Some of you may remember she developed uveitis in March 2006 and we then learned she had FIP. I spoke to the breeder and learned the entire litter had it. She survived longer than all the others even though she was the littlest cat in the litter. We treated the eye and it them went to her lung in November 2006, and we had that drained and she rebounded, shocking everyone. The eye kept causing occasional problems, but she's been happy and generally healthy for most of the last 18 months. Se was a very special cat who was especially fond of DH who would play the whistle game with her (he would hide and whistle, and she'd hunt for him).

A few weeks ago she stopped wanting to eat and we had to entice her with fresh tuna steak and other treats. She then began losing control of her back legs and the vet told us the FIP had become neurological and was in her spinal column. She's been eating almost nothing, just drinking water, even though she was taking Pred and an appetite stimulant (Remeron). She dropped to about 7 pounds.

By Friday night DH and I knew she was going downhill rapidly. We covered the furniture with plastic and blankets so we didn't have to worry about the occasional leak. Last night I stayed up until 3:00 am with her and then DH took over. She had a seizure at around 3:00 am and then another one a few hours later. She would race around, panting and drooling, with a terrified look on her face. They were getting closer together today and we had to make the decision I never wanted to have to make.

We took her out in the yard to walk in the clover, which she loved. She watched the monarch butterflies and wandered around the garden we just planted. She had two seizures while we were out there, and we finally took her to the emergency vet. When we brought her in the vet seemed surprised we were there to put her to sleep. Wrapped in a towel in my arms you couldn't see how thin she had become, she looked like the little two year old cat she was, with her big blue eyes. I explained the medical history (advanced non-effusive FIP with spinal involvement and seizures). She had two more seizures while we waited. She went very peacefully, purring right to the end.

We buried her in the center of the new garden. Eventually an urn will mark the spot.

I want to thank all of you that gave me great advice and offered words of support over the last 18 months.

Lisa

Susan

Linda

Cleo was a beautiful kitty. I hope it is true that we all get to see our lost animals again someday!