by Carol
(St. Louis, Missouri)

Ernie last christmas

Ernie was a stray cat I found on the back deck. I called to him and he just ran over to me and let me pick him up and pet him. He was maybe 7 weeks old at the time and weighed 2 pounds. I fell in love right away. He was so funny, he loved chasing marshmallows, climbing in boxes, belly rubs and scratches under his chin. He also loved me unconditionally. On the evening of November 10th he wouldn't eat. I took him to the vet on the 11th. On the 12th he died. He was not eating and having trouble breathing. The doctor thought it was a bacterial infection and was treating him. All of a sudden he cried out and lurched forward, then fell to his side. The vet tried to aspirate him but blood was in his lungs. I wonder what I could have done to save him, he was only a year old. I miss him terribly.