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Clark: April 10 – May 17, 2025.
I’m so very sorry to tell you that Saturday morning, we said goodbye to Clark.
After he was so sick the first weekend we had him, he got better. He was putting on weight, he was bright-eyed and playful. And then he started to go downhill. A trip to the vet last week didn’t give us any answers (to be honest, x-rays of kittens who weigh less than a pound are never as detailed as we might hope), and as the week wore on, he got worse and worse. He went from vomiting occasionally to vomiting a little every time I fed him, and then Friday night into Saturday morning he was vomiting up everything I managed to get down him. He was so hungry, he WANTED to eat, and yet he couldn’t keep anything down. It was heartbreaking.
Early Saturday morning we headed to the emergency vet with him.
After a long talk with the vet and some diagnostic x-rays, she determined that he most likely had an esophageal stricture, making it impossible for food to make it to his stomach, and it was clearly getting worse. In addition, there was something odd about his heart (the vet last week mentioned that he had a slight heart murmur) and some concerning lymph nodes. Basically, if we really wanted to, we could explore taking him to a specialist, but he was starving to death and wouldn’t survive the days or weeks it would take to get him in to see one. (The vet didn’t know of anyone capable of putting a feeding tube in a kitten that tiny.) I couldn’t put him through that.
So I made the decision. I still believe it was the right one. I kissed him many, many times, I told him what a good boy he was, and then I held him until he was gone.
I miss his bright eyes, his demanding meow, his stomp across my kitchen floor, and his sweet purr. He was the sweetest, sweetest boy.
(Things I want to remember about him, so I’m writing them here to help me do so: his sweet meow as he stomped across my kitchen floor (so glad I have two videos of that). The way he saw Charlie and got excited and ran over to him, and when Charlie hissed and ran away, he smacked at Charlie’s leg. The way he ran over to sniff at Khal, and when Khal hissed and ran away, he looked so very amused. The way I could get him to follow me around the downstairs like he was a little duckling. The way he and Sebastian would cuddle up together. The way he would settle against me and stretch one paw up to touch my chin. His purr. The last thing he did, as the vet reached out to give him the sedative: he lightly bit the end of her finger. He was fully himself to the very end.)
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Today’s post includes the rest of the pictures I took of Clark. (I wish I had taken more pictures of him.)
Having a snuggle with Sebastian.
Before he got so bad late last week, I took him upstairs to the foster room to visit the big kittens.
Greeting Matilda.
Stomping across the room while Margarita looks on.
Following Benji.
Getting the ol’ snifferoo from Benji.
Checking out the track toy.
Catching sight of the ceiling fan.
“Whoa!”
Back in the play pen with Sebastian.
Oh, my heart.
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Posted on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Tumblr/ Bluesky) this weekend.
That toy is bigger than Margarita is!
Benji says “This Baby Frog kid seems pretty cool!”
YouTube link
Hazel’s such a smartypants. She figured out how to get up high (and how to get back down!) and she loves snoozing in that wall bed.
Nigel says “Hey guys, look! I’m on the trackball toy! I’m pretty cool, huh?”
YouTube link
Hanging out in the foster room watching the kittens play – some trackball fun, a little skittering, a little “I’ll show you who the boss is ’round here!” and a little mouse in my lap.
Monty is such a good-lookin’ boy – and so snuggly!
Good night innernets. (Clark (the big one) and Sebastian. Clark is 5 weeks old, and Sebastian will be 3 weeks old on Saturday.)
I am heartbroken to report that we have said goodbye to Clark.
I’ll go into all the details at a later time, but in short he had a congenital issue that was not possible to overcome. At the emergency vet this morning, we made the decision to end his suffering. I will very much miss seeing him stomp across the kitchen floor demanding to be fed and his purr and his… just everything. I miss everything about him.
(Sebastian is doing perfectly fine.)
Good night innernets. (Sebastian)
Thank you all so much for your kind words on our loss of Clark this morning. Sebastian doesn’t seem to be missing him, but we’re giving him extra attention and love. He’s 3 weeks old today, so later this week – when he’s steadier on his feet – I’ll start introducing him to the big kids upstairs so he won’t be lonely.
I do believe Nigel is sun drunk.
Sebastian was VERY wiggly when I was trying to take a picture of his face, but I finally got a good shot!
YouTube link
Listen, she might look a little bit shy, but Hazel is NOT having any nonsense, you understand?
Yet another shot of all 6 kittens wherein you know who refuses to look up. Marches to the beat of her own drum, that girl. That’s Hazel by the banana toy, Margarita NOT looking up, at the end of the loaf pan. Matilda (black) and Benji in the loaf pan, Nigel (orange) at the other end of the loaf pan, and Monty sitting next to Nigel.
YouTube link
Is it time for shenanigans in the foster room? Why, yes. Yes it is!
Have you noticed that Benji’s fur is more floofy and less clumpy these days? That’s because I convinced him to stop using cat food as a styling product and go natural. Natural looks good on him!
Good night innernets. (Hazel and Nigel)
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Previously
2024: No entry.
2023: Wren needed a moment to catch her breath after she’d had her first turn at the bottle.
2022: Bramble’s all “Is there Churu happening over here?”
2021: No entry.
2020: A bit of the ol’ judgeroo from Benjamin and his mama.
2019: No entry.
2018: He gave it the ol’ thlurrrperoo, and declared it good.
2017: “Look, innernets, I gots claws!”
2016: “THIS idiot,” scoffs Bert.
2015: “Mama, Mama, Mama, I hug you!”
2014: I swear, my hands have never been smoother. This girl needs to open her own spa!
2013: No entry.
2012: No entry.
2011: Gracie LOVES to be brushed, and she’ll flop over on her back and roll around, she’s so giddy with delight.
2010: The many faces of Gavin.
2009: No entry.
2008: I want them to stop growing and be tiny forever!
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: Last night we cleared out the guest bedroom and set it up for our new foster children.
Aw I am so sorry. Your poor heart. You made the right decision, you tried so hard and there really sounded like there was no way it could have gone differently. You did the right thing. I’m sending warm thoughts your way, and thank you also for sharing all the nice thoughts about him and photos, I’m going to sending warm wishes Clark’s way too, his time was short but he was a little bright spark and I’m glad we all had the chance to know him. <3
I know it was hard but you did the best for Clark, all the way to the end. It was the right decision; his little body just couldn’t handle more. But the time he had, he was loved and warm and cuddled.
Thank you for taking care of that bright little one. It’s so hard, but it looks as if he was not meant for this world. You gave him love, and I’m sure he knew that.
I’m so sorry Robin…sometimes the little ones are just passing through. But Clark spread a mighty amount of joy while he was here! Fly free little man, and go snuggle with Natalie!
I don’t know exactly why, but these sad stories hit me hard, and I am sure it hits Robyn even harder. Sail on, little Clark, fly free!
These stories are always so heart-breaking for me. Losing an animal, no matter how long or short the relationship, is always soul-crushing. I know I’ll never get over the ones I’ve loved and lost. Bless you for all you do, Robyn, I know I could never be strong enough to take the heartache with the joy.
So sad about Clark, he was such a sweet boy. That boy was loved till the end. I think you did the right thing – his cat mama might have abandoned him because she sensed he wouldn’t make it. Sometimes things aren’t meant to be.
I’m sure I can’t say anything more or better than anyone here. But, I’m so sorry for this loss. Losing them at this tender age is especially difficult.
As a foster mom, I can totally relate to this heartache. Did you take him home and bury him in your yard? I have a cemetery for my lost babies, feral or otherwise. They are never forgotten.
I’m so sorry about Clark, and am glad he was his own feisty self—biting the vet!—until the end.
I am so sorry. Kitten rescue sure does have it’s heartbreaking moments. There are way more successes, but those losses are so darn hard to bear.
Make sure you give his share of kisses to the other babies. Thank you for all you do <3
So sorry to hear of Clark’s passing. The hardest thing having fur babies is knowing when to let them go.
I’m so sorry about Clark. He was a delight and I’m glad that he had this safe, very loved time with you. Take good care.
Clark was a special one, Robyn, and I am so sorry for your loss. It would have been wonderful to see him grow up. but alas, it was not to be. We will treasure your heartwarming pictures of him and your comments about Clark during the all too short time that he was with you.
Clark was sent to you to show you love and how wonderful cats are. He was full of adult happiness and that is what he was supposed to show you. He was a darling and you will carry him in your heart forever !
Clark had two purposes in his short life: to scream his head off in a pile of hay until someone found him and Baby Bash, and to cuddle up with Bash and be his friend until Bash was old enough to make new friends.
He did a great job.
i was so hopeful for Clark and encouraged by his spirit.
It sounds like he and you couldn’t stop this though, he was so fragile despite his spirit.
thank you for caring for him so deeply.
I am so sorry Robyn. Clark’s little life was filled with love and adventure and attention that so many other kitties just don’t get, and sadly pass alone and scared. My heart breaks for you…
Robyn and Fred,
I’m so very sorry you had to say goodbye to Clark. I only wish it helped to know that your sorrow is shared by so many. I’m so grateful you were able to give him all the love he could handle during his short stay.
I’m so sorry about Clark. I can’t seem to stop crying so i can’t imagine how bad it is for you
After seeing the news about Clark on Instagram over the weekend, I knew today’s blog post would be about Clark and so steeled myself a bit. And while it was indeed sad to read his official tribute, it was actually so very beautiful too – I especially love the ‘things to remember’ paragraph (and the videos!). What a lot of love you gave that little boy in his short life, right to the last breath. He was in the absolute best hands, and I’m sure he sensed that too. Sending you so much sympathy.
I missed the sad news about Clark this weekend. Poor little boy! Thank you (and Fred!) for taking such good care of him.
Is this your 20th anniversary of fostering and blogging? The 2005 post about Mia seems to be the first one!
Condolences on the loss of little Clark! Sending compassion to you and Fred, Miz Robyn.
I’m so sorry about Clark! Nature is brutal sometimes. You do an amazing job with all your kittens though; I’m sure he appreciated your care.
I’m so sorry about Clark!! He was such a bright light in his short time with you. You did the best for him while he was with you and to relieve his suffering. Clark is now on the Rainbow Bridge waiting with the rest of the clowder. I’m sure Natalie will take him under paw.