Orion

Evee as she was affectionately called by her best friend, our daughter Nikiya, was a Manx Cat. She barely made it past her first birthday before she was taken from us by the terrible disease known as FIP. Evee was the one cat our daughter loved so very much, Evee had a special love for her that only they shared. It was so hard to watch her during her last few

weeks of life and even though she was in so much pain she still would let out her little Manx meow that sounded like a bird chirping.

To Our Evee:
If Tears could build a stairway and memories a lane
I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again.

Actual weather report on Fog's last day.
(slightly altered).

I have wanted a white cat for forty years, since my father killed a white kitten I brought home when I was six. I waited a year to get this beautiful white polydactyl Maine Coon. He was very sweet and very mellow, growing into himself from a lanky "ugly duckling" of a little kitten whose ears were too big for a small kitten. He was coming into his own in this picture taken for his nine month birthday. Just days later he became ill. He died holding hands with me. He wanted to live and loved life, but this horrible disease took my beautiful white kitten away. Rest in peace Foggie. There will never be another Coonie like you.

Kimaris Design to Show, "Katinka", only lived for six months and was a beautiful tortie harlequin Persian. She was a playful little kitty before she started displaying signs of URI which didn't want to clear up, then she had diarrhea. She was still very playful when the Vet gave her a worm tablet on Saturday. That same day in the evening she looked as if she was pregnant. She blows up after that. Two days she has been put to sleep with effusive FIP, confirmed with an autopsy.

Her brother Kimaris Favorite Design has been put to sleep on 12/10/01 and her sister lost the battle at 2 months of age "Kimaris Designer Costume" 23/3/01 - 28/5/01.

Enzo was a lovely boy and slept with me on my bed. His coat was always coarse and he didn't grow up as a normal cat his age. He started with URI at the age of 4 weeks. This didn't clear up and he developed a lymphatic carcinoma as well. He only was my little pet. Never developed into a working stud male. His last days his purrs and screams expressed a feeling of pain and his belly was swelling. It was time to cross the bridge.

His sister "Malita Lady in Black" (Karlina) has been put to sleep on 10 May 2002. She has been mother of three kittens, only one was healthy and strong, the other ones had to be given away. Her second little was a disaster. She lost three of the four kittens on pneumonia (FIP??). Her last kitten is thriving but is full of ringworm. Karlina was sick from the age of 4 weeks old with URI and diarrhea and it never cleared up. She was drinking a lot of water and was dehydrated.

Bullet was one of my bed buddies, true, he may have been just a "pet"quality Maine coon but still he was my bed buddy. He was the daddy to many beautiful little Maine Coons. He always got along with the other boys, such a laid back super dude. We may not have started the journey of life together but we did walk the last "mile" together. I feel so thankful that he was in my life as were the others (oh so precious furbabies) that died of FIP while in my care. The only consolation is that I was allowed to bury the precious furbabies in a special spot in my backyard, knowing full well I could go to jail for doing so. I only wish that Fip hadn't taken their lives so soon. Yet I still miss Bullett so much even after all these years.

Lynne (still grieving after all this time)

We lost Little Leo to FIP almost 3 months ago. He was a sweet cat who loved to have his forehead kissed. We found him in our garage 4 1/2 years ago. A tiny starved kitten with one eye matted shut, fire ant bites all over his tiny tummy, a burr stuck all the way through his lower lip and he'd been eating crickets for survival. To lose him after all he's been through to such an awful, unexpected disease has broken our hearts. Even in his last minutes Leo was pushing his forehead up to me for kisses.

Scratch died from FIP on Saturday 8th June 2002 Aged 13 years. He had always been a

great personality and had a truly loyal and affectionate nature. He was loved by our family, friends and neighbours who always found him friendly, affectionate and talkative. All will miss him greatly. FIP took hold of him over a 72 hour period and he declined rapidly. Bizarrely, he remained loving and purred loudly until he finally became unresponsive on Saturday morning. This truly is the Purring disease.

We already miss him and wish that we had known more about this disease previously. We share the feelings of grief and confusion experienced by others who have lost their pets to FIP.

She was a little precious girl, that was loved so much and gave us a lot of joy. She will be truly missed and loved.

Tim & Sherry