In May of 2006 our sweet cat was diagnosed with feline diabetes. Diabetes can be very difficult to control in cats, because their insulin levels tend to fluctuate even without diabetes. Our vet informed us that for most cats the outlook is not good. We decided to try daily insulin shots anyway, along with a special diet. For three months Marmalade did amazingly well. His sugar levels were very stable and he seemed healthy and happy. Then, during the last week of July, 2006, Marmalade became ill again. We were suffering through a terrible heat wave and I think that may be what brought it on. He stopped eating and was drinking huge volumes of water, the same as he did when the diabetes was first diagnosed. We took him to the animal hospital in hopes that the vets there could get his sugar under control again. He was there for four days, and on the evening of the fourth day our vet phoned us with bad news. He was not able to pull our kitty through this time. His sugar was uncontrollable and his liver was failing. He would, at best, live no more than another week or so. We were faced with the tough decision to have another beloved pet euthanized. Marmalade left us on August 2, 2006. He may be gone from our lives, but he will never be gone from our hearts.

The following is an excerpt from Marmalade's old webpage. It is the story of how he came to be with us, told as though from his point of view:

    "One night in November of 1999, someone threw me out of a car into a strange yard. Even though this person didn't take care of me or feed me very often, I was still very frightened to be left alone in a strange place. I was shaking with fear, but I saw a familiar sight. It was a house, with a door. Houses were warm and safe, I knew that much, and sometimes if you went up to a door and meowed a human might come and let you inside. So I walked up the long driveway until I reached the warmly lit house and cautiously scrambled up the steps to the door. I meowed as loudly as I could. I was about to give up when the door opened and a little girl stood there. She began to yell for her Mommy and Daddy. "There's a kitty at our door !" The little girl scooped me up into her arms and I felt warm and snuggly and started to purr. The humans made a lot of fuss over me. They fed me and I ate and ate. I was so hungry ! The man who lived in the house said that I would have to spend the night in the barn because I had bugs in my fur. No wonder I was so itchy all the time ! The man put me in a cardboard box with an old blanket. It was very comfy and I fell asleep, all cozy with a nice full belly.

    The next morning the man came back and took me out of the box. He put me into a sort of shiny bowl with a spout thing that water came out of. The bowl was full of water. I didn't like it very much at all, especially when the man put some sudsy smelly stuff all over me. But soon he took me out of the water and dried me off. He took a comb and combed my fur. I have to admit I felt really good afterward though. That nasty itching went away.

    The next thing I knew I was in another car. I was so scared. Were these humans going to throw me out somewhere too ? After a long ride the humans got out of the car , but they took me with them into a big building. It smelled funny in there. They talked to a another man about me. I heard the word "neutered" whatever that means and something about "de-clawing" The new man was very nice to me. He petted me and took me into another room where I couldn't see the other humans anymore.
It seemed like just a short time later I was waking up. I felt a little woozy , but I was really hungry. The nice man gave me some food and water and soon I was up and walking around. A little while later the other humans who had the nice little girl came back again and took me on another long drive. This time we went back to the humans' house. Since I didn't have bugs in my fur anymore I was allowed to come into the house and I've been here ever since !!

    I love living here with my humans. They all love me very much. The people who live here take good care of me. They give me plenty to eat, toys to play with and they even let me sleep on their bed next to their feet every night. Sometimes they think I eat too many kitty treats, but I look so cute no one can refuse when I beg for them.

    My story has a happy ending, but lots of unwanted pets like me don't get so lucky. Many freeze to death or starve to death when they get thrown out on a country road in the dead of winter. Or get hit by a car. Many are taken in by animal shelters only to have to be put down when no home can be found for them. Spaying or neutering your pets is one way you can all help to prevent animals from going through such things. If you are thinking of getting a pet, but can't afford to have it spayed or neutered, please think about changing your mind. Wait until you can afford to have a pet spayed or neutered before getting one."