Chester was a very sweet cat who decided to take up residence in our front yard. I had seen him in the neighborhood at times for a few years. But he suddenly started staying in our yard most of the time, and this went on for about two months. Not wanting to see him starve, I fed him.
He got to be very friendly----loved to be petted---and would come running when I called him to be fed.
The picture of him shows him looking in our window, where he would sometimes sit and meow---trying to tell us that he wanted to join the rest of us inside.
Finally, we decided that he deserved better than to just stay in the yard where he might come to some kind of harm. His head had gotten scratched up recently from being in a fight with another cat.
So--, we took him to our vet to see about getting all of his shots---get him neutered, and getting him whatever else he might need---especilly so we could see how he would work out in our home.
Sadly, I got a call from the vet telling me that Chester had tested positive for feline leukemia, and that he would need to be put down.
We were shocked. He seemed to be in the picture of health---was happy---ate well---and showed no signs whatsoever of being sick.
Though I feel really bad for Chester (and somewhat like a traitor), and will never forget him, I learned the hard way why it is so important for people to try to prevent feline leukemia, and not to let their cats run loose----especially in a city. Chester paid the ultimate price for someone's neglect. And we lost a dearly loved friend.
He got to be very friendly----loved to be petted---and would come running when I called him to be fed.
The picture of him shows him looking in our window, where he would sometimes sit and meow---trying to tell us that he wanted to join the rest of us inside.
Finally, we decided that he deserved better than to just stay in the yard where he might come to some kind of harm. His head had gotten scratched up recently from being in a fight with another cat.
So--, we took him to our vet to see about getting all of his shots---get him neutered, and getting him whatever else he might need---especilly so we could see how he would work out in our home.
Sadly, I got a call from the vet telling me that Chester had tested positive for feline leukemia, and that he would need to be put down.
We were shocked. He seemed to be in the picture of health---was happy---ate well---and showed no signs whatsoever of being sick.
Though I feel really bad for Chester (and somewhat like a traitor), and will never forget him, I learned the hard way why it is so important for people to try to prevent feline leukemia, and not to let their cats run loose----especially in a city. Chester paid the ultimate price for someone's neglect. And we lost a dearly loved friend.
Chester was a very sweet cat who decided to take up residence in our front yard. I had seen him in the neighborhood at times for a few years. But he suddenly started staying in our yard most of the time, and this went on for about two months. Not wanting to see him starve, I fed him.
He got to be very friendly----loved to be petted---and would come running when I called him to be fed.
The picture of him shows him looking in our window, where he would sometimes sit and meow---trying to tell us that he wanted to join the rest of us inside.
Finally, we decided that he deserved better than to just stay in the yard where he might come to some kind of harm. His head had gotten scratched up recently from being in a fight with another cat.
So--, we took him to our vet to see about getting all of his shots---get him neutered, and getting him whatever else he might need---especilly so we could see how he would work out in our home.
Sadly, I got a call from the vet telling me that Chester had tested positive for feline leukemia, and that he would need to be put down.
We were shocked. He seemed to be in the picture of health---was happy---ate well---and showed no signs whatsoever of being sick.
Though I feel really bad for Chester (and somewhat like a traitor), and will never forget him, I learned the hard way why it is so important for people to try to prevent feline leukemia, and not to let their cats run loose----especially in a city. Chester paid the ultimate price for someone's neglect. And we lost a dearly loved friend.
He got to be very friendly----loved to be petted---and would come running when I called him to be fed.
The picture of him shows him looking in our window, where he would sometimes sit and meow---trying to tell us that he wanted to join the rest of us inside.
Finally, we decided that he deserved better than to just stay in the yard where he might come to some kind of harm. His head had gotten scratched up recently from being in a fight with another cat.
So--, we took him to our vet to see about getting all of his shots---get him neutered, and getting him whatever else he might need---especilly so we could see how he would work out in our home.
Sadly, I got a call from the vet telling me that Chester had tested positive for feline leukemia, and that he would need to be put down.
We were shocked. He seemed to be in the picture of health---was happy---ate well---and showed no signs whatsoever of being sick.
Though I feel really bad for Chester (and somewhat like a traitor), and will never forget him, I learned the hard way why it is so important for people to try to prevent feline leukemia, and not to let their cats run loose----especially in a city. Chester paid the ultimate price for someone's neglect. And we lost a dearly loved friend.
