I have had Whiskers ever since I was around 10/11 years old. She was just a small kitten when we got her and was my mother's birthday present. She was a tiny Somali cat, who I immediately grew attached to and she grew attached to me just the same...after my mom cut her hair that is. She was her birthday present, but after she got rid of the long hair, Whiskers came to me and as I say: She had me wrapped around her little paw from that day forward. Whisky, as I called her and will always call her, was a smart little thing; she was able to do tricks-dancing, coming out of the pantry in the kitchen, and lots of other things-and even played fetch like a dog! She and my other cat, Kraseevah, fought with one another like cats do, but Whiskers on occassion would just like Seevah and the two would cuddle with one another, which would make me smile. Over the years, Whiskers and I became closer. Wherever I went, she was right beside me...except when I went outside. Both of our cats were indoor. After losing 14 other cats in the past, we decided these 2 would be kept inside. Even if it was to the bathroom, Whiskers followed right behind and every day, she purred in my room which could be heard all the way across the room. Whenever I was feeling down, she knew that something was wrong. One time, I tried to push her away, but she refused and only came back over to me and jumped up on my lap, which is actually very rare for her. This brought me to tears all over again and made me love her even more. But just a few weeks ago, we realized that something was very wrong with our puddy. She was throwing up all of her food and she couldn't even keep water down. We kept taking her to the vet and trying to figure out what was wrong, and none of us knew what it was that was making her do all this throwing up. She has had an enlarged heart ever since her birth 11 years ago and it wasn't beating at a normal rate. Finally, the doctor suggested that we put her food up on a box so that she could stand up and eat it that way; it seemed to work for a day, until just 2 days ago, she started puking all over again. She threw up 3 times that day and finally, we knew what had to be done. The poor thing was starting to starve herself and she had lost so much weight it was heartbreaking. She couldn't even walk correctly; her hind legs were practically draging behind her as she walked. My parents and I knew then that she had to be put to sleep and we just did it yesterday morning. I was in the same room with my buddy, holding her before they gave her the shot. The tears wouldn't stop and I never thought they would. The vet and doctors were very caring; they allowed us to stay with her as long as we wanted to, before and after the death of our baby. She went very peacefully and alot quicker than we had expected. Almost as soon as they gave her the shot, she was gone...and I thought my life was over. I'm still very sad and it's just not the same around my house without Whiskers. I keep thinking I'm hearing her meow at my bedroom door and I miss her something terrible. But after lots of long discussions with friends, I know I will see my friend again in Heaven, and your site here is just beautiful. Thank you for such a dedication for lost pets. And those who have lost animals like I have through my life, know that you will see them again and that they're no longer in any pain, just like my Whiskers is no longer hurting. Erin Graham