Onyx, our cat

We've been unable to get internet access since we left Berlin 6 days ago, and when we log on Locke informs me of an urgent e-mail from my sister Sue. Unfortunately, during the night of April 27th my cat Onyx passed away at the Cat's Inn boarding house in Belmont. As I'm writing this I'm in a total state of shock, yet the news was not quite unexpected either.

Last month, Onyx was coughing a lot and water was dripping from his nose. I suspected some form of kitty asthma, so I scheduled a visit to the vet on April 1st. By total coincidence, Onyx turned 10 years old on that day. However, when I went to pick him up the vet informed me that things were not good. He had water in both his lungs and his body cavity. After several x-rays, ultrasounds, and a fluid sample no concrete diagnosis could be determine. Whenever a cat gets water in its lungs, the prognosis is usually not a very good one.

Because of his condition, I decided to board him so that he could get care around the clock and be fed medications during the entire time. I was very much hoping that when we dropped him off on April 20th that he would make it until we came back. He lasted just a week...

Of all my pets, Onyx was the closest to my heart. Onyx was very sweet, funny, lovable cat. Al & I will miss him dearly.

27 May 2005 update:
Locke and I picked up the cremated remains from the vet today. I tried to pick them up last week, but I left the vet's office because it was too emotional for me. So, we bring his remains home and then reminisce over Onyx's pictures that we've seen for the first time since his death. I also have a movie of him as he scampers along the hallway looking for our front door. For you pet-lovers out there – document it now. The pictures and movies are a wonderful collection of my decade-long time spent with Onyx as he is now in a better place.

-- Al & Locke