Jos and I have been searching for a new kitten lately. The loss of Dagi
was hard for us but we have so much love to share with another kitty. In
May, I saw the photo below that a breeder posted online. Meet Elwin...a
red oriental short hair. He was adorable and it was love at first
sight. We arranged to bring him home the day after we returned from a
week's vacation in May.
Jos en ik hebben lang gezocht naar een nieuwe kitten. Het verlies van
Dagi was wel zwaar voor ons maar we kunnen heel veel geven aan een
nieuwe kitten. In Mei zag ik de foto hieronder die een fokker op
internet gezet had.
The big day arrived and we drove the hour to pick up Elwin. His brother
Joep climbed up on my lap and looked at me as if to say "You are not
going to take Elwin and leave me here, are you?". So Joep came home to
live with us too.
It quickly became apparent that Joep needed a man's strong guiding hand.
I was not able to cope with his and he was constantly playing so hard
with Elwin that it left Elwin with scabbed scratches. We made the
difficult decision after a vet looked at Joep and said his aggression
would probably not deminish as he became an adult cat. He was all
personality so this was a hard decision to make but he was returned to
the breeder.
Elwin was sad the first 24 hours and would not eat or drink. He was
missing the breeder and his partner. But finally he turned around and he
ate very well and followed us all over the house talking away wherever
we went. He had the funniest meow which sounded like those friction wind
up flash lights. He cuddled day and night. His favorite sleeping spot
was laid over my should with his little sweet head on my chest. He went
happily back and forth between Jos and I.
I am using past tense as this is not a story with a happy ending. Sunday
he started to get lethargic and stopped eating. He did still drink
when we took him to his water. Monday morning, when I awoke he was
laying between Jos and I and at first I though he had died. He was alive
but breathing very badly. Then I saw his little belly looked strange. I
knew it was serious and he was very ill.
We called the vet and she had us bring him in. His breathing was more
and more distressed and the assistant let me wait with his in a well
cooled room. The vet drew stomach fluid to test and came back with
horrible news. Elwin had FIP. It is viral disease and was in his stomach
and lungs. Cats cannot survive this illness. We had to make the
decision to put down a beautiful kitten that was not even 4 months old
yet yesterday. It seems so wrong that this little life has passed too
soon. He should have had many years here with us.
Elwin is buried our under the bench in our garden. He is right next to
Dagi where we can go and sit with them. I am totally heartbroken. I miss
him so much even though he was such a short time in our home. He fit
in! He was instantly part of the family.
Sweet dreams little Elwin out there with Dagi among the roses.........
Elwin was de eerste 24 uren droevig, hij wilde niet eten of drinken,
hij was te gehecht aan de fokker en zijn partner. Echter dit veranderde
al snel en werd een echt cuddlebeestje.
Ik gebruik verleden tijd want afgelopen zondag werd hij helemaal
lusteloos and stopte met eten. Maandag ochtend dacht ik dat hij dood
was, ik wist dat hij erg ziek was.
Op maandag tweede pinksterdag zijn wij naar de dierenarts geweest.
Hij kon eigenlijk niet goed meer ademen, wij mochten wachten in een
kamer met Airco de hitte kon hij niet meer aan. De dierenarts heeft
vloeistof afgetapt uit zijn veel te dikke buik. Daarop heeft ze ons het
slechte nieuws gegeven dat Elwin FIP had. Dit is een ongeneeslijke virus
infectie. Helaas hebben we op advies van de dierenarts moeten besluiten
hem te laten inslapen.
Elwin is begraven onder onze tuinbank. Hij ligt naast Dagi waar ik
soms naar ze toe kunnen gaan. Ik ben gebroken... Ik mis hem heel erg ook
al was hij maar kort bij ons. Hij past perfect bij ons.
Droom zacht lieve Elwin samen met Dagi en de rozen.
Heidi
