Our “Old Man” Ajax is no longer with us. We knew he was in early kidney failure earlier this year. He’s been getting thinner and thinner. Two days ago, I decided to try to get a little weight back on him. I opened a can of food, but he just licked the moisture off it and left the food. Yesterday and today, he wouldn’t touch it. He wouldn’t touch chicken baby food this morning. I brought him to Dr. Valeri. His temperature was 93. Moses put him in the warming chamber until Dr. Valeri came in.  His temperature began to rise. He was alert and aware of his surroundings. I could tell he was in pain.

Dr. Valeri came in and offered to do bloodwork. We talked a little more and I decided she didn’t need to do things that didn’t need to be done to make me feel better. Mr. L and I both knew it was his time. Dr. Valeri’s gut feel was kidney failure given he’s Siamese and 13 years old. That was her only diagnosis, and I concurred. We did what was most humane for Ajax, and he’s no longer suffering. This wasn’t easy for Dr. Valeri either, because Ajax was her favorite of all my kitties. He always got special treatment from her when he boarded there.

The featured photo was how I was introduced to Ajax — Mr. L sent one of his only text messages with that picture to announce his arrival (Sophocles is the adult kitty in the photo). He is buried next to Millie. He was most devoted to Mr. L and tolerated me as a distant second choice. He is missed.