Angelmaine Pericles 23.11.98-5.02.05 RIP

I'm sorry to report that the power of purr has failed on this occasion
:-(

Pericles had continued to go downhill since his tests on Thursday, not
taking much in (although he managed to force down some cod & salmon as
his last meals) or letting much out, hardly moving around and with an
increasingly swelling tummy:
so swollen that his ribs couldn't be felt even up by his spine.

The lab. test results, which were available this morning (5th Feb)
clearly indicated FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) and given its
obviously large scale I discussed and agreed with TED that euthanasia
was required.

At 11.30 this morning he passed peacefully to the Bridge with his head
cradled in my hands. He didn't seem to mind being fussed over just this
once. Meanwhile in the operating theatre a Rottweiler mum was giving
birth by Caesarian section to 11 (yes, eleven) puppies, all apparently
healthy. So the ebb & flow of life continues.

Peri will be buried in my little back garden (yard) under his favourite
Hebe bush, where he spent many happy and lazy hours drowsing & waiting
for the chance to ambush any neighbour cat daring enough to cross his
territory.

Bandit & Snowball have sniffed Peri & said whatever goodbyes they can:
I'm not sure how much they understand about the concept of death. Rather
they will just come to realise that Peri is no longer here, I suspect.

I shall have to keep a careful watch on them from now on as their
chances of infection are increased. I know there's nothing to be done so
will concentrate on ensuring that they don't suffer.

I've put a farewell picture of Pericles he
http://community.webshots.com/album/94722327kAslef/1

It's the last one on the page. Please feel free to make a Guestbook
entry.
He got to cyber-meet Sammy yesterday (her face can just barely be seen
on the screen beside his right ear, so thanks CN) and proceeded to
protect his recently-acquired beloved from the attentions of all comers.

I shan't be around much for awhile, I'm afraid, I'll need to come to
terms with things in solitude. So here are my thanks for all your
sterling companionship and good wishes & purrs over the last 14 month.

Continuing even-more-empathetic-than-before purrs to those in need.

Gordon, Bandit & Snowball.