Mikey was a beautiful cat. I got him from an animal hospital in 2002 from an abandoned litter (apparently his sister was sick with intestinal problems very young). My other cat Marie didn't take to him right away (never did) and Mikey was a happy cat who ate like there was no tomorrow until he was 4 yrs old when he was suddenly lethargic and wouldn't eat. Diagnosed with diabetes at age 4 (never a fat cat) and put on Glipizide and later insulin 4 units twice/day. This continued with exacerbations and remissions until 2009 when he developed irritable bowel syndrome as he was throwing up a lot. He continued to have ups and downs until 12/5/10 when he stopped eating and drinking and was walking wobbly. Took him to a 24-hour emergency vet and found he had diabetic ketoacidosis as well as liver/kidney failure and a heart murmur which was new. He was also having seizures as his eyes looked funny. Vet advised he be put down as he wasn't going to get better, he could have been stabilized but would just revert back to his original state. I made the call to do this as I saw it in his eyes the fight just went out of him (he was always a fighter in that he would come out of it within 24 hours but this time he didn't). This is the hardest thing I ever did in my life but at least he got to see us decorate for Christmas. I have his ashes home with me (I had reservations about cremation as a Catholic) but I feel him all over my house and Christmas Eve night could have sworn I heard him while I was in bed reading. I miss Mikey every day of my life and cry every day for him. He didn't deserve what he got but he never wanted for anything. I love him with all my heart, my Mikey.