Pearl Grey

My Sad Story

I am Pearl Grey. Like Dusty RoseNose, I can give credit to Mitchner McGarrulous for my adoption. On August 10, 2017, Mom took him to Gasow Veterinary Hospital for yet another one of those B12 shots and a nail trim. When Dr. C. spotted Mom in the lobby, she told her about this little kitten named Karen–me–and my sad story. Because I was seriously injured, the Bloomfield police brought me to Gasow to be euthanized. Dr. C. happened to see me before anyone could do that, and the vets decided to try to repair my injuries. They removed most of my tail; whatever hurt me had crushed it, and the tissue died. They fixed my back legs, and I had to learn to use them again. Dr. C. showed Mom some videos of that on her phone.

My Happy Adoption

Mom was not sure she wanted cat #11, but she agreed to meet me that day. She must have thought about it quite a bit because she adopted me on August 25. Mom gave a lot of thought to choosing a name for me. Mom’s sister Melissa and cousin MJ made some suggestions. Mom finally settled on Pearl Grey. Her dad’s name was Earl, and her family loves Earl Grey tea. I repaid her with numerous attacks on her lower legs, silly scaredy-cat antics, and as much love as a wild, young kitten can muster. Now that I am an adult, I have calmed down some, but I am still very determined to get my way. I am mostly a stand-offish type of kitty, but in certain rare situations I will actually sit on Mom’s lap and be affectionate.

My Tragic Ending

When I lost my appetite, Mom took me to the vet. Initially, she thought I might have feline leukemia, which would have been awful because it can be transmitted to other cats. My case was referred to Dr. E. at BluePearl, who diagnosed me with immune mediated hemolytic anemia. Mom had to medicate me with various chemicals, including prednisolone, chlorambucil, and cyclosporine. The regimen worked for some time, but eventually my disease got so bad that I had to cross the Rainbow Bridge at the age of 5 on June 12, 2022.

Jou Jou B

My Almost Botched Adoption

I met Mom in January 2014 on one of her many trips to the vet. At the time I occupied the display cage (as an adoptable kitty) in the lobby. I tried my best to attract her with my witty conversation, but was discouraged when she left without me. Soon Mom returned and asked to visit me. She met my sisters, too. I really turned on the charm, showing her my affectionate nature. I was a little over a year old at that time, being born in October 2012. She seemed to like me, but left again without me. On January 17, Mom came back with a man who wanted to meet me. He must have liked me because Mom and the man (my dad) adopted me that night and named me Jou Jou B.

I stayed at the vet for some medical care until Saturday, when Mom brought me home. How did I react to my adoption? The trip home did not go smoothly. I was NOT happy in the cat carrier, and I downright freaked out when Mom put me in a big cage, and I saw several strange cats. I leaped and jumped all over inside the cage, scaring Mom a lot. She took me back to the vet for two more weeks until I was completely healthy. Mom visited me every day, so I knew she had not abandoned me.

My Very Happy Home

I still panicked a bit when Mom brought me home the second time. When I realized no one was going to hurt me, I quickly settled down. I even made some kitty pals, demonstrating my friendliness to everyone, human and feline. I used to sleep with Mom and my sisters and my oldest stepsister, Googlie Girl (who has since crossed the Rainbow Bridge), but now I divide my time between Rascal Spatz, Tortie Toes, Dusty RoseNose, and Pearl Grey in the “big room”; and RubyDoo and my two sisters (who were adopted later in 2014) in Mom’s bedroom. Mom likes the sweet, chirpy sounds I make to express my contentment with my environment and my loud motor.

My Sudden Demise

On April 10, 2023, I awakened Mom at 1:00 AM with a thump. She wasn’t sure whether I fell off the bed or banged into the furniture, but she noticed right away that I was not acting normally. My walk was off, and I kept stopping to lie down in strange places. Off we went to the kitty ER at BluePearl. At first they suspected a heart or lung problem, but ultimately decided that something was not right neurologically. The vets tried to help me, but ultimately Mom decided it was best if I crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 13.

Jenise

First Adoption Failure

I do not remember meeting Mom in January 2014. My name then was Clarisse, not Jenise. A woman brought me and my two sisters to Gasow so potential adopters could see us. I found a home first, but it was not with Mom. A family adopted me before Mom took Jou Jou B. I stayed with them for several months. It was not a pleasant experience for me. Another cat kept picking on me. My reward for tolerating this treatment was to be returned to the vet in October. A lady who works there told Mom that I seemed completely traumatized when I arrived, but I bounced back to my sweet, friendly self quickly.

Second Adoption Success

At the same time Mom was making daily visits to the vet to see one of her cats, Patch the Pirate, who had had several teeth removed during a dentistry. Dr. R. told Mom I had been returned. Knowing Mom, I’m sure she immediately began plotting and planning, hoping to find a way to get Dad to agree that I might join my sisters as part of their family. Lucky for me, she must have found a way. She adopted me on October 23, 2014. Mom called me Jenise so my name, like my sisters’, would start with a ‘J.’

I was pretty laid back and friendly from the moment I arrived. The “introductory period” cage did not bother me in the least. In fact, I found it so comfortable that I remained in it long after Mom started leaving the doors open 24/7. Now I share Mom’s bedroom full-time with RubyDoo and Jolie Fille, and part-time with Jou Jou B. I often sleep by Mom’s pillow at night. So far I have shown no interest in exploring the world outside this room. I always greet Mom when she comes near me with the same chirpy, happy sound my sisters make. One small threat looms on my horizon: Mom thinks I am quite chunky and may put me on a diet.

I am a lover of stability, routine, and peace. Only Dusty RoseNose has been able to provoke me to hiss, and she now lives in the “big room.” Generally I am very affectionate and easy-going. I am the only one of the Fenner Felines who does not like canned cat food.

Sudden Illness

On Mother’s Day evening (May 14, 2023), Mom noticed that I was breathing harder and faster than normal. She took me to the vet on May 16, where they took blood and a sample of fluid from my lungs. The fluid sample indicated three possibilities: heart disease, cancer, and idiopathic chylothorax. The blood tests ruled out heart disease. Mom started me on a regimen of prednisolone and Elura, an appetite stimulant. She also ordered liquid Rutin from an online pharmacy. Unfortunately, the fluid kept building in my lungs despite two additional drainings. On June 11, I was again struggling with my breathing, so Mom took me to OVRS for emergency care. There the wonderful ER vet explained to Mom what surgery for my problem would entail and noted that only one vet there would attempt it. Whether I would survive until that vet was available was a big question. Mom saw how much I was struggling and decided to let me join my sister Jou Jou B across the Rainbow Bridge.