Bad things happen in threes.  When Matisse threw up his breakfast, all of it, Sunday morning, then continued to vomit clear liquid and finally froth, I worried.  When food didn't interest him -and this is the cat who is so food fixated he's eaten his own vomit, I worried.

In to the vets yesterday morning him screaming all the way.  Good news.  He's sick, yes.  He has pyelophrenitis, an infection of his kidneys.  But it's treatable with antibiotics.  He may also be falling prey to the bane of many older cats, kidney disease, but if he is it's not serious despite it showing 'stage 4' on his tests.  Stage 4 because of the pyelophrenitis.  If he does have it we can treat it to slow down its progress.  At nearly 17, that's not bad.

So relieved.  Don't have to dig another hole in the ground.  Have planted the trees, Black Walnut for Natalia, and Feijoa Sellowiana Pineapple for Nairobi.  Both of which are thriving.  Still miss them, see their faces, hear their meows, remember their antics and their love.  

But we have Matisse for a bit longer anyway.  

And strange, since he is solo cat, he has stopped wailing.  He no longer sprays and is a much more content cat.  He just wanted and felt he deserved to be number one.

Now he is.