Posted on 04/18/2020 10:11:41 PM PDT by EinNYC
I lost my beloved Maine Coon girl Bijou quite suddenly April 4. After a perfectly normal day, she curled up next to me on my couch that Friday night for a cat nap. A bit after midnight, I got up to retire for the evening, very carefully, so as not to disturb her. I came looking for her at 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning, as it was uncharacteristic for her not to wake me up to feed her. I found her in the exact same position on the couch as I'd left her. I knew from 10 feet away that she had passed away--no way would she be in the exact same position as she'd been the night before. For all the world, she looked to be asleep, eyes closed, chin resting on a couple of paperbacks.
I went into shock. My mind could not accept what my eyes were seeing. And I wanted to know WHY my precious girl had died, without any symptoms, after a perfectly normal day. So I donned latex gloves and eased her (in full rigor) into a contractors bag and put her into my fridge. It was horrifying to do, but I had to preserve her for a post mortem. The subsequent post mortem showed NOTHING abnormal with her. Nothing. My vet surmised that she'd had an aneurysm or a stroke, but told me that she had felt nothing, and had had a peaceful death. She would have been 12 next month.
I am certainly grateful for her peaceful passing, but I am heartbroken. My other kitty is looking around for her pal. I know from experience that the only cure will be a Maine Coon kitten. She will not replace Bijou, but she will help to fill the void I now have, big shoes to fill, Bijou having been an exceptionally beautiful and loving companion. If any of you saw the pictures I posted of her here, you know what I mean.
I have already contacted several Maine Coon breeders in search of my new kitten, but haven't heard anything back from any of them. So I am asking fellow feline loving FReepers: do any of you know of any responsible MC breeders who get tortie and white kittens? That is what I'm looking for, a symmetrically marked tortie and white with a blaze. That's been "my" cat color for several decades, with only one exception. I am looking for breeders who show their cats, who test for genetic diseases, and are otherwise responsible breeders, not the kind who just breed cat A with cat B and sell the offspring on craigslist or hoobly. In return, I offer a very loving home with all the goodies: indoor only life, no declawing, lots of cat-safe toys, excellent vet care, microchipping, not breeding, premium foods, regular grooming, and most of all, all the petting and cuddling they want. Bijou's natural habitat was my lap.
I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Bijou. May she RIP and may you take comfort knowing you gave her a wonderful life just short of 12 years. I hope the many happy memories will bring a smile to your face as you think of her. Its never easy losing a fur kid....I know the heartbreak. They leave a huge hole in your heart, but in that hole is love to give to a new baby. Never to replace those lost, but to make new memories. I don’t have a cat, but I do have a facebook friend who has 2 Maine Coons. I will ask her for a breeder recommendation today and private message you with the info she gives me. Hugs EinNYC
Condolences on your loss. We also had one long ago — great kitty. All of our many cats over the years had to be put down eventually, so in a way you were lucky. I can’t provide breeder input as all of our kitties were rescues.
They are the best cats ever. So intelligence and communicative, affectionate and so soft on one’s lap. If you can manage the shedding, you will have one of the most wonderful cats available.
So sorry for your loss. Nothing can prepare one; but you had an additional shock of surprise. Bless you.
Not breeders, but a US map of Maine Coon rescue by state...Hope you find a kitten...
http://mainecoon.rescueme.org/colorado
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