October 28, 2009 - Legato's Song is Silent.

One of my favorite songs from the musical "Cats" is the one about how cats contemplate their secret name, known only to them and not shared with their pet humans. I like to think that Legato shared that name with my sister who encouraged me to adopt him in 2004, although for no known reason he never seemed to like her after that first day. I had been struggling to decide on a name for him, knowing only that the name his rescue group gave him, "Snoball," was definitely not the right one for him.

When, about two weeks after adopting him, I told my sister how this still-nameless cat loved to sit on my lap and purr, she suggested "Legato," which she explained is an Italian word used by classical musical composers to indicate a "calm and peaceful interlude," and also sounds like the Spanish, "el Gato," which means "cat." So, "Snoball" became Legato L. Gato - the calm and peaceful singing cat.

I can't help but think that "Legato" was his secret name, the one usually cats reserve for themselves, and that for whatever reason, he loved us enough to honor us by sharing it with us. (Of 203,875 cats on Catster right now, he's the only one with that name.) Maybe he knew that no matter how many miles he traveled with me (300 miles, 3 times a month, for 2 years, then 110 miles, 3 times a month, for 3 years, plus one business trip - all by car), he had his forever home the day I took him home for the first time.

I spoke with the vet yesterday morning, and both vets in the practice felt that only the IV fluids were keeping Legato alive. When I went to visit him, I agreed. Both vets felt that the only possible options were either a bone marrow aspiration, which would not have shown anything which could be treated and which would have been horribly painful for Legato, or putting him to sleep.

At my request, since I knew I would not be able to drive home safely after Legato died, they agreed to keep him comfortable until October 29th, but Dad was able to come out and go with me back to the vet's.

Legato was put to sleep on the afternoon of October 28, 2009, because of a blood disorder. The vets were able to regulate his sugar, but he was showing no sign of improvement and no interest in his environment. The vet used the term "blood dysplasia."

Now, I go between completely numb and knife-like sadness, but I know I did everything I could, and I know I did the right thing by letting Legato go.

Legato's song is silent now.

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