IN MEMORIAM
    

                   

GIP FIN*Recknagel Stiivensiikali

01.07.2004 - 04.12.2008

Sylvester, Grand International Premior FIN*Recknagel Stiivensiikali was a lavendersilverspotted Ocicat (OCI cs 24) male neuter born 01.07.2004. This color in Ocicats is rare in Finland! He was the oldest boy of the hairballs and the gentle boss of the gang.

Sylvester was outgoing and liked all kinds of attention both from all people and his pals but at the same time independent in his own way. He liked playing fetch, high jumps, climing and naps on top of the tv...If he was bored or wanted something, he would talk loudly. Sylvester was very clever and took a nursing role when it comes to the other cats. He liked teasing the girls sometimes, but he was the gentle leader of the family. His daily routine consisted of taking care of the others and cleaning their fur, especially licking their faces. Sylvester especially took care of the younger ones (the boys Gibson and Figaro) and taught them the way of life. He took them under his wing and he was like a father to them and Figaro even sucked his chest for a long time ;)  Especially these two of the cats mourn their friend.

At catshows Sylvester was praised especially for his great condition and sweet temperament. At home he could be very wild and playful, but at catshows he was an amazing calm gentleman! During Sylvester's lifetime I never heard him hiss at another cat or human! I can't explain in words how sweet, humble, clever and amazing he was!!

In the summer of 2008 we removed a tumor from under Sylvester's leg. Everything went well and Sylvester was soo sweet, patient and brave during the whole, long process of healing! It was a benign subcutane mast cell tumor. In November Sylvester started to lose weight. He behaved completely normally so I scheduled a check-up lateron, but when the gums suddenly became pale I immediately took him to the vet and bloodsamples showed he had a severe anemia. He was put on cortisone and a week later all his blood values had gone up and he was still himself, but a few days later his heart suddenly gave up. In the morning of the 4th of December 2008, lying in my arms with his friends around him, my dearly beloved Sylvester went to catheaven... ;;((

The autopsy showed that Sylvester had multiple myeloma, cancer. You can say that it is a type of blood cell cancer (malign plasma cell tumor) (from the bone marrow). Multiple myeloma is extremely rare in cats! Sylvester had the cancer in the bonemarrow, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Sylvester passed away due to the severe anemia caused by the cancer, but even if he would have survived the anemia, the cancer would of course still have been there. The cancer would lateron have spread to the bones of the body, causing extremely terrible bone-pains, so under these circumstances it was better it ended as it did, before Sylvester got any terrible bone-pains and suffering! Now, he instead got to pass away quickly and unexpectedly at home with his loving family with him, without any longterm terrible pains!

Sylvester was cremated in his blanket with his favourite toys and a flower and 17.12.08 I got my darling home again in a beautiful urn. Below you can see a photo of it and his own special place in our home. I've made a memory-book of Sylvester for me and his breeders, my friends Marjo and Merja, with lots of photos and text. I light a candle for my Sylvester every day.

Sylvester's grandmother (from his mother's side) is Tryffel's grandfather's mother (from his father's side) or in other words, Sylvester's mother (born 1999) is Tryffel's grandfather's (born 2002) halfsister, which makes Sylvester halfcousin to Tryffel's father... ;)

Sylvester is now my angel watching over us. I miss you undescribebly and I will always love you and remember you, my sweet, amazing, endlessly beloved darling Sylvester!!!!!!!!!!!

Sylvester's urn, memory-book and special place of memory in our home.


The handknitted comfort-teddybear in Sylvester's colors lila-silver,
which I got from his breeders, my friends Marjo & Merja.