Handsome

Today is a sad day...Handsome passed away this morning. Just a few days ago he had started looking like something was amiss, and then suddenly took a big turn for the worse. His diagnosis was FIP (feline infectuous peritonitis) which is almost always severe and incurable. He passed gently this morning at Central Texas Cat Hospital, surrounded by loving hands.





 

Handsome came from a local feral colony and lived almost his entire life in the Outback. At first, like so many other cats, he hung back away from people. But in recent years he not only decided to come down and check us out, but decided to try out a few laps and discovered that he really liked being held and petted. Initially he was a bit nippy - he just wasn't used to people and although he wanted affection he was still a little skittish. But over time he got past that and turned into a big gentle teddy bear. He became one of the first cats to run over and queue up for laps whenever volunteers stopped by. And while lots of people loved Handsome, he had one really special friend - new volunteer Kathy Muelker had just sponsored him a few weeks ago.

When each of us reach the end of our lives, having a sudden and short illness, not suffering a bit, and closing our eyes for the last time surrounded by people who love us is perhaps something we all would wish for. And while it's painful losing Handsome, helping him through this is part of what "lifetime care" is all about. We'll remember him fondly.

Rest in peace, sweet angel.
January 24, 2012