Good vibes needed for my kitten Atticus Pye

[Lorien]

I'm sick with worry. Atticus Pye was a playful, happy little kitten until just two days ago. All of a sudden he's become lethargic, has no appetite, and his belly is bloated-just like my boy Mithril when he came down with FIP. I can't lose another one-I just can't! I'll try to get him into the vet's tomorrow, but I doubt if I'll be able to sleep between now and then. Please send a few good thoughts his way. I'm hoping beyond hope that it's just a parasite or something.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. OH NO!! Lorien...I fervently hope with all my heart that this is nothing as serious

as FIP. I remember what you went thru with Mithril...and I even remember Hecate!! :cry:
I will be sending you white light and positive vibes all night...I know you will not sleep.
I know exactly that feeling that you have in the pit of your stomach...
Please please...whatever higher force has some influence in this universe...watch over Atticus Pye and
keep him well. He still has so much love to give..and to receive.

Pls update us as soon as you know anything. I will be thinking of you all night.
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Lorien]

2. Thanks so much BrklynLiberal

I know that you can sympathize completely. I couldn't believe it when he walked away from a chicken treat tonight-he normally grabs it and runs off growling with it! He hasn't wanted to play with Pip all weekend...and worst of all, there's that belly. The same feel as Mithril's, the same as Zephyr, who also died of FIP (one of my fosters). It has GOT to be something else! Maybe it's a blockage of some kind. Maybe a parasite-almost anything but FIP. I'm trying to think positive thoughts, but I just feel so sick. He's been the perfect playmate for Pip, and such an absolute love.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. My thoughts and heart are with you and Atticus, and all your sweet furbabies..

I guess you can just keep him close tonight, and tell him that he has to get well. :pals:

There are many of us here sending out the energy for him to be OK!

As I said, you will be on my mind and in my heart tonight.

Let me know when you find out anything...
:hug: :loveya:

[femmedem]

4. Oh Lorien, I hope this turns out well.

I know how much all your fur babies mean to you. Sending good vibes and strength to you and Atticus Pye.

[demnan]

5. Oh Lorien

I'm so sorry for the worry this is causing you. I hope it is nothing serious and the little guy will be happily playing with Pip again soon.

[hamsterjill]

6. Sending good thoughts and prayers

I am so very sorry.

I am sending my good thoughts and prayers that this little one will have something that can easily be treated so that he can return to his usual self in no time.

I had a scare with one of my rescues back in March over FIP. Thankfully and gratefully, this cat did not have FIP, but it was a wicked time going through the waiting period for the diagnosis, etc. So I can relate to your concern. I learned a lot about the disease during the waiting process, and it's very frightening. I SO wish they would find a cure!

This is not truly pertinent to your case in one way or the other, but just to clarify and share my experience - the rescue cat had what I called a "milk cow" appearance. His belly sagged and pulled down on his frame, making him look very bloated. He was lethargic and had bouts of diarrhea.

Ultimately, he was treated with antibiotics over about six weeks and recovered. We never knew for sure exactly what it was that he'd had, but the vet did bloodwork and ultimately was able to rule out FIP. (Our rescue has a limited budget and we have to stretch our resources as best we can, so we didn't pursue a definitive diagnosis - we were thankful that the cat was better.) This cat continues to thrive at this time.

I assume that you're familiar with Dr. Addie's work on FIP?

And again, I wish warm healing for your little one!!

[Lorien]

9. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, hamsterjill!

hopefully it's nothing more than a food allergy or parasites-or the mysterious ailment your rescue had.

I did read Dr. Addie's work on FIP back when my Mithril was suffering with it. I really think that being bombarded with vaccines and surgeries right before moving into a new home often is the trigger for the disease (and the SPCA-where I got Atticus Pye- doesn't fully vaccinate OR fix their animals until they're ready to go to their new homes! It's not a great system, but it's the only one they've got. Hopefully it wasn't too much for my little Pye.

[BrklynLiberal]

7. Hoping to hear some good news soon.....

:hug: :loveya:

Extra hugs to Atticus Pye..

[Lorien]

8. The vet still isn't sure what's going on with him, but he's perked up a little!

He has him on Albon, hoping that the bloat will go down after a few days. The vet said (not surprisingly) that since there's no way to diagnose FIP and no treatment for it, there's nothing more he can do than try some conservative treatments for other possible problems and hope that it's something much less serious. But I am feeling more hopeful today as Atticus did jump up on my bed to snuggle during my nap this afternoon, and he hasn't done that in days.

Thanks so much for all your well wishes. Here's hoping for the best! May he soon be back to his old activities:

[BrklynLiberal]

11. My thoughts and heart will be with you again tonight and tomorrow.

I hope that Atticus Pye is back to his old self again very soon...
I am sure Pip misses the old Atticus too...

[femmedem]

13. I'm glad to hear he's doing a little better.

Get well, little guy! Your mom loves you!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Get well, Atticus Pye.

I'm glad to hear he's doing better and hope he recovers quickly.

:hug: :hug: :hug: and purrs...

[badgerpup]

12. best vibes, kitty mojo and prayers from here too...

Lost my little Merlin to FIP a couple years ago :cry:

Finnegan (who is also a black kitten) just jumped on the desk and expressed interest in Atticus's picture.

I told him "That's Atticus Pye. His mom loves him very much and needs him to get well."

:hug: from Finn...

[livetohike]

14. Sending get well wishes to Atticus Pye from me and

an "Arf!" from Cindy and Murphy. :hug: to both of you. Sounds like your vet will figure this out.

[InvisibleTouch]

15. Sending lots of good thoughts for your little guy!

Today is the birthday of my first dog, a wonderful little toy poodle who has been gone many years. Might sound silly, but I will ask her to help from "the other side."

Let us know how Atticus is doing.

[undeterred]

16. Good thoughts to you and Atticus Pye.

:hug:

[AZBlue]

17. What a handsome boy! My thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.

[Lorien]

18. Still no real change for Atticus. It's not parasites

at least they're pretty sure. He's still so, so bloated. I feel awful for the little guy. He doesn't seem too distressed; he played under the covers while I was making the bed today, and he still asks for chicken treats-though not with the gusto he once did. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it's something other than FIP, though I don't know of anything else that makes a kitten bloat like this. :-(

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. The fact that he's not getting worse would seem to be a good sign.

Can the vet do anything to relieve the bloating? I've heard this can be caused by other digestive problems. I'm hoping for the best. :hug:

[Lorien]

20. He is a bit more bloated than before and a bit thinner everywhere else

which isn't good. I will probably take him into the vet again tomorrow. He just keeps staring at me, looking right into my eyes as if to say "can't you fix it"? It's breaking my heart.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. I hope his good spirit is a sign that this is not FIP.

I know this is probably a really stupid question, but here goes... Is there any chance that the bloated belly could be from worms?

Please keep us posted as to how Atticus Pye is doing.

Still sending warm thoughts and good vibes your way..

[Lorien]

22. He was tested for worms today and it came up negative

but there's a small chance that the sample I brought the vet didn't come from him. I just keep hoping beyond hope that it's something that can be cured.Right now it's going much the same way Mithril's condition did, but without the vomiting and fever. I feel pretty sick about it. Losing two to the same horrible disease in a year would be just too much.

[BrklynLiberal]

23. I am hoping that the lack of fever and vomiting is a good sign.

Keeping everything crossed for you and Atticus Pye.

[Eurobabe]

24. {{{Atticus Pye}}}}

Good vibes, love and thoughts - as always... :hug:

48percenter and the four-legged crew.

[Lorien]

25. He's looking a little better today

he was looking very bad two nights ago, but Saturday morning he went to the vets for some tests. His abdomen is full of fluid and he was running a high fever. His white cell count was normal-so it seemed like FIP. But the vet wasn't willing to say that it IS FIP. She said that he just didn't seem sick enough to be an FIP kitten, despite the huge belly and painfully thin body. I had printed out an PM from Hamsterjill that described the odd case of her foster kitten "Petey", who had all the signs of FIP, but recovered with a good dose of antibiotics (obviously Petey seemed to have something that mimicked FIP but was not FIP). Hamsterjill had provided a good description of Petie's illness plus the name of the antibiotic-methronizadole. My vet read the PM and agreed that Atticus Pye's case seems a lot like Petey's, so she put Pye on the same antibiotic, plus a second injectable to boost it's efficiency. Pye's fever seems to be down today and he has a small appetite, plus he looks much more bright eyed than he did two days ago. I'm hopeful that this is the beginning of a turn around for him, all thanks to Hamsterjill!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. That's really good news.

{{{Atticus Pye}}}

[BrklynLiberal]

27. That is good news. I hope that his recovery continues and he is back to his

adorable playful self very soon.

I assume you are keeping him separated from your other furbabies, so Pip must miss him. I hope
they can play together soon.

I will keep you and Atticus Pye in my thoughts, and will be sending more positive energy your way.

Thanks for the update. Please keep us posted.

{{{{{Atticus Pye}}}}} :hug:

[Lorien]

30. He's still with the rest because FIP (if it is that) isn't contagious once

the mutation to full blown FIP is made-but the corona virus that can mutate in to FIP IS contagious. 80% of all shelters kitties have it, but only 1% of those ever develop FIP. Oberon stayed at Mithril's side until the end. Pip is quite upset that his buddy is sick. He keeps wandering around the house crying, poor guy-but he knows not to pounce on Pye because he isn't feeling well.

If it is (hopefully) something else then the other guys have already had so much contact with him that separation would be a bit pointless, so hopefully whatever it is isn't easily transmissible!

[femmedem]

28. Oh what good news, Lorien.

I was hoping for the best, but it did sound so much like FIP. Now I'm feeling like the little guy's got a much better chance.

He's very lucky to have you taking such good care of him.

[livetohike]

29. That's good news - continued positive vibes for Atticus Pye

from me and Cindy and Murphy. :hug:

[Lorien]

31. He's taken a turn for the worse

he stopped eating today. He won't drink much either, and he's getting so thin and bloated. I'm taking him into the vet's in the morning to see what they have to say. Man, I can't believe this is happening. I just can't. :cry:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. Oh, no..

I hope the vet can still do something; I was so hoping he was getting better. Will keep hoping for the best.

[InvisibleTouch]

33. So sad to hear this.

I've been checking for updates. I'm still sending out hope and good thoughts for the little guy.

[BrklynLiberal]

34. Oh no....Lorien. I just do not know what to say.

Please please..let this not be FIP, but something treatable and curable....please please.

You will be in my thoughts all night...

[demnan]

35. I'm so sorry

[femmedem]

36. Oh no. Words fail.

I know how you love him. :cry:

[livetohike]

37. Still keeping you all in positive thoughts.....including the vet

hope the little guy rebounds :hug:.

[hamsterjill]

38. So sorry to hear this!

Lorien, I am so very sorry to hear this latest information. I am thinking of you and Atticus. This just doesn't seem fair. I don't know what to say except please take care of yourself. Things like this are so hard to endure.

I know one thing for certain - without ever having met you. I know that little Atticus is loved. And that means so much.

[MiniMe]

39. How is Atticus Pye doing?

How are you doing lorien? I keep checking back for an update :hug:

[Lorien]

40. I'm giving him round the clock care

he's nothing more than bones and a huge, distended belly right now. The disease is eating away his muscle mass. It's horrible to see. I'm feeding him with a syringe every few hours. I've made a mixture of high quality cat food, Pedilyte, water, Welltabs, and about five homeopathic herbs and medications that are supposed to boost his immune system and support his organs and digestion. He's not loving the feedings, but his spirits are still up and the light in his eyes hasn't dimmed, so I'm helping him to fight as best I can. It's warm here, so I took him outside yesterday and he got to see his first squirrel. He liked that. All I can do now is hope for a miracle and make every moment he has as comfortable as possible.

Thanks to everyone for the healing thoughts and kind words. :hug: :loveya:

[Coyote_Bandit]

41. .

Sending light and warm thoughts to you and little Atticus Pye.

:hug:

Have you considered having FIP antibody testing done to try and determine whether one of your other kitties might be an FIP carrier? Just a thought.....

[InvisibleTouch]

42. Hoping for a miracle right along with you. n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

43. Still hoping for that miracle.

:hug:

[Lorien]

44. He is having a better day today than he has in a few

his eyes are brighter, and he seems more interested in things. I was fixing lunch today and was surprised to find him sitting outside the kitchen in the hallway (he's spent most of the time on my bed). I took him outside for fresh air this evening, and he saw a bug in the grass and pounced on it. It was a little pounce, but still a pounce! I know that I probably have a better chance of winning the lottery than I do of saving him, but I've still got to keep trying. At least his spirits are still up, and that's something to be thankful for.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

45. That's good to hear.

If he's pouncing I guess he's feeling better!

[japple]

46. Dear Lorien, sending healing energies to your little kitty.

He is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Also sending sweetness and light to you and Atticus and asking the angels to watch over you both.

[Lorien]

47. Thanks so much Japple. Pippin is certainly hoping for the best too:

He's keeping a vigil by his friend right now:



and being a good big brother to him:



(While the corona virus is infectious, once it mutates into FIP it's no longer contagious-unless you physically take fluid from one cat and inject it into the bloodstream of another. I read that in an article and was appalled to think that a researcher might do such a thing)!

I took this a couple of days ago. He looks about the same today, maybe a little thinner. You can see his bulging belly, but his eyes are still bright and his coat is still glossy, which gives me a bit of hope:

[BrklynLiberal]

48. Lorien, I cann't help myself. I am tearing up here. I just am so angry that this

is happening to you...and Atticus and the rest of your wonderful feline family..
I left a note in the thread about raw food, but wanted to reiterate my wanting to send you the most positive energy,
white light and thoughts of recovery and happiness.

Puck is such a good brother...I think being surrounded by all that love will certainly help.


:hug: :pals:

[Dover]

49. Atticus Pye certainly knows he's loved.

Lorien, I'm so sorry your sweet baby is not well. ((((hug)))

Sending love.

[demnan]

50. Get better, Pye

You have a lot of people and cats routing for you. :hug:

[Lorien]

51. There's nothing more that I can do. Pye is fading

though he doesn't seem to be in pain. He's spent most of the past day and night by the back door-the coolest area of the house. His fever comes and goes. He won't eat, so I've been force feeding him, but he hates it. I've been taking him outside every day and night because he loves it-he can barely walk, but he perks right up when we're outdoors. He got to see a possum last night, and he seemed to forget about his illness while he was watching it. I opened the door so he could get a better look, and he lunged for it! I had no idea that kind of energy was still in him. As long as he can still find interest in the world and doesn't seem to be in pain I'll keep nursing him. I can't seem to stop crying, but I know that part of loving anything means that there's a good chance of getting really hurt. I still feel an awful bitterness about this. It's so unfair; he never should have been put through so much at the SPCA and he shouldn't be going through this now. But I can't change any of it; all I can do is try to help him enjoy what time he has left.

Oberon and Pippin have been wonderful big brothers to Atticus Pye. Oberon has spent most of the past three days by his side-and he's never shown much interest in him before this. Pippin sleeps near him too, and no longer pounces on him. I think they both understand what's happening.

Please, if you ever choose to adopt a kitten from a shelter, ask to wait a week or two between the vaccines and the spay/ neuter, and wait several days after that to take them home. No kitty should ever be put through so much at one time.

[Eurobabe]

52. Oh poor little Atticus

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

53. Oh no. I cannot stop crying. As you said this is SO UNFAIR!!!!

It is not fair to sweet little Atticus, or to you or to Pip, Oberon or Puck. I wish I could get angry so I would stop crying...
I am going to continue to hold out for a miracle....keeping you all close in my thoughts and my heart....


:cry: :cry: :pals: :cry: :cry:

[Lorien]

55. Thanks BrklynLiberal, but I didn't want you to cry too!

I've been angry and crying for days now. How can two of my furbabies have come down with this in just one year? And why on earth would the SPCA have done SO MUCH to him in a single day??? How can they not have known better! I was looking over his records; not only did they neuter, combo vaccine and send him to a new home on that day, but they wormed him too! How many other kittens have met the same fate because of this barbaric practice? How many other hearts have been broken because of it? My father warned me over and over never to adopt a kitten from the humane society/ SPCA because the ones he had adopted never survived for long. I thought that he just had a run of bad luck-I had no idea of what the shelters are putting these poor babies through! I know that many people adopt and that they DO survive, but what percentage are they? The odds seem stacked against them. Why work so hard to find pets a new home if they'll only survive in that home for a few months?? I know, I'm ranting now, but I just can't get over this. It's all so horribly wrong.

Atticus Pye was really fighting me tonight when I tried to feed him. He clamped his jaws shut and struggled as best he could. I know that he won't last long if I stop the feedings, but they're making him so unhappy. I have some hard choices to make soon. Do I keep trying to force him, or let him go? Would it be more humane to let him go naturally or call the mobile vet tomorrow? I can't bear the thought of him truly suffering. Up until now he was weak, but still alert, still interested in his world. Now he just wants to be left alone. I understand what that means, but it's so hard to let go.

Thank you, everyone, for letting me vent, rant, and sob online about all of this. Unfortunately many of my "real world" friends don't understand my feeling about my fur kids, but I know that all of you do. Thanks you so much for all of your kind words and thoughts for both of us, it means a lot to me. :hug:



:cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

57. One would think that a rescue org would know the right thing to do....DAMN THEM!!!

I hesitate to suggest such an invasive alternative, but do you think that intravenous feeding would be too much...or might it help him. I guess I am also not ready to let him go...

DAMN! DAMN! This is just not right....not fair...

:hug: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Lorien]

58. I wish that it would help, but it would only keep him as he is

for a little while longer. I've researched everything I could on the web and I did contact two homeopathic vets a while back, but one wasn't doing consultations anymore, and the other said that he had a lousy track record with FIP. I've been using the homeopathic set of treatments that I got when Mithril was sick, but I think that the best they could give him were a few extra days (at least he hasn't suffered as badly as Mithril did). He is SUCH a good boy. He's been so weak today that he can barely stand, but he still made it all the way to the litter box. When I took him outside last night he enjoyed the night air for a while, then crawled into my lap and buried his head into the crook of my arm. He's still so trusting, even though he hates the feedings. Pippin groomed him for almost half an hour tonight-such a good big brother. I've been really lucky to have had so many wonderful fur family members, and I feel very fortunate to have found as sweet and as loving a little guy as my Atticus Pye...I just thought that we'd share the next 20 years together. But despite the heartache and heartbreak, I'm glad that I adopted him. I wish I would have found him on the street or someplace other than the SPCA, but as things were the same fate would have fallen on him no matter who took him home. I MUST find a way to make the people there understand what they're doing! Regardless, I'm going to try to enjoy what time I have left with him. He's truly special.

:hug:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[BrklynLiberal]

60. He is special..and so are you.

However short his life may turn out to have been, he could not have ended up in better hands. He could not have gotten more love and
affection, and had better siblings than he had with you. His life will have been filled with love and caring and that is a lot better than so many creatures..both 4 legged, and two legged.
I know that whatever way this goes, you will have done all that you could possibly have done, and that you will always do what is best for sweet handsome Atticus Pye.

:hug: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :hug:

[InvisibleTouch]

54. I so hate to hear this. I've been following the updates and wishing him the best.

You've clearly done everything you could, and he knows he is loved, by you and by the other cats.

I'd never heard of FIP until I saw your posts. I haven't had a cat since I was about 12, so I'm not well-versed in cat care or their potential health issues. But I did a little bit of googling, and I think what you say is so important: cats shouldn't have their immune systems stressed by having numerous procedures done at once. Again, that's something I'd never heard of, and I wish the information was more visible and more well-known. I will certainly be spreading the word now!

I raise sighthounds, who can be very sensitive to veterinary treatments. One veteran breeder told me to never do vaccinations and worming at the time time - to wait a few days in between. Again, that's something I'd never heard anywhere else, and I even had a vet pooh-pooh the concept - but I still insisted on having it done my way.

This kind of information simply must become commonly known. Are shelters and humane societies simply not aware of it? If that's the case, then an informational blitz needs to happen. When you're up for it, please contact me if you want to coordinate something. It's still a nebuous concept in my mind, but something can surely be done. Maybe the pets group, overall, can get a project going.

[navarth]

56. May I add my good wishes too?

My wife and I are life long cat lovers and I just thought I'd check out the pets forum because we're going through some heartbreak with one of our boys.

The story of Atiicus Pye is breaking my heart. He's such a fine looking lad. My heart goes out to you.

Sending healing vibes to you.

Love hurts.

[alstephenson]

59. Atticus looks just like my Shadow.

This is breaking my heart. Stay strong, sweet Atticus.:cry:

[Lorien]

61. Goodbye sweet Atticus Pye

Atticus was struggling to breath this morning. He kept moving from spot to spot, never seeming to find a comfortable one. I tried to give him his food and water, but it ran out the sides of his mouth and he gagged on it. It was his time. I couldn't let what happened to Mithril happen to him (no details, but it wasn't peaceful). I called my mobile vet, who came to the house less than an hour ago. Atticus Pye's passing was peaceful and quiet, laying in his favorite bed, on top of his favorite blue blankie that he loved to knead, with his head resting on a little pillow and being stroked and kissed by his mom. I gave him the best that I could, but I still feel so awful about it all. And so angry with the SPCA (I wish that I wasn't because I've been supporting them for so long) and so upset with myself for not being able to find some way to save him. Pippin saw him after he passed. I don't know if he understood what happened. He's been so unhappy since Atticus became ill. They were SUCH perfect friends. I know he'll need another kitten of his own, and soon, but I'm going to be so fearful of going through this again that it will be a tough thing to do.

Goodbye sweet Atticus Pye. You were as perfect a kitten as anyone could have wished for. Loving, playful, loyal, cheerful, quiet and always as polite as could be (that sounds strange, but he really was). You were beautiful, delicate and softer than any bunny. You slept on the back of my chair while I worked, in front of the Cintiq while I was online, and on the pillow next to me at night. You kept my visitors company and charmed every one of them; "What a wonderful kitten this is! You really lucked out with him" they would say. You would dance on your tiptoes, with your back arched and your tail quivering with delight when I returned home, always wanting to be petted. You kept up with crazy Pippin, tearing around the house in the morning and evenings as if both your tails were on fire, and gave Oberon and Puck the peace they craved. You were loved very much, little one, and I will always miss you.






:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[MissHoneychurch]

62. I am so sorry Lorien

I was keeping track and was hoping that your baby would pull through.

:cry:

Good bye Atticus Pye. You will be very missed.

:hug:

[lukasahero]

63. I'm so sorry, Lorien

I hope you can take some comfort in knowing you did everything you possibly could for him and made his passing peaceful when nothing more could be done.

:cry:

and

:hug:

Rest in peace, beautiful boy.

[Sanity Claws]

64. I am so sorry

I kept checking to see if Atticus improved. My condolences on your loss.

[alstephenson]

65. I am so sorry for your loss of Atticus Pye.

R.I.P., sweet kitty. I am typing through tears.:cry: :cry: :cry:

[hamsterjill]

66. Weeping with you.

I'm so sorry...so very sorry.

[BrklynLiberal]

67. I am at a loss to express my sorrow over your loss..

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :pals: :hug:

[virgdem]

68. So very sorry for your great loss...

I was hoping against hope that Atticus Pye would somehow pull through and this is so sad to read of his passing. You are a great cat mom and you did all that you possibly could have done, but the little guy probably had FIP and that is a horrible disease. I just lost one of my guys in October, so I know your pain and grief all too well. I know that when you are ready, you will get Pippin a new playmate.

RIP, Atticus Pye!

[Lorien]

85. Thanks Virgdem

I'm so sorry for your loss too.It's always even harder than we think it will be. :hug:

[japple]

69. Dear Lorien, your dear little kitty knows how much you loved

him and I know he is grateful to you for helping him to be released from his sick body. You did everything you could possibly do to save him, but he just wasn't able to overcome his illness. Take comfort in knowing that his sweet spirit is dancing in the light and you will see him again someday.

[badgerpup]

70. Grieving for your loss with you...

:cry:

It hurts so to lose them, and knowing you've done your best and the 'right thing' in giving him a boost toward the Bridge doesn't seem to make it easier.
If only love was enough...

Lost my little Merlin to FIP a couple years ago, so have some idea what you (and your other furkids) are going through...:hug:

[Lorien]

86. I'm so sorry that you lost Merlin to FIP as well

it seems like a largely preventable disease, if only the vets and shelters can be made to understand it's true cause. Little ones shouldn't be forced to suffer so. :hug:

[femmedem]

71. I'm so very sorry, Lorien.

He was a sweet precious soul. And you did everything, everything possible to love him, to save him, to comfort him, to bring him joy, and to end his suffering when joy was no longer possible.

Maybe someday, when you are ready to take on another battle, this will change the way the SPCA does things.

[Lorien]

87. Thanks so much femmedem. I will try

once I can talk about it without bursting into tears. I can't stop thinking about just how many hearts have been broken and lives have been lost in the interest of moving them through the system quickly and cheaply. Do they know what they're doing? My vet said that there's been a sharp increase in FIP cases in shelter cats over the past few years. It's not at all surprising to me now. It can be stopped, and it should be!

:hug:

[mnotr2]

72. Iam angry and sad for you Lorien

We lost alot of rescued babies before we figured out the spay/worm/vaccinate routine was killing as many as it saved.
since then we set it up with the shelters we work with to call as soon as adoptable cats and kittens come in but before
they go through the system. If any good comes from your loss it will be that more people are aware of this practice.
What started for us as a rescue of a few kittens has become a full blown mission,todate with the help of a handful
of foster families we have found homes for over six hundred animals. All because we had our hearts broken. When it's time
for you and Pippin to try again may I suggest going to Petco or Petsmart their animals come from rescue foster families
and give you the best chance at a healthy well adjusted angel.Bless you for the love you gave your sweet boy.

[Lorien]

88. Thank you for all that you do for the furkids. I'm so glad that you

discovered the dangers of overloading their systems before more were lost. I'm sure those 600+ cats are still providing wonderful companionship to the people in their new homes because of your thoughtful care. I fostered for quite a while too( we also adopted out of Petsmart) but I lost two of those to FIP and more to panleukapenia. I get so attached that it just became unbearable for me, so I really appreciate what you are doing. I will get Pippin another kitten of his own as soon as I can handle looking at them again, but it will come from a foster home or the pound, not the SPCA.

:hug:

[Coyote_Bandit]

73. .

:hug:

[Dover]

76. I'm heartbroken..

:cry:

(((( Atticus Pye, familiar spirit. ))))

[Eurobabe]

77. Heartbreaking....

Rest in Peace Atticus Pye, sweet angel who left us too soon.

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Lorien, you made his short life a wonderful one. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[livetohike]

78. I'm so sorry Lorien

My heart is breaking for you and the little guy :hug: :hug: :hug: .

[Samurai_Writer]

79. I'm so sorry, Lorien

You gave him a great life, short as it was. *hugs*

[Lorien]

89. Thanks RadFemFL

give Sterling a snuggle for me. :hugs:

[InvisibleTouch]

80. RIP baby cat.

You can bet I will take every opportunity to spread the word about the danger of all-at-once vet procedures for cats.

[Lorien]

90. Thank you InvisableTouch

you may save a few lives and hearts for doing so. :hug:

[Political Tiger]

84. I am so sorry to hear about your loss

I wish I could say something to ease your pain but I know of no such words.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

94. sorry about your loss and

I had to put one of my pets to sleep last year.
An elderly Chiuhuahu that I had adopted when she was around 11.
Sadly, I had to have her put to sleep at the vet's office, which was even worse, IMHO.

Now, every time I think about it, I get tears in my eyes.
Also, I wish I had put her to sleep sooner, but I had no idea how sick she was.

Very sorry for your loss.

[AZBlue]

95. I'm so so sorry!

:cry:

[Behind the Aegis]

96. Much sympathy!

He was lucky to have someone as kind and loving as you to help in his life and his final moments.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

74. I'm so very sorry!

Pye was such a sweetie... You did everything you could, more than most people would have done. He knew you loved him, I'm sure.

The first I'd ever heard of FIP was from some threads here on DU, yours and a few others. I've had an assortment of shelter cats and strays for over thirty years, and this is all new to me. Is this a newly mutated disease, or something we just didn't know about? It's terrible...

Would it be possible for us DU cat people to organize some kind of information campaign in Pye's and Mithril's and other DU kittens' memories, maybe a web site, so other people -- especially those who manage shelters -- are more aware of this so they handle vaccinations and such in a way that doesn't trigger these outbreaks? It's so awfully sad to lose these little guys so unnecessarily.

R.I.P., Atticus Pye.

Poem For Cats

And God asked the feline spirit
Are you ready to come home?
Oh, yes, quite so, replied the precious soul
And, as a cat, you know I am most able
To decide anything for myself.

Are you coming then? asked God.
Soon, replied the whiskered angel
But I must come slowly
For my human friends are troubled
For you see, they need me, quite certainly.

But don't they understand? asked God
That you'll never leave them?
That your souls are intertwined. For all eternity?
That nothing is created or destroyed?
It just is....forever and ever and ever.

Eventually they will understand,
Replied the glorious cat
For I will whisper into their hearts
That I am always with them
I just am....forever and ever and ever.

Author Unknown

[Lorien]

92. Thank you for the thoughtful poem

and yes, I'd like to put together an information campaign as soon as the holidays are over and I can collect my thoughts. NO kitty-or family-should ever have to go through this again!

:hug: :loveya:

[roody]

75. Such sad news. I am so sorry for your loss.

Tears will leave no stain.
Time will ease the pain.
For every life that fades
Something beautiful remains.

from Tina Turner's Wildest Dreams

[AndyA]

81. Lorien, I'm so sorry. Anyone who has lost a little friend understands.

The love you gave, they take with them, and it keeps them safe and warm.

The love they gave, stays with you forever until you are reunited with them.

The love never dies, it's always there.

[Grateful for Hope]

82. Oh, Lorien

I am so very, very sad and sorry that this happened (again) to you.

You are, beyond a doubt, the most loving person I have ever "known" towards kitties.

I have been giving your most recent experience with Atticus Pye a great deal of thought, and, I am thinking that perhaps these two little kitties (that came to live with you and did not survive because of FIP) saw you as a "mother" that will speak out and be instrumental in stopping the awful practice of subjecting these little ones to a myriad of procedures in such a short period of time just to get them adopted.

If anyone can be effective, I know you can be. Your post here about what we are feeding our pets is legendary.

I wish I lived close to you so that I could give you a very warm hug.

Since I don't:
:hug:

Lorien, please let us know how you are doing.

Again, I am SO sorry.

[Lorien]

93. ....

:hug:

Thank you so much, and thanks to everyone here for your kind and thoughtful words. I've been sleeping a lot the past two days. The loss of work and my dear Atticus Pye seems like too much during an already stressful season. I will be putting together something to get the word out about the causes of FIP. It has to end.

:loveya:

[demnan]

83. I'm so sorry, Lorien

He had a brief time on this earth knowing he was loved. I hope all in your family who loved him will be consoled by the fact that he was perfectly happy living with you.

[brer cat]

91. I am so sorry for your loss, Lorien.

Atticus Pye was a beautiful baby. May he have a lasting legacy by educating us to the dangers of too much, too soon. Our babies need time to adjust between treatments.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and his fur friends left behind.

:hug:

[Lisa0825]

97. I am so very sorry.

I wish there was more I could say... :hug: