Today, I sadly learned that Sharky passed away on Aug. 31, 2023. He will be sorely missed. The Featured Image is the last photo I happened to take of him, on July 6. Vitals: f/4.9, ISO 50, 1/420 sec, 230mm (film equivalent); 12:30 p.m. PDT; Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Sharky joined my “Cats of University Heights” series in May of last year. I learned that he was ailing about a month ago. Someone saw the proud purball, confused in the street and sounded alarm. Trip to the cat clinic determined that he had gone suddenly blind; the vet diagnosed brain tumor and gave grim prognosis.
Sharky’s owners chose not to euthanize the beloved pet. They took him home, where he would be cared for but not allowed outside, which restricted visits to the next door neighbor’s house; he loved going there. He would wait outside her gate until the mailman or passerby let him in. The homeowner affectionately told me that Sharky was her boss.
The cat’s health deteriorated, last week. He stopped eating and drinking but started bleeding from the nose. Sharky used up the last of his nine lives. 🙁