My good buddy crossed the rainbow bridge today

This is Skittles (the neighborhood kids named him) he was abandoned three years ago in our neighborhood. Ever since I have been looking after him. I tried to bring him inside but one of my cats is a jerk and would pick fights with him no matter how I tried. I built him a shelter and put in blankets and heating pads, gave him food and water, and would sit on the stoop with him in my lap and give him scritches. He was a really good kitty.

Last night I heard him crying and went outside to check on him. He was lying on the ground and was limp when I picked him up. I ran him to the vet emergency hospital and they said that he had fluid in his lungs, his heart rate was half of what it should be and his temp was 20 degrees F lower than what it should be. They drained the fluids from his lungs and kept him overnight but this morning he had not improved and the vet said that he would likely not make it. I came in to say goodbye and as they brought him into the room he was softly crying but once they placed him in my lap and I started to scratch his chin and rub his ears he quieted down. He passed very peacefully and the people at the clinic were wonderful and sympathetic.

Rest easy big guy I will miss you.