19/02/2026
Dumpling Louis Hyde (Summer 2020 - Feb 5, 2026)
We have been deeply grieving the loss of our special little man and now that I have the capacity, there is so much I want to tell you about him.
His life was relatively short but his lore, much like my love for him is vast. He trusted immediately, played hard, knew how to “sit” and “lay down”, made biscuits daily, got treats (and medicine) like clockwork, had many animal and human friends, micro-managed us and all visitors, had dedicated water mugs but still preferred drinking from my glass, demanded shrimp often, loved LOUDLY, and he fully used up all of his nine lives.
He was a survivor.
As a baby he was rescued from a hoarder situation and taken to a shelter where all of his siblings died of a respiratory infection.
It was the height of COVID, the shelter was at capacity, and he, still a snotty sickling, was scheduled for euthanasia but LUCKILY .harris.shaw scooped him up and brought him to me where he instantly made himself at home. There was no period of winning him over. He knew we belonged together before even I did.
I spoiled this cat rotten and when moved in, Dumpling was double spoiled.
In 2022, after we brought our vet a video of Dumpling coughing, he was diagnosed with Asthma and our medicine ritual began.
Then October 20th, 2024 Dumpling got very very sick and was diagnosed with FIP which prior to 2020 had a 100% mortality rate. We were given the option of putting him to sleep OR trying a very expensive experimental treatment. We quickly started treatment, not knowing if he would make it, and Dumpling even had to get a feeding tube so that his kidneys wouldn’t shut down as he wouldn’t eat. I was so scared but the feeding tube ended up being a life-saver as we were able to easily give him his medications and food every couple hours via the tube which he hardly seemed to mind! In those few weeks we were constantly at the vet and I’m so grateful to Dr. Tierney and everyone at who came to love him and root for his health.
Once he recovered he was as spoiled as possible.
(Continued in comments and probably future posts)
