In April 2007, the love of my life, Sabrina, passed away from fibrous sarcoma. That left Simba, my 10-year-old male lonely and depressed. However, he had always needed a lot of attention, so I seriously debated getting another cat.

During that same spring of 2007, Sue Weitendorf’s Scottish Fold Chamie had kittens. On Sept. 1, at the urging of my friends Sue and Kathleen, I took home a little kitten that they insisted would be perfect for me. They even told me it could be a “test” run.

Well, you know how that goes, if you are a cat lover. She came home with me and from the moment she was in my house, I had caught the “love” bug.

She was the perfect kitten. I took her for rides to Palo Alto to see my elderly mother. She never objected. I fell hard for her, as did my family.

I had asked that she be named “Lucy”. Sue and Kathleen came up with her official name, “Timberpawsfolds I Love Lucy”. It turned out to be the perfect name for her.

Everyone that met Lucy fell in love with her at first sight. The first thing they would say is “I love Lucy”!

Sadly, after only a month and 3 weeks of having her in my life, she started acting lethargic, and became inactive. It was almost overnight. I saw no warning signs. I took her to my vet one Friday, and she had a 105-degree fever. He called it the flu, or a kitty cold. By Monday, she was worse. They did tests, but didn’t know what it was, and there was no improvement. My vet suggested I take Lucy to Davis. That morning Sue and I were on our way.

Davis checked her, ran numerous tests and kept her for the next two days. They did not want to commit to what wrong with her until all the tests were in. However, by Thursday when we came back to see her, she only showed a glimpse of recognition – and only for a few seconds. By that time, the doctors were almost certain she had the wet form of FIP. She was out of it, and there was no quality of life. Being most certainly FIP, there would be no recovery to look forward to.

She did not deserve to suffer a minute longer. Sue and I had already decided what to do, if necessary. So we spent a bit of time with her, talking to her and cuddling with her in a quiet room. And then she was gone.

I feel honored and lucky to have been chosen as Lucy’s human mother for the last two months of her sweet life. Lucy was adorable, and I still love showing her off to anyone who will look at her. Her disposition was an A+. In some way, perhaps she knew that she was not long for this world, because she was so perfect in every way. I don’t let myself think long about the “bad” stuff. I choose to remember the good.

We must get rid of or prevent FIP. When I look at Lucy’s picture I can’t even believe that FIP happens in this day and age. There must be a way to stop this dreadful disease. Anything and everything that can be done should be done now. With UC Davis working on this problem, I do have hope.