06/06/2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Fred. He was just one year old.
Fred was found in a Hamtramck alley with his sisters, Daphne and Velma, and his twin brother, Shaggy. They were sick and infested with fleas, and were given the best care we could provide. Daphne and Velma passed away within two weeks of being brought inside. Fred and Shaggy hung on and bonded quite tightly as brothers growing up with a new chance at life. It was discovered that they were FeLV+. Feline Leukemia has no treatment and is fatal.
Fred and Shaggy have been relatively healthy up until this week, when Fred's health deteriorated quickly. He seemed sluggish on Tuesday, and his breathing seemed off. When nothing had changed on Wednesday, we got him into the vet this morning. An x-ray revealed that his lungs were filling up with fluid. This was a direct result from FeLV. The vet said that we could choose to bring Fred to an emergency vet to have his lungs drained and spend a few days on oxygen, with the possibility of getting a few more weeks out of it. After considering his quality of life, we chose to have Fred humanely euthanized at 10:05am.
Fred was an absolute doll of a kitten. He loved to bump his head up against his foster's head, and his purr was so incredibly loud and comforting. He did everything with Shaggy. They would eat and play and sleep and snuggle together. They loved to play hard! Fred absolutely adored his foster dog friend, Hot Wheels, and loved to rub up against Hot Wheels (whether it was welcomed or not).
His passing has left a Fred sized hole in all our hearts.
Fred is survived by Shaggy, who has never spent a day without his brother. Please keep Shaggy in your thoughts, as he learns to navigate life on his own.
Premier Pet Supply had generously sponsored Fred's adoption fee, and that sponsorship has been applied to Fred's final expenses. We are so grateful for their generosity in helping us advocate for some of our most vulnerable cats.
"Hope is not blind optimism; it's not ignoring the enormity of the tasks. It is not the conviction that you'll be successful, it's the conviction that what's important will be done," Maya Angelou