled up purring, or taking a nap.
I still can see you stretch and yawn.
Those precious moments that now are gone.
I miss your eyes, the feel of your fur,
The love you gave so freely, so pure.
And as I close my eyes to sleep,
my heart, it breaks and I still weep.
And then a feeling lifts my heart,
It's not forever we'll be apart.
One day when I close my eyes to sleep,
upon my bed again you'll leap.
I'll feel and hear you,
My eyes will open wide
And once again you'll be by my side.
So here with you in my heart
I remain.
Until the day I'll see you again.

We wish we could have told you,
in words you'd understand,
We wanted you to stay with us.
This wasn't what we'd planned.

We wish somehow to tell you,
How empty we now feel.
A part of us went with you,
A part that time can't heal.

We wish we'd once more hear you,
in your softly, rumbling purr,
to hold you on our chest again
and stroke your silky fur.

We wish we had you back again,
to fill this empty space.
But one day we'll be together
in a far, far better place.

We miss you,
Sherri & Jeff Willette

joy, laughter, love, and devotion

She will be missed.

Karen Holstein
Tonkat ,,^. .^,,

My kitten was born in mid November. He was 8 months old when he passed away from FIP an hour and a half ago. I had to put my beloved Travolta Rex, a Devon Rex kitten, to sleep tonight. He had become paralyzed and only then did I run test to discover FIP was the cause. We kept hope for a few days and the doctor sent him home in hopes he would do better, but he was never well from day one. I never saw him play, but through his pain and many vet and emergency visits he purred and purred. At the end he wasn't purring so I asked him for one more, but didn't get it. So I took him the emergency to end his pain. At the end just minutes before they came to put him to sleep he started to purr. This was his way of telling me thanks for trying mom, and this is the right thing to do.. as his lifeless eyes stared, my tears dripped into his eye as if the tear was shared by both mom and baby. He was an angel sent from heaven too good for this world... I did the hardest thing I ever had to do tonight, and looking up at Travolta Rex's favorite place on top of the computer I am broken hearted and at the same time happy he doesn't have to suffer anymore

May you all have happy healthy cats in the future and thank you for taking the time to remember my dear little T. rex.

I know you have to go
although I don't know why

I wanted to watch you grow
but now all I can do is cry

I will miss your little sweet meow
I will survive , but am not sure how

your brother misses you
and as you know , I do too

I have to say goodbye
but all I can do is cry

Good night sweet Prince
rest in peace

love your mom
Robin Beth

I hate to admit that you are gone, but you are yet another angel on my shoulder and forever in my heart. I am sorry your time here with us was cut so short. I will never understand why you were taken from us. You brought us the sun and we gave you the

world. You fought so hard to stay with us, our little brave guy. I wish I could have done more for you. You will forever be here with us.

The days will not be the same without taking you out for some sun and our nights will never be the same without you cuddling under the blankets.

Monty misses you too. He is content playing with his toys but we know he wishes you were here to pounce with.

Wykitt, you will forever be our precious Ewok with your ‘little old man’ face imprinted on our hearts. God has a bigger and better plan for you… you are a special one.

After many tests Wykitt was “diagnosed” with FIP, for lack of a better diagnosis. He became ill 2 weeks after his FELV vaccination. He had a bloated belly, but acted like a normal kitten until the day before he left us. He fought seven long and hard weeks to stay here with us, and he flew to heaven against his will. He only gave us a short time to get to know him, but he was as special as they come, the kind of baby that tugs at your heart.

We would like to thank Dr. Leal (You never met our Wykitt, but how you helped was so greatly appreciated). Thank you Kim and Val for being there and thank you to Bergenline Animal Hospital vets and staff for all you did to help our angel.