Three and a half years ago my soul mate cat Perry was diagnosed with both a serious heart issue and either IBD or GI cancer of some sort. At the time we thought he’d only have maybe a year. I was broken hearted to learn this because he was only seven years old.
We were blessed to actually get these 3 1/2 years instead. He required several medications. And he suffered with horrible diarrhea most days. But his love was strong so he hung on.
Until Tuesday night when he stopped eating and drinking and began to hide himself away. I realized that Perry was breathing rapidly with his mouth slightly open. The gardener and I were supposed to go on a business trip, so I told him to go without me–that I would stay and take care of Perry. Yesterday, I had to let the emergency vet put Perry out of current suffering. What I was told was that they had exhausted what they could for him, and that I could take him to a specialty emergency hospital. He probably had a few things wrong with him–pneumonia, congestive heart failure, maybe more. What that special ER visit would entail would be lots of nasty testing and then he would be hositalized for at least a few days–with a feeding tube. And the prognosis wasn’t good. I could see the vet was telling me something.
After conferring with the gardener who spoke with the vet on the phone, we decided we couldn’t let his sensitive soul suffer any longer when there was no hope of him actually getting well enough to enjoy life.
So on May 28, 2026. Perry, my very best friend, passed away.
If you don’t know, Perry was a stray in my yard nine years ago. We trapped him in a trapping cage and got him neutered. Then I brought him to the animal rescue where the gardener and I both volunteered. I visited every day and read him his favorite Curious George book. But he seemed feral in that setting, and the rescue asked me to find another place for him as he was too difficult to care for. So I bought a 3 tier cage and brought him home. He stayed in that cage until he felt comfortable hanging out in the room. For two months I read and sang to him for a few minutes every waking hour. I held his bowl while he ate.
Finally one day while he was hiding under the bed and I put my hand toward him, he rubbed against my hand. Then I knew he was not really feral, just a very very scared and neglected stray cat who had been infested with worms and whose paws were thickly callused. Perry’s soulful eyes and gentle but commanding personality quickly made him my favorite cat of all time. He was the most unique and more like a toddler than a cat sometimes. We became a team, Perry and Mama. And more recently when my grandson Hudson would lie on the couch with me Perry would squeeze his way between us all the while licking us both to show that although he had to come first with Mama, he loved Hudson, too.
I wrote this poem when Perry was first diagnosed, and it was published in a small journal that is defunct.
Perry
I call my other cats dear heart names–
Tiger Queenie Princess Mimi
and Meeskeleh Meeskeleh Meeskerelli.
Lily Billy Peaches and Cream.
Perry is Perry.
Perry is a cartoon cat.
He’s Tom of Tom and Jerry.
My other cats look like regular cats.
Those cats hobble into old age
with arthritis and newfound
appreciation for my help.
Perry ignores all boundaries.
He carries his octopus, fish, and squid
upstairs and down, wherever we are.
He stares at the others for attention.
My other cats lie on the couch back,
the chair, the bed, or in the new box.
Perry lies tummy up in the crook
of my arm for the length of a movie.
When I’m mad at my husband I say
I’ll divorce you and marry Perry!
Perry is only lucky number seven.
The others are elderly and wise.
Perry has been imaged inside and out.
He doesn’t know what we saw,
and I can’t feel what I saw, or
I won’t be able to breathe, so I say
Perry is Perry.
I’m so very sorry, Luanne. Poor little Perry. My heart goes out to you, and to everyone that loses a beloved pet. The hardest part of loving them! Hugs. 💔
Thanks, Jennifer. This is sooo hard.
I can’t “like” this one, Luanne. I’m so very sorry. My Ricky was like your Perry was to you. It’s so very hard. 💔
I’m glad you had that extra time with him though.
Thank you, Merril. I was always grateful to get that extra time with him. I know Ricky was special to you. It makes a hard thing so much harder.
You’re welcome, Luanne. I wish I could say something other than I’m sorry, but I know it takes times. Sending hugs.
I am so sorry. So young and loving. Sending hugs.
Just the bestest. Thanks, Kate.
My heart goes out to you on such a difficult lost. Perry.
Thank you so much, Joy. I feel like my heart is crushed.
What a blessing you were to Perry! With you, he had the best possible life.
His heart was so open once he finally realized he had a home and people weren’t awful. His life was a little hard because he didn’t always feel that great (especially his tummy), but he loved me so much (and the rest of the family too) and enjoyed being friends with the other cats and being “in charge” yet still being Mama’s baby.
Dear Luanne, I’m so sorry to hear about Perry. I’m holding you in my heart. ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen. xo
Luanne, I’m heartbroken.
I’ve been through that twice with my two cats who were brothers
I know the pain of losing them and I know what you’re feeling about Perry. Sorry doesn’t come near to expressing how I feel.
Anneli, thank you so very much. So so hard.
Such sad news. I went back and read about his DNA and his health issues. You worked with him a long time to make him comfortable indoors. You and Perry loved each other. He was such a beautiful, sweet soul. 😔
Thank you so much. He really was! I was just reading about how sphynx cats are more prone to heart issues, so it’s possible that his DNA played a role in his health problems although probably the worst part of it was that he probably survived the deadly FIP as a kitten. That illness would have screwed him up inside.
I’m so sorry you’ve lost your beloved Perry. Mr. Johnson’s last few months were similar, and we couldn’t let him suffer like that.
No, it would be terrible to let them suffer. But it’s such a difficult decision. Thank you, Liz.
Oh, it is. You’re welcome, Luanne.
I don’t think I knew Perry’s whole back story. It makes me feel even sadder for you. No wonder he was so devoted to you. You saved him and then you showed him he was loved. I am so sorry, Luanne. You know even though I never met Perry, he always reminded me of Smokey, who was my soulmate cat and gray and white.
He was always unique, even in how it wasn’t clear if he was feral or stray because he acted like a feral cat, but there was something about him that a very few picked up on. There was a male tech at the shelter who insisted he wasn’t feral. And the vet who performed his neutering. But to all appearances he seemed feral. It was a lot of work “civilizing” him (I think of Huck Finn haha), but sooooooooooo rewarding. Yes, Smokey was very similar.
Well, Smokey was definitely never feral! We adopted him and his sister Luna from a couple who had three cats from a litter and had never spayed or neutered them. So the two male brothers had impregnated their sister, and that produced Smokey and Luna and three other kittens. We picked Luna because she was the friendliest and Smokey because he was the only one with gray fur (the others and all three parents were black and white tuxedos). Smokey was very, very shy except with us, but definitely not feral!
I so admire people who rescue feral cats or foster kittens who need constant care. I am not cut out for either. Perry was SOOO lucky he found you!
I admit I wouldn’t put that time into a kitten. I don’t have the patience for that, but Perry was a full grown boy in need of help. There are always people around for the kittens ;). Smokey and Luna were so lucky to have you!!!!!
More that I was lucky to have them! I have always adopted kittens because cats live for so short a time that I want to maximize the years I possibly can have with them, given how attached I become. I am not sure whether I will do that going forward though—I don’t want my cats to outlive me.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Luanne. I had a best friend named Frankie, and we were together for 15 years. The hardest thing I did was to let him go, but like Perry, it was best for him. You were brave and filled with love, letting Perry be free of pain and suffering. I know you took on suffering so he would no longer. Over time, I hope the beautiful memories of Perry will replace the pain you feel now.
I’m so sorry about Frankie. It’s so hard when they are so close. Thank you so much for your kind words, John.
So sorry!
Thank you, Ellen.
((( <3 )))
Thank you, Annette!
I am so very sorry for your loss, Luanne!! Sending hugs!
Thank you so, Rebecca. That means a lot.
🤗🤗🤗
So sorry for your breaking heart tonight, Luanne. 💕
Eilene, thank you so much. Muuuuch appreciated.
My commiserations, Luane. That is a fine tribute poem
Thank you so much, Derrick. He deserves/d so much!!!
I’m so so sorry for your loss. God bless.
Thank you so, Polly. He was so special.
Oh, so sorry to hear about Perry; our furbabies always tug at our hearts. Your poem is a wonderful tribute.
Thank you so much, Ann Marie. Your comments do help.
Perry was a very dear kitty. Friends for a short time, remembered for a lifetime. Sometimes cats come to us with serious, chronic medical problems. We do what we can to help, and love them. They love us in return. You and Perry are in my thoughts and prayers.
Yes: “Friends for a short time, remembered for a lifetime.” So well put. We do the best we can to help. But so much love!!! Thank you so much, Lavinia. I know you have been through it.
I remember when Perry came to live with you, and how thrilled you were when he began to trust you. What a wonderful relationship you shared! <3 I'm so sorry you've had to say goodbye. It is by far the hardest thing we take on when we let them into our lives.
Thank you, Jennifer. So so hard. He was the most amazingly loving soul. xo
I love the image of you and Perry and Hudson. A gift of love in such a difficult time.
Perry will never!!! be forgotten. Thanks, Ellen.
Yeah, it’s hard Luanne. I’m sure I’ve told you on several occasions, I still miss the cat I lost almost forty years ago.
My dear Luanne, I was out of town during this time and wasn’t aware of your losing Perry until moments ago. I cannot tell you how much I feel for you in this loss – if it helps in any way to know that others care for you and know what it is to feel similar pain, I want you to know you have another friend who understands and will be thinking of you. Some losses are simply irreplaceable, and Perry is that for you. Thank whatever gods may be for the love of Perry for you and you for him. I will be thinking of you and the gardener and Hudson, too, with love and sympathy.
Thank you so much, Sheila. That means a lot to me. You know because you remember from the beginning how special Perry was. Hudson saw Perry’s picture on my slide show picture frame and looked around, starting to call to him, then the gardener walked in and distracted him accidentally, which was kind of a WHEW because I didn’t know what to tell a 2 year old. He didn’t mention Perry again during the visit. xo
Ah. Hudson may ask for him, but they forget sooner than we do. Still hard when they ask. Do the best you can, as I know you will do, and it’s the right amount.
Thanks, Sheila. I’m trying!!!