Zoe passed away on Sunday, December 23rd.
I found her dead when I came home from work. I was taking her to the vet the next day.
I don't know what illness took her and never will because the cost of finding out is more than I can handle.

It wasn't until a couple of days before she died that I realized that someting was seriously wrong but I wasn't sure if it was medical or stress due to two rescued cats that I took into my home.
I kept the cats and Zoe completely separated and no visual contact.
I thought at first that Zoe's behavior was related to the scent of the cats and that she just needed more time.

In the last two weeks of her life I noticed that she was becoming increasingly active at night and she would not stay near the heat source during the day or night and I would find her cold and keep putting her back where it was warm but she would not stay there.
She also stopped eating (which was not usual for her not to eat at certain times for a week or two) In the past, I would bring her to vet and nothing was wrong but he would give her a vitamin shot which was supposed to increase her appetite but it never did.
The night before she died she was calm and staying near the heat source.

When I left for work Sunday morning she was calm and in retrospect her calmness was due to her being too weak to do anything else.
She was dying and I went to work.

Zoe was 5 1/2 yrs old and I was her sole caretaker.
She was always sweet and gentle with me.

I will always remember:

- The first time I saw her at six weeks. She was so green and so cute.
Her little head would peak out from behind the log.

- How much she trusted me.
When something made her anxious I would hold her and tell her "it's ok" and she understood.

- How much she loved her morning swim everyday in a warm bath

- How I would hold her after the bath and tell her how beautiful she was and how much I loved her and she would tilt her head and listen to what I was saying.

- How I would hold her and we would look out the window together and watch the squirrels and the birds and I would pet her the whole time.

- How much she loved to sit in the window basking in the morning sun and eating her food with me right next to her.

- How annoyed she got if I didn't put the grapes on top of the greens.

- How gently she took food from me.

- How she loved to be petted and would raise her head and close her eyes and then give me a kiss.

- How she waited for me to greet her when I came home from work and would then go to sleep with me petting her.

- How she would watch me every morning from the window as I got into my car to go to work.

- How she would shake her head from side to side when I was doing something that she didn't like and I would respect her and stop.

- How she would cling tightly to me as if she never wanted me to let her go.

- How she would crawl under a blanket and peek her head out and watch me as I got dressed every morning and wait for me to periodically pet her and get a kiss in return.

For all of you who own an ig please don't make the mistake I made.
If your ig's behavior radically changes please seek medical advice immediately.

For all of you who own an ig and lost interest in it and are not giving it the care it needs PLEASE give it to someone who will properly care for it and love it. Please don't let it suffer.

For all of you parents who are thinking about getting an ig for your children, DON'T.

For all of you pet store owners who sell igs and give the wrong information to the buyers for a profit, Damn you

For all of you who give baby igs as prizes at carnivals, Damn you.

For all of you who know of someone who may be abusing or neglecting an ig please contact a rescue group just as you would for a dog or cat.

For all of you who love and respect your igs, you are very special people.

I needed to say all this because I hurt and it helps.
I will never forget the way my Zoe looked when I found her dead.
Her tongue was sticking out and it was as black as coal and her sides were all caved
in like all the air had been sucked out of her body.
She was alone when she died.
I wasn't there and didn't say good-bye.

I know I have to remember the good things and I will.
I will be OK, I just need a little time.

I would like to say a very special thanks to Robert Maccargar and Kevin Egan for your help and support.

Good-bye Zoe, I will never forget you.
Linda