Losing A Family Member

It was a rough return for us from the US.  We had gotten messages from our petsitter while we were in DC that our kitten was ill but did not realize how seriously until we got back to Kyiv on Sunday.  It turns out he had been in the hospital for 5 days, diagnosed with an incurable and fatal virus called Feline Infectious Peritonitis.  We brought him home that evening and enjoyed what turned out to be our final night with him.  He was active, purring and affectionate with all, especially Enzo.  Monday morning I took him to our regular vet Dr. Levitsky, a wonderful man who speaks perfect English.  He quickly agreed that the diagnosis was most likely correct but kept Tigre/Figaro overnight to run a few more test to confirm.  As he said, "I never put an animal down unless I am 100% certain of the reason."  This disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose as there is no test for it, but through a process of elimination and finally a sample of the fluid collecting in his abdomen confirmed it.  Our sweet friend was put to sleep on Tuesday night.
Although we have no way of knowing how he contracted the virus, Dr. Levitsky speculates that he caught it during his first month of life living as a street kitten.  He was found by an American family when he was approximately 1 month old without his mother in a park where local boys were abusing him.  The family took him home only to discover they were allergic to him.  And so he ended up with us.  Since that time as an abandoned kitten Bonkers/Tigre/Figaro (yes, Gio had trouble sticking with one name for long) had never been around other cats or even outside, so it is unlikely he contracted the virus once he moved in with us in September.  And no, it is not transferable from or to dogs/humans.
We are deeply saddened by this loss.  We adored him.  Even I, who considered myself 100% on the dog side of things, discovered that I am also a cat person.  He spent many hours curled up in my lap and slept purring away with us most nights.  Enzo is struggling the most with the absence.  They had become very close friends after the first month when Bonkers (his name at the time) hissed and scattered whenever Enzo came within scratching distance.  Seemingly overnight, however, Bonkers/Tigre (the name was slowly evolving) changed his mind about the giant bear in the apartment and suddenly we were discovering them curled up together.  Tigre liked to stand next to Enzo when he was eating, often stealing scraps from Enzo's bowl.  Since we returned from the US Enzo spends a lot of time searching for Figaro (his name since Christmas) and has taken up the brand new habit of howling at the door.  When I brought Figaro's empty crate home from the vet on Tuesday, Enzo stuck his entire head inside of it and then cried.  I burst into tears all over again witnessing that.

Bonkers's first day with us.

Gio was THRILLED with his new kitten right from the first day. 

a picture of bliss: Bugs Bunny on TV, Big Tom close by, Bonkers in his lap and NO PANTS. Boy heaven. 

This is when the Enzo-Tigre love began.

Tigre only drank water when Enzo was eating.
 He would often also sneak over and eat some of his dinner. Enzo never protested. 

We took Figaro camping last month.  He loved the fireplace. 

Our final night with Figaro.  He had just spent 5 nights at the hospital and was thrilled to be home. 

Will we get another cat?  YES. But we cannot for the next few months as the vet warned us that the virus could still be lingering in our apartment.  We are, instead, thinking seriously now of getting a second dog.  Yes, we are crazy.  But sweet Enzo is lonely and we like to add as many complications as we can to our already rather complicated life.  So we are on the list with our breeder for her next litter, expected in April.  Nope, no small dog for us....going for another bear.
If you have a cat at home, hug it extra tight for us today.  We are missing our sweet fellow.
xo.  Clara