Panther

in July 2011 We found Panther through internet path, at that time we have just lost our cat Pusa, so we looked for another cat to accompany cat Pagi at home. There were 4 kittens in the picture at internet that my husband found. 3 were black, 1 was white with less black. It said we would need to wait for the kittens finished with their breastfeeding, which was soon, so my husband locked on a date when we could see our kitty.

Finally, the day has arrived, we drove for about one hour to pick up and see our new cat. When we got there, there were only 2 kittens left, we asked where the others were, they said they didn’t survive because they didn’t want to drink to their mama so much. What’s left us only 2 kittens, the black ones and the white. The black kitty was following the other ones everywhere he goes, to the left, right and everywhere, how cute! My husband then asked me, “which ones would you like to take?”, “huff that’s tough but the white ones is cute” I said. My husband of course couldn’t have a heart to leave the black ones behind, so he said, “we will take both of them”. Before we knew it both jumped inside the travel box that we brought in, first the white ones followed by the black kitty. We then smiled and said, “oh look, they are ready to go with us”.

On the way home in the car, we looked for names that might be perfect for them, started with the white ones, Prego, and I looked behind at passenger seat as the black ones laying comfortably I said, “he can be a Panther as he is a black cat, no?”, “yes, that’s a good name for him”, my husband replied.

Arrived at home, both kittens found no problems on getting along with the other only 2 months older than them, cat Pagi was indeed warm welcoming and immediately embracing them as his own brothers. 3 of them were very happy playing, eating, cuddling together until one day Panther fell from balcony and went missing for one month. Oh, I was very sad, I couldn't find him anywhere, I called out and looked but I didn’t see his nose. I put out flyers to all the neighbours, one time one neighbour called and said that they had been feeding little kitty with the same description in the flyer, and promised when kitty came back again, they would call us. They even said that they will set up food outside to lure him, but sadly they didn’t call back.

One day when I was sitting on balcony, my sight somehow looking at the empty grass, then suddenly I saw a black kitty was busy chasing a butterfly, I was jumped from my seat and told myself “Oh, my God that’s Panther!”, I ran as fast as a maniac could, I didn’t forget to take snack and apartment keys with me, I ran, I ran, I ran, found him going inside the bushes, “oh no” I said, I didn’t want to lose him again, I stood in front bushes calling his name, opening snack but he didn’t want to go out from it, until few minutes then he came, so, I grabbed him and ran back, … he was so thin after one month alone outside, we checked him in to doctor because he seemed couldn’t jump like cat supposed to be, he lost his fur on his tail as if he got hurt, … doctor said he had broken his bone on his one leg, but don’t worried it will grow back as he is still young, so, the doctor was right, after few months he was able to jump again, the fur was coming back beautifully, He gained his weight, slowly showing how handsome and adorable our tuxedo cat turned out to be.

After this missing event, Panther was no longer nicely welcomed by our other boys, especially Prego, he seemed upset to Panther every time he got near him. It is tough like that when one away and come back, somehow his scent fragrance was not the same anymore, so he did not have close relationship with his brother anymore.

One silly day I have decided to take Panther for a walk as he was a calm cat I thought, we learned at home to prepared him to wear harness, I thought ok, let’s do this, maybe he would like it to take a walk, … I had no clue that my husband would take us quite far from home to a spot where far from people / housing / traffic, which probably good at that time, but not good if he got lost again. Once we got out from the car, he went cool at first then got him off himself from the harness successfully to run inside the woods! … I was running behind him, and of course he ran faster than me, hiding in one of those bushes and big trees. Puff what a day! .. we lost him again! Yes, human has the stupidest idea sometimes, this was one of them, I shouldn’t have the idea, I should have let him peacefully only inside the house. This time our effort was going to that place every day, calling out his name, bringing him food, leaving one of my husband shirt there (have to admit he was my husband’s cat from beginning, that’s explained the shirt), in hope that he would come out from his hiding place to see us.

We noticed that there were some cats in the woods as well, Panther was not alone. The food that we brought everyday must have been eaten by the other cats, because once I put down food, other cats came looking in from the distance. I kept on calling Panther many times, and suddenly on the 14th day he called back to me, his voice was far, but I could tell that was him calling, I said “Panther come”, he did seem to walking closer as his voice was also getting louder, it was such cute voice, how I missed to hear it again now. Once he got close and showed his nose to me, I grabbed him and run inside the car. Since then, I promised myself not doing anything silly to him ever again!

On May 2015, we moved to a better house, this time has access to outside from the back garden, how happy all my cats were, also the adventurous Panther was happy, he could feel his pink paws to the grass, smells fresh air, meeting other animals and made the time of his life, especially summer, he loved the sun.
Not long after the move, we welcomed our two other cats, one of these cats Panther made friend with her name is Pfeffer. From Pfeffer, Panther got his back, they teamed up against whoever in or entering the house that they felt annoying.

Panther was very handsome, lovable, smells good, cute, sweet, patient, like to talk back to his human. He was a perfect almost like human reincarnation cat you would ever meet, the way he looked and talked to you were going straight to your heart. He had a cute perfect nose, sharp cat green eyes, tuxedo coat, and walking like he was walking in catwalk, we could also not forget he had some good hunting skilled. He liked to be on my husband shoulders, just to sit or use them as stairs. Panther would also greet him; he even ran following the car if he knew my husband was back from work. Few times he was up the street; he recognized the car and ran down the street to meet him. Panther loved his papa so much.

I didn’t remember exactly when, but it was not long after Pagi passed away in early 2022, Panther had stomach problems, he had diarrhoea. This must be because he liked to hunt for mouse / bird and eat them. We went to the doctor to check on him, but we found nothing, every test was clear. I changed the food, maybe if I bought a better food, this effort was not successful too, while he kept having his stomach-ache every year, we checked on him, sometime doctor gave medicine, we also went for ultrasound, but we found nothing. The sad part was when his weight declining every year, yet we found nothing.

April 2025 Panther only wanted to eat a little bit, followed by not wanting to eat at all, we went to a doctor, this time the blood results came back NOT GOOD. His kidney was failing him, but we did not want to lose hopes because there might be a way to save his kidney, we tried the medications that doctor gave us, of course he had been put into infusion so that he had something in his body since he didn’t want to eat, but the infusion was only max for 3 times, because the cat vein would not be able to handle the needle well If its too long.

Panther longed for cuddling the whole time he was sick, he went under my blanket, slept in my arm and or just wanted to be near. This was the hardest part as he wanted to stay close even though he was ill, most cats would be hiding or separated themselves from their human, but not Panther, he wanted to spend all his precious little time with his mama or papa.

On Friday 02.05.2025 which was the 3rd times of his infusion as we picked him up from doctor, he looked weaker, yes, he had been weak the days since he was sick, but this time he was totally weak, even we were sure that the doctor had given up on him.

If he had to die, I wanted him to go naturally. But looking at him suffering from hunger was killing me. I tried to accompany him, cuddling, kissing every time I could, sometimes I heard his tummy made sounds as if he was starving, he noticed that sound, changed his sleeping position, hoped that he would not feeling it, but it never worked, he felt pain and starving. He was the most patient and brave cat I have ever met. In his worst condition he was taking it gentle and strong.

On Monday morning 05.05.2025 I fed him food, after that he drank by himself, caressed and kissed Panther. then my husband went to a doctor with him. It was the hardest day, because I knew that he might not coming back again, but if we kept him going as it was, he would be even more suffering, we did not want that. At 11.15 AM CET Panther was sleeping forever, he went to a better place, no more starving and pain.

Thank you, Panther, for sharing your 14th years of wonderful life, it’s very short and fast life to us, as we hoped you would be here for long, you made us happy, smile and your scent, presence, cuddling, love were meant the world to me. See you again Love, across the rainbow bridge, I know you are waiting for us there.

Love always.