Louie from Oklahoma City

by Denise Moreland
(Oklahoma City)

Louie came to me and my husband in March, 2015, and decided to call us his own. Louie was a sweet loving li'l boy. He followed us around like a dog. Neighbors called him a guard cat.

Louie was yellowish-white and had big, bright blue eyes. He even got to the point of knowing the sound of my car. He kept other strays away.

It's ironic when he showed up, because a month later me and my husband got pregnant. He was oh so gentle. He loved to talk to you. He was and still is my bubba.

In the beginning of November, 2015, Louie became very estranged... barely eating. He would hide for days and show back up. We thought he had another home.

On November 11, 2015, I found him under a bush making a weird meowing sound. I called him and he came walking out, drunk-like but hungry.

We tried feeding him, but he wouldn't eat. It was cold, so we brought him in and made a bed for him in the bathroom. He seemed to get worse, but I refused to give up hope.

On November 15, 2015, I force fed him chicken broth and water. He ate it. Later on that night he was eating canned cat food and drinking water and milk.

He continued to do this for 4 days, then took a dramatic turn for the worse. He quit eating, quit drinking, slept all the time, and quit going to the litter box. He actually slept in the litter box.

I told him to let go. I cried over him. He started to get where he wanted nothing to do with my husband and only wanted me. I would even sleep with him.

I tried feeding him again, water and food, force feeding and he ate. An hour later, his strength was so bad that he pottied on himself. I cleaned him and went to bed.

Monday came around. He was still asleep, but loving on me. Tuesday came around. I went to work and came home at six to find that he passed in his sleep. My husband said not even an hour later he was awake and fine. My sweet Louie waited til I was gone to pass so I wouldn't see it.

I held him for an hour after and cried tears of sorrow. If he had made it, he was going to be my daughter's cat. He loved being curled up to my stomach. My sweet Louie, I love and miss you every day.