Our favorite feral cat Boy is dying [View all]

[malaise]

He was hit by an SUV this morning and he's in very bad shape. He's barely breathing. It's hard to watch but as poorly as he is, he won't let us put him in the cat box and take him to a vet. If he makes it until morning, a vet will come and euthanize him.

Poor Boy - he literally cried when I rubbed his head earlier. I got some warm water and wiped him down - several bones are broken and he has lots of cuts and bruises. He's about seven years old and as tough as they come - the quintessential alpha male.

I was in tears earlier and then I went for my walk and thought about it - he has had a great life for a feral - a warm patio with a bed and two great meals every day. He loved when I'd brush him with the patio broom. Got his last brush on Saturday morning. Ferals rarely last this long, but it's hard watching his shallow breaths. He's

Boy and his brother decided early that they liked the good life. Unlike most of the kittens who take ages to tame, they jumped all over us and ignored their mother's cautious approach. It was hard not to like them. The brother left one day - he was the better looking of the pair but big cat was the dominant one - and he remained dominant until this morning.

I should have known something had happened - one of the other males looked too happy for his own good. He jumped straight into Boy's chair this morning. They are all Boy's kids - he is leaving a legacy of ginger cats with one black one -a throw back - and he looks ready to take charge. Sadly he'll be fighting for power with a ginger Tom who looks exactly like Boy.

Ah cats!!!