Conference misery::feline_v1

165.0. "Morlock" by PEN::KALLIS () Wed Oct 30 1985 09:42

	Morlock came into my life as a tiny, somewhat chubby kitten.  As with
all "best cats," I let him choose me.  Orange-and-white (with "white booties")
and wide little orange eyes, he approached me from his mother, and I knew
he was my little cat.
	In some ways, Morlock started his life out with me somewhat trau-
matically.  His mother was the cat of a (non-cat-oriented) friend of mine's
mother, and he brought Morlock in to me at work.  The little one came into
the office screaming his little lungs out.
	I took the rest of the day off, and brought him home to meet the
rest of the cats.  There was Angelica, the 17-year-old Sealpoint Siamese, who
would be with him another year before passing on.  And there were Merlin, a
half-Siamese-half-Manx kitten with only the stub of a tail; and Vivianne, 
another half-Siamese kitten from a different mother; both were jet black, and
both were older enough than Morlock so that they kept together and -- well,
"picked on him" would be too strong, but let him know His Place.
	Morlock grew from a tubby kitten to a lasrge, tubby cat.  He was shy, 
gentle, and kind.  He meowed little, anmd only when in some distress.
	When my future wife came into his life, he scooted from her, as he did 
from most strangers.  But eventually he accepted her enough to lick her fingers.
	Morlock grew into a gentle cat.  He would lick the other cats' fore-
heads, keep out of the way, and not complain.  An indoor cat, he never ventured
out, even when the ingenious Merlin managed to open a door onm the porch to the
Great Outside.
	Morlock never quite outgrew his kittenhood in some ways.
	A little over a week ago, Morlock was in the living room.  He seemed
tired, and when he moved, he wouldn't go over a dozen steps before he would
lie down.  Carmen and I first put it down to his overweight (he was fat --
although he didn't have a small frame, he weighed over 25 pounds), but she
noticed his breathing was difficult.  We became alarmed, and took him to a
24-hour emergency animal-care facility.
	X-rays there showed his chest cavity was half-full of fluid; his lung 
capacity was so reduced he was suffering from oxygen depletion.
	They worked on him overnight, with some results.  He improved enough to
complain about the drive when I picked him up the next morning and took him to 
his regular vet.
	he stayed there a week.  The doctyor told me, "I never saw such an
understanding and cooperative cat.  He knew we were trying to help him.  He
never struggled or complained when we took a blood sample or other procedure."
	On October 28, at 10:30 PM, he died. The vet witnessed it; apparently,
it was a stroke or heard attack.  By the time the doctor got the cagew open, it
was too late.  Of it, he said, "I hate to lose any animal.  But there are some
I hate losing a lot more than others."
	Morlock was four years old.  He knew I loved him and that, through the 
end, I was trying to help him.  He was purring when I took him to the vet's,
even though normally he hated the office.
	He will be buried with the best ceremony I can manage.  If there is 
a special heaven for cats, he already has found a special place in it.  I miss
him very deeply.

Steve Kallis, Jr.

Steve, what can I say except that I understand your pain.  I lost my very
special 'boy' over a year ago when he was only 1 1/2 years old.  I still
cry about it.  I'm sure you have many fond memories of Morlock's four years
with you and hopefully, they will help ease your great loss.

Donna Dudley

> I'm sure you have many fond memories of Morlock's four years
> with you and hopefully, they will help ease your great loss.

My experience is that the more fond memories I have, the *less* they
tend to ease the feeling of loss.

/Eric

re .2
Can't a person even offer their sympathies without someone
disputing or disagreeing with it?  Let people say what they
want, will ya Eric.

Steve,

Figaro and I are sorry that you lost such a close friend.  Our deepest
sympathies.

  ^_^
 (>.<)
  ) (

Figaro and Jeannie

Steve,

The Fuj and I still remember the Late Great B. R. Kitty and get choked
up. . .I'm sorry you lost Morlock.  Sometimes it seems the gentlest of
the souls (feline and human, both) leave us the soonest--maybe it's some
of their karma to us.

As a DEJAVU.noter, have you thoughts on karmic relationships between
pets and humans?  I thought a lot about B.R. and her effect on me
after she left.

With sympathy,

Edwina (and the Fuj)

Steve,

     Having lost a cat previously, my heart goes out to you.  I can see from
your note how much you and Morlock meant to one another (I shed a tear).
You didn't just lose a cat, you lost a friend.  I agree with a previous note.
Cling to those happy memories; Cherish them and Morlock will continue to
be a part of your life.

Denise

Many thanks for all the kind words.  re .5, .6, and private messages,
Morlock, Morgan, Nianinne, and Angelica _do_ reside in my memory, but I hope
there is a place for them to dwell beyond me, as well.  Morgan and Morlock
were extra-special, despite the fact I loved all my cats.  I will write of 
Morgan separately, if anyone wants to hear of the near-perfect cat.  But 
where Morgan was the grand gentleman, Morlock was the eternal kitten, and
ever so gentle.

Steve Kallis, Jr.