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We adopted Ripley about 14 years ago from the Orphans of the Storm animal shelter about 10 miles north of Chicago. We had been thinking of getting a kitten, but we decided to get an adult cat, in part because most people pass them over in favor of kittens, but mostly because when you get an adult cat, what you see is what you get. If you adopt an adult cat, the way they are when you meet them is the way they’ll be for the rest of their lives.
We found Ripley by sitting down in the adult cat room and paying attention to which cats came over to play with us. Cat D51 (back then Orphans didn’t name them) came over to both of us several times and climbed right up into our laps. He responded to attention and purred and didn’t pick fights with the other cats. We decided to bring him home with us and name him Ripley, after Sigourney Weaver’s character in Aliens.
Just like at the shelter, Ripley loved to come visit us. The first time I laid down on the couch after bringing him home, he hopped right up and sat on my chest, purring. Almost every evening, my wife would sit in the reclining chair to read or watch television and Ripley would slowly creep up and curl up on her lap or her chest, where she could hold him and pet him. He was her best cat ever.
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| Larger ImageRipley |
Toward the end of January, Ripley was diagnosed with immune mediated hemolytic anemia, which meant his immune system was attacking his red blood cells. Our vet gave him two transfusions and put him on very high dosages of immune suppressants. The drugs were causing liver damage, so we had to taper them off, and at yesterday’s vet visit, his red blood cell count was a little below normal again, and by this morning he was barely moving, so we took him right back to the vet for more tests. His red blood cell count had gone way down in just 15 hours, and his blood chemistry indicated multiple organ failure. There was nothing else we could do for him.
Ripley will be sorely missed. My wife is heartbroken. We’re both taking the day off from work.
Here he is with my old cat Dozer, who passed away in the summer of 2011. They were a couple of really good cats.
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| Larger ImageRipley With Dozer |
Wow!
Such a wonderful photo and touching tribute.
We send you our condolenses.
We spent some time exploring your archives, and were surprised to see your early support of the cat blogging community, and thank you so much for it.
Thank you for submitting once more, another post to carnival, this week.
Sending love and purrs to your family. Rest in peace, Ripley.
WE are so sad to hear about Ripley. WE know home you will miss him!
We are sorry to hear about Ripley’s passing. It sounds like he was a wonderful kitty and very much loved.
Sending soft purrs of comfort,
Charlemagne, Tamar and Mal
So sorry to hear about Ripley passing!! Lots of hugs and purrrrs to your Family!!
Your TX furiends,
I love it when a cat just walks in and takes over. It’s what they’re supposed to do. So glad you found him and could enjoy his company for 14 years, that his suffering was comparatively brief, and you could share him with us for so long.
We are so sad that Ripley has left you for the Bridge. We send gentle purrs and headbumps and wish you many warm memories of your boy.
Run free at the Bridge, handsome Ripley …
‘Kaika and the Yosemite cats
We are so very sorry for your loss. Ripley was very handsome!
We did not know Ripley before today, but we just dropped by to send you rumbly purrs and love for your loss. Ripley was a very handsome mancat, it is so sad to lose such a precious friend
Gerry & Mungo
I didn’t know Ripley, but I do understand loss (having lost beloved cats myself in the past). Thank you for loving Ripley so much and giving him a wonderful home for as long as it was possible. Yes, of course you will miss him as love is a two sided coin ~ the more you love, the more it hurts when they are no longer in your life. Sending comfort and purrs from my boys Milo and Alfie.
Jan (Cat mom to Milo and Alfie).
I am sorry for your loss of Ripley. That is a beautiful photo of him.
I know the heart wrenching pain you and your wife are feeling as our Eric passed 2 weeks ago, but try to take comfort in your good memories.
Jackie
We’ve come over from the CB. We are so sorry to read about sweet angel Ripley. What a beauty. We send you many purrs and hugs. Take care
x
We didn’t know Ripley, but we are sorry he has gone to the Bridge. He sure was handsome! We know the sadness you are feeling. We hope all the good memories you have of Ripley, helps ease your sadness and pain.
We heard on the CB that you lost your beloved Ripely. he was such a beauty. Thank you for adopting him as an adult cat and for loving him for all those years. he is waiting for you now at the rainbow bridge and lives forever in your hearts.
Ripley was one of the first cats we meet when we (Socks & Scylla) started blogging. We are so glad you gave Ripley a chance at a forever home, even though he was an adult when you meet. Purrs of sympathy and comfort for your loss.
Though we did not know Ripley, it is abundantly clear that you loved him very much, and very well. Thank you for sharing your lives and hearts with him. Purrs and prayers, and comforting thoughts to you.
I didn’t know Ripley, as I have come to the Cat Blogosphere relatively lately, but I wish to add my condolences to there others’ who have left comments. Every loss of a loved one, whether human or animal, makes the world a little colder, and with Ripley’s loss it seems as if it became very chilly indeed.
We are so sorry to hear about Ripley. Even tho we didn’t know him, he looks like a wonderful friend who will be deeply missed. Hugs and healing purrs. William, and his Mum Amanda
Thank you, everyone. My wife and I appreciate your kind words so much. It helps, it really does.
Our condolences on your loss of Ripley. Your post is a great tribute to him, a very handsome kitty! Thanks for sharing his story with us.
All four of us were adopted as ‘older’ cats as well.
Purrs,
Mindy
Moe
Cookie
Mike
He was sure a handsome guy. We didn’t know Ripley but we know the pain of losing a furry friend. We are sorry for your loss.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Ripley through his momma – my good friend. I miss him already and my heart breaks for her sadness. He was such a great friend and is terribly missed.
This is a beautiful tribute and photographs.
We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Ripley. It sounds like he was a wonderful companion for these 14 years and his loss will be deeply felt.
What a handsome boy he was. Our sincerest condolences.
We read this morning on the CB about the loss of Ripley. We are very very sorry to hear about your deep sadness. He was such a handsome kitty and we know the Ripley sized hole in your heart is aching. Our deepest purrs.
I´m so sorry about your lost.
Receive my sinceres condolences.
We are so very sorry to hear about dear Ripley. We send you many purrs and lots of hugs and love.
That was a touching tribute to your dear friend. I understand how this is going to leave a hole in your lives (same sort of losses here). The Mews are sending you their Best Purrs of Comfort… ~ Mark
Sending comforting purrrrrss. We never noo Ripley, but clearly he was a great kittie, and gorgeous besides.
We never met dear Ripley but we love you just the same. That you touched so many hearts shows the depth and largess of your character. May you run the fields over the Rainbow until we all meet again
I am so sorry for your loss. Ripley looks like such a beautiful cat.
We did not know Ripley before today, but we can tell from your loving tribute to him that he was a very special, very loved kitty. So handsome and brave…
May the love you shared help soften the sadness you are feeling now and may someday soon you smile again when you think of him…that is what he would want…
We’re so sorry for your loss. Ripley was clearly a much loved part of your family. Sending gentle purrs and headbutts to all who loved him,
{{{hugs}}}
Tasha & Buddy & Karen (Mum)
Soft husky woooos,
RA, Isis & Nanük