Your Pet Tributes

by Tracy Williams
(Indiana, PA)

FIP took the life of this beautiful friend, who I long to see again. He was the best cat and full of personality. When we found Hector as a kitten at my dad's barn we quickly became close to him and talked my husband into bringing him home. He became our buddy, especially to my son, who was 2 at the time.

We had originally named him Dexter, but with all of his antics, we would joke and say he had an evil side and that was Hector. That name just stuck because he was always getting into trouble. One of his favorite things was to hide from my son and chase him or the dogs.

He loved the Christmas tree every year and would take all the bulbs off and hide them under the couches. You usually could find him in the tree or underneath it, we told him he was "camping." He was such a joy. He would actually sit up like a dog and clean his tail for the longest time and as we all would laugh he would look at us as to say, what the heck are you laughing at?

A few weeks ago he started getting thin and losing his long beautiful hair. Two trips to the vet later he was diagnosed with FIP and if you know any thing about cats, that is not good news. He quickly went down hill and as much as it hurt me, I knew it was time to let go.

On the day before my birthday we took our final car ride together as I told him of his life and we he meant to me. He kept his head on my hand and just meowed. I made sure one last time that this was not able to be cured and the vet reassured me that this was the right thing to do.

I held him as they gave him the shot and he looked at me the entire time as he slipped away and left this world. That was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I cry every night about him and what the future holds for my 2 other cats.

I hope he knows some how that I wasn't trying to hurt him and he left us, but that I loved him that much not to let him suffer.

Rest in peace, my beautiful friend. I miss you.