Tomorrow will be TWO YEARS that you left us to become an angel. We miss you so much… still. Mommy is getting choked up just writing this post and looking at your beautiful photo from Halloween a few years ago. You truly were the most beautiful cat ever with your soulful ice blue eyes and sweet angelic face. We know you’re taking good care of Jake for us at the Rainbow Bridge and having lots of fun while you wait for us.
Love and kisses from Mommy & Daddy
Photo of Micah that was posted on Petfinder.com in 2005.
I encountered a tiny problem when another woman wanted to adopt Mike too! They put a hold on Mike and she got the first right of refusal. I went to visit Micah at the same time and place as the other woman. Uh oh… I was pretty worried. When Micah first saw me he climbed on my back and gave me a back massage. That was Micah! Micah was never a shy guy and he was friendly to a fault. He didn’t understand that some people might want to harm him or that some people might not like cats. To Mike, everyone was a friend. In the end I lucked out when the other woman decided to pass on Micah and I was given the go ahead to adopt him. I went back a couple days later to pick Micah up and the rest is history!
One of the first photos I took of the boys together. Notice the look of bliss on Micah’s face as Jake grooms his little brother. He was so thin and Jake was huge! Eventually they became the same exact size like a couple of married bookends!It was love at first sight when Micah met his daddy and his brother Jake. Micah was such a loving and sweet cat. There really wasn’t anyone Micah didn’t like. Micah loved to follow Jake around the house and learned how to do the “important things” from his big brother like drinking from a faucet, opening doors, watching birds out the window and eating treats like a dog using your paw. Micah helped Jake overcome his timidness and brought youth and fun back into Jake’s life. Micah loved to provoke his big brother into wrestling matches each night and would search the house for him when he couldn’t find him. Micah most favorite thing in the world was cuddling. Cuddling with Jake and even better, cuddling with Jake and daddy.
A typical weekend on the couch with Jake and Daddy – Summer 2008.
Micah was a special cat because he seemed to love everyone he met. He would greet us at the garage door when we’d come home and put his daddy to bed each night by sitting on his chest, getting right up close to his face and licking his chin as he fell asleep. He’d greet visitors whether they were friends or the cable repair man. He was a tool cat to more than one person who came to the house to do repairs. In fact he made friends with a refrigerator repair man named Mikey. When Mikey came back a few days later he asked where our Mikey was! Micah didn’t believe in personal space. He believed in getting closer than close. He is the only cat we’ve had that LOVED to be carried around like a baby. You could carry him around all day and he’d love it. Micah’s two favorite places were the bathroom (any bathroom) and going into the backyard with daddy or mommy. Micah was very well behaved outside and he could never get enough of it. He never tried to run away, he’s just sit right beside you and enjoy the sunshine. He could be out there for 2 hours and he’d want to stay out longer. I suspect he lived outdoors for a time with his old dad as he was just too comfortable being outside.
Micah was a “dog like” kitty. I could dress him up and he’d actually pose. He was the most amazing model. In every shot he had that look in his eye that drew you into the photo. He looked amazing in colors and wasn’t afraid to wear pink like in this photo taken in Spring 2007.
Mike punishes his mousy in the bathtub in 2006.
Micah in the backyard – Summer 2008. This was his last summer with us. I think he lived just long enough to enjoy the entire summer. His spirit plays back there now.Micah passed away suddenly on October 30, 2008 at the age of 8. His death was a crushing shock to us as he’d always seemed so healthy and happy. We thought he’d live forever and certainly outlive Jake. His severe Cardiomyopathy (HCM) had gone undetected for years but he lived long enough to come into our lives for 3 years and 3 months of his precious life. He suffered a Saddle Thrombosis which he was not able to recover from. We miss Micah terribly. The hole left in our hearts with his absence is one we’ll feel for the rest of our lives. Micah’s love was infectious to everyone who met him. Our brave sweet boy you will always be missed!
Micah passed away naturally at 6:45 AM today. He suffered a Thromboembolism on Tuesday night when we rushed him to the emergency hospital. It was diagnosed that he was in advanced stages of heart failure due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). He had been hanging in there, still fighting hard the three times we went to see him on Wednesday. He was trying to pull himself up as if to tell us “let’s get out of here, I’m ready to go home.” We were hoping he would pull through despite the incredible odds. At least enough to come home and live out his remaining days with us and Jake.We’re heartbroken and in shock. He is EVERYWHERE in the house and backyard. His presence is so strong it’s palpable. We consider ourselves so lucky to have experienced his absolute and unconditional love. Everyone who ever met Mike thought him so sweet and an absolute “lovebug”. He was fearless with his affection and so friendly and trusting to a fault. He taught us what unconditional love is, we are so lucky to have had him in our lives for the time we did. Sweet Angel we’ll see you again at the Rainbow Bridge.
Very late yesterday night we rushed Micah to the emergency hospital. He was acting completely normal until I heard him screaming from the hallway and dragging himself by his front legs. His back legs were limp. Once at the hospital he was placed in critical condition and diagnosed as having had an Arterial Thromboembolism. X-rays confirm that Micah has severe heart failure. Micah’s diagnosis is very grim. We’ve been a complete mess since this happened. It was so unexpected especially considering what we’re going through with Jake.
We went to see him in the morning. He looked really good. He’s a strong and determined boy. He kept trying to stand up as if to say, “I’m ready to leave now!” His blood work is normal. Electrolytes are not spilling into his bloodstream yet and his pulse is normal. He has a 50% chance of pulling through. We are waiting for the clot to dissolve naturally over the next few days. If he doesn’t have a heart attack from the toxins that were trapped in his leg (when they re-enter the bloodstream) the blood will flow back into his leg and he won’t be in such excruciating pain. (He’s on hardcore painkillers now.) If he makes it through, he can come home and will regain the ability to walk. Most cats survive another a few weeks to a few months following an episode like this. That is all we can hope for. We would like him to live out the remainder of his days at home with us and Jake. He adores Jake. It’s absolutely heartbreaking.
When I spoke to the vet again this afternoon, Micah is the same (which is good, he’s stable) They did a ultrasound on him and know he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). (
The enlarging of the heart muscles.) This is an amazing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Website that explains it in detail. We always say Micah is a lovebug, 100% love, his heart is literally bigger than most cats. We are preparing ourselves for the blood clot to dissolve to see if Micah can make it through this.We just got back from visiting Micah again tonight. He’s doing pretty much the same. He seemed a little more “with it” recognizing our voices and scent. Our sweet lovebug kept nuzzling up close to our faces and arms just wanting to fall asleep as though in our arms tonight…it broke our heart to leave him behind. We’re just praying we’ll be able to bring him home for his last days….
