Harry le Roi is gone. July 20 1994 - November 6 2010

[Bertha Venation]

Yesterday, he barfed all over the bedroom in the morning, and barfed all over three or four more times throughout the day. He did not eat or drink yesterday.

Last night, he retreated to the cubby hole at the base of our largest cat tree. We went over to him at intervals, petting him, trying to coax him out, and wondering if his time had come.

At one point -- I am ashamed of this -- I pulled him out of his hiding place and brought him to sit in my lap. I said, if he's dying, I want to be holding him. He stayed in my lap for a little while, sitting very awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable, then got down and went back to the cat tree. Mrs. V. said it was then that she knew for sure he was going to die.

I stayed up all night (dozing a little), going over to him frequently to pet him and to tell him that it was okay, he could lay down and rest and let go. It tore my heart out to say this to him, but I wished that he could let go. I believe he was in pain.

This morning I called the vet and made the appointment. When I pulled him out of his cubby hole I found he had peed himself. He'd been too weak, or in too much pain, to come out and find his puppy pads he'd been using for a couple of years.

We wrapped him in a soft purple fleece throw. I wanted to hold him, so Mrs. V. drove. In the vet's office, we spent a long time with him, petting him and talking to him. He purred and made biscuits. I imagine that he saw his brother, Richard, waiting for him at the Rainbow Bridge.

My sweet Harry Truman, Harry Head, Harry le Roi is gone.

Harry le Roi (Harry the King)




That cat could yawn . . .


This is Richard, who has been waiting for Harry for three years (or is it four?)



Rest in peace, my sweet Harry

[Heidi]

1. Safe passage, regal Harry le Roi.

And comfort to you, sweet friend bertha. :hug:

:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

35. Heidi, my friend

thank you :hug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. he was gorgeous.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

36. TA

thank you for the :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Harry was a beautiful boy...

And now he's at peace...

Safe passage to him...

Hugs for you, my dear Bertha...he will live in your heart forever...

:hug: :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

37. thank you, Peggy

:hug:

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

4. What a beautiful boy.

Rest In Peace sweet Harry. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

38. Notorious

:hug: :hug:

[GoCubsGo]

5. Awwww....

I am so sorryy. I'm sure Richard appreciates that you have reunited him with his friend. Both were handsome boys.

Hugs to you and Mrs. V.

[Bertha Venation]

39. I believe Richard is very happy, and Harry, too

:hug: thank you

[Phentex]

6. So sorry...

He was a beauty!

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

40. Phentex

:hug: thank you

[Arugula Latte]

7. I'm so sorry, Bertha.

What a gorgeous boy he was.

Rest in peace, King Harry.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

41. thank you, Arugula

:hug: thank you

[Call Me Wesley]

8. Safe passage, Harry.

May you be free from suffering. Peace and comfort to you and yours, Bertha. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

42. Thank you, my friend Wesley

:hug:

[emilyg]

9. Safe journey beautiful Harry.

[Bertha Venation]

43. emilyg

:hug:

[auntAgonist]

10. I'm so sorry my friend..

:hug:

Harry might be chasing my Rogue ..


:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

44. you made me smile

I'll bet he and Rogue are ripping all around the bridge

:hug:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. R.I.P., Harry.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

45. Ocelot

:hug:

[foxfeet]

12. I wish him a peaceful journey to the Otherworld.

And comfort to all who love him. He's a handsome boy.

[Bertha Venation]

46. foxfeet

Thank you for your words of comfort.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. So long, Harry...

you had a good long life with your humans and feline pals.

[Bertha Venation]

47. Gormy Cuss

:hug: :hug:

[KamaAina]

14. Is that a Photoshop or are there really kitty-size Angels caps?

:-)

What a good cat. No doubt you'll still be thinking about him decades from now, as I do with our long-ago Sean Timothy, Kwan Yin, Anastasia, and others. :(

[Bertha Venation]

48. Of course there are.

He got that when he was cheering the Halos to victory in '02 :)

Indeed I will be. That we have these memories is something that gets us through the days. :hug:

[ThomCat]

15. I am very sorry.

:hug:

I'm glad you've got wonderful pictures. I hope you have lots and lots of wonderful memories too. :)

[Bertha Venation]

49. Many, Thom. Many

:hug: I hope you are well. :hug:

[nolabear]

16. Peaceful journey, Your Majesty.

Thanks for letting us share this sad and awe-inspiring experience with you, Bertha.

[Bertha Venation]

50. nolabear

My thanks to you for sharing it with me. :hug:

[LaurenG]

17. Aw I am so very sorry Bertha.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

51. LaurenG

:hug:

[WolverineDG]

18. Sorry to hear about Harry, Bertha

:hug: Just know that he is now a little kitten again, playing with his friend Richard & waiting for you on the other side.

dg

[Bertha Venation]

52. oh, what a kitten he was!

To think of him like that again makes me smile. Thank you. :hug:

[old mark]

19. BV, I know he will live in your heart for all your life...and he left here knowing you loved him.

That is the best anyone can have in life.

your friend,

mark

[Bertha Venation]

53. *sob*

Dearest mark, you've made me cry all over again, but with happiness at the thought that he truly did know I loved him. Thank you, my friend.

[Ishoutandscream2]

20. My sympathies. Peace be with you and yours

[Bertha Venation]

54. Ishout

thank you

[frogmarch]

21. My condolences, Bertha

You will miss your beloved friend. I still miss all my dear ones who are now gone, but I take comfort in knowing they had the best lives I could give them and were treated like royalty. I am sure you gave Harry a wonderful life too, fit for a king.

So sorry for your loss. Thanks for sharing the great pictures of your dear Harry le Roi.

[Bertha Venation]

55. thank you, frogmarch

:hug: thank you so much.

[Withywindle]

22. Oh, Bertha, I am so, so sorry.

:hug:


I know what that heartache is like. But he knew it was his time to go, and your permission and your kindness eased the way for him. A gentle passing is the last great gift.

There is a time when they know. I was literally on the other side of the world when my Marlowe passed in '06 (he had diabetes and had been sickly for a long time--and he decided to begin the final descent to his landing when I was with my mom on a business trip in freakin' Thailand. My SO had been taking care of him in our home). The night before I found out how close to death he was, he sent me a dream - it was extremely vivid and real and meaningful. It let me know that he was being willful as usual and choosing his own time. And that he loved me, but he was CHOOSING to go when I wasn't there. After G called and told me he had passed (sobbing himself), I went to a Buddhist temple and meditated, and I FELT his goodbye kiss. His cold wet nose and his fishy breath.


I don't mean to make this "all about me" by telling my story. I just want to let you know, he knows how much he was loved, and he will send you signs that he loves you too and part of him will always be with you. Until you meet again.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

56. thank you for telling me about Marlowe

and how he came to you as you slept, as you meditated.

:hug: :hug:

[fizzgig]

23. rest easy, sweet boy

i'm so sorry for your loss, bertha :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

57. fizzgig

:hug:

[applegrove]

24. So sorry Bertha.

[Bertha Venation]

58. thank you, applegrove

:hug:

[grilled onions]

25. My Wish

That all animals find more peace(and much less pain) in the next world then this one. May they run and play with their offspring as they did when they were here. May they wait by that golden door and keep an eye out for the humans that made their life on earth something special.

[Bertha Venation]

59. your wish is mine, too, grilled onions

thank you :hug:

[Bossy Monkey]

26. So sorry. So long Harry.

A lovely tribute to a lovely fellow.

[Bertha Venation]

60. Monkey

thank you

[driver8]

27. Bertha, I am so sorry for your loss.

RIP, sweet boy.

[Bertha Venation]

61. thank you, driver

:hug:

[MrScorpio]

28. Long live the king

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

62. thank you, MrS

:hug:

[Ikonoklast]

29. Thank you for giving him such a good life.

Harry will be waiting for you across the bridge.


:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

63. Ikonoklast

:hug:

[cherish44]

30. {{{Hugs}}}}

It's so hard to say goodbye to our fur friends. Sounds like he had a life of maxiumum love and spoilage and I'm sure he's so grateful for that.

[Bertha Venation]

64. "spoilage" -- LOL

:) thank you, cherish :hug:

[Odin2005]

31. I'm so sorry!

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

65. Odin

thank you :hug:

[MrsMatt]

32. condolances to you Bertha and Mrs V

Harry had a good and long life, loved and secure, thanks to you & Mrs V.

[Bertha Venation]

66. dear MrsMatt

thank you :hug:

[Richard Steele]

33. What handsome fellows!

Sad that they are gone, but it's nice that you
got to know them and give them a good comfortable life.

[Bertha Venation]

67. thank you, Richard

:hug:

[Richard Steele]

71. Big hugs back atcha, my friend. nm.

[DainBramaged]

34. Nothing breaks my heart more that one of our babies going over the bridge

Sweet memories.....:hug: :cry:

[Bertha Venation]

68. DainBramaged

thank you, DB :hug:

[DainBramaged]

82. ......

:hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

69. Bonsoir, Harry.

:hug: :loveya: :cry:

My condolences, Bertha. Our furbabies give us such joy and love. When they leave us, that empty place stays with us. Fill it with cherished moments.

:*

[Bertha Venation]

72. I am looking back, and thinking of those memories

So far my favorite is from when he was a kitten. I had feathers on a stick. He grabbed that bunch of feathers and pulled on it for all he was worth, and gave this little tiny "grr, grr, grr" -- :rofl: What a kittie.

Thank you. :hug:

[laylah]

70. What a lovely tribute for

such a handsome boy. I am so sorry for your loss, Bertha :hug:

Jenn

[Bertha Venation]

73. thank you, Jenn

:hug:

[hunter]

74. He is a regal fellow, even when yawing.

Wherever it is we go, I'm certain he's still a king.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

78. dear, dear Hunter

:hug:

(BTW, that yawn prompted a very regal teeth cleaning...)

[zanana1]

75. I'm so glad you gave him a good life.

Alot of cats don't get that. The fact that you helped him over the Rainbow bridge must have made his passing much easier for him. You'll never forget him, but I hope the pain diminishes soon.

[Bertha Venation]

79. we gave him the best life we could

and I think he was happy.

thank you, zanana

[BuelahWitch]

76. RIP dear Harry le Roi

Safe passage to him and hugs to you and Mrs. V. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

80. BuelahWitch

:hug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

77. He looks like my Murphy. Huge eyes.

I have found that "breed" is the purriest cuddler cat.

I know your heart is breaking, and am so sorry for the loss.

:cry:

[Bertha Venation]

81. thank you, dixiegrrrrl

:hug:

[KatyaR]

83. What a sweet, sweet face.

Bertha, I'm so sorry for you and Mrs. V, but, as so many have said before, I'm sure he went to the Bridge knowing he was greatly and dearly loved.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

86. thank you, Katya

:hug:

[Demoiselle]

84. What a gorgeous boy.

I hate it when they have to leave us. But I'm glad you could cuddle him and that he purred and made biscuits. All my sympathy, dear Bertha.

[Bertha Venation]

87. I'm glad, too

thank you, Demoiselle. :hug:

[Sheltiemama]

85. What a handsome boy.

I'm so sorry. I lost my first Sheltie on Nov. 6, 1992. Maybe he and Harry are in some sort of Nov. 6 club together now. And don't be ashamed you put him on your lap. You just wanted him to feel loved, and you let him know your lap was an option. I think his purring at the vet's office was his final gift to you.

[Bertha Venation]

88. *sob*

Your last line... :cry:

Thank you, Sheltiemama :hug:

[mikeytherat]

89. So sorry to hear that.

He can run with my sweet Tate and Hannah, now.

mikey_the_rat

[lightningandsnow]

90. I'm so sorry.

:hug:

[joeybee12]

91. Aw, what a sweet little face...so sorry to hear this...but you had 16 wonderful years with him.

:grouphug:

[Dappleganger]

92. I am so sorry!

:hug:

No doubt he'd say, "Thank you for being my friend!"

[Crystal Clarity]

93. I am so sorry BerthaV

What a heartbreaking story. I realize 'it' happens sooner or later but that doesn't make the loss of a beloved pet any easier. Oh I am SO sorry! :cry:

Safe passage to Harry Le Rois. I hope he is now at peace, healthy and happily playing w/his brother in some wonderful cat utopia.

Best wishes and good vibes to you Bertha. :hug: