When he was trapped at a feral colony late last year, Uncle Erhard was so dainty that we thought he was a very young female and were very surprised when the shelter vet informed us that he was male and well past the age of ten. He was released into the shelter enclosure after being neutered and was so wary of humans that he stayed as far away from the building as possible. He gradually came closer and closer before gathering up the courage to come into the feeding room, where he discovered the joys of central heating. He quickly learned to appreciate regular meals of wet food, too. Uncle Erhard was very sweet-natured and was constantly rubbing against and head-butting the other cats, even the ones that were disliked by the rest of the shelter colony.
Over the past half year, Uncle Erhard and I formed a bond. He stopped running out the cat flap when I entered the feeding room and even started coming in when I was there. He made eye contact, asking for his favorite wet food. It eventually reached the point where I had to be careful not to trip over him both inside and outside. A few weeks ago I had the privilege of petting him while he ate (something that shocked both of us, I think :lol3: The look on his face was, "OMG, I let the food lady touch me!"). Last Tuesday we had a real breakthrough. He allowed me to pet him while he was outside and not even eating. On Thursday he came up to me and asked to be petted, which was an incredible thrill, knowing how scared he'd been in the early days.
Sadly, we found little Uncle Erhard in the feeding room early yesterday morning. It looked very much like he'd dropped dead mid-step. The vet believes the current heat wave was far too much for such an old, frail cat.
You were a very special cat, Uncle Erhard, and I'm so going to miss the "Wet food?" question in your almost-raccoon-masked eyes every morning. Rest in peace, little one. You won't be forgotten.
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Over the past half year, Uncle Erhard and I formed a bond. He stopped running out the cat flap when I entered the feeding room and even started coming in when I was there. He made eye contact, asking for his favorite wet food. It eventually reached the point where I had to be careful not to trip over him both inside and outside. A few weeks ago I had the privilege of petting him while he ate (something that shocked both of us, I think :lol3: The look on his face was, "OMG, I let the food lady touch me!"). Last Tuesday we had a real breakthrough. He allowed me to pet him while he was outside and not even eating. On Thursday he came up to me and asked to be petted, which was an incredible thrill, knowing how scared he'd been in the early days.
Sadly, we found little Uncle Erhard in the feeding room early yesterday morning. It looked very much like he'd dropped dead mid-step. The vet believes the current heat wave was far too much for such an old, frail cat.
You were a very special cat, Uncle Erhard, and I'm so going to miss the "Wet food?" question in your almost-raccoon-masked eyes every morning. Rest in peace, little one. You won't be forgotten.
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