Dear Dr. Forslund,
We received Slate's paw prints and the death certificate package last Thursday. The paw prints were amazing and we were both so touched that you had done the 2 paw prints. The little joyous cat print on the original paw print was so perfect for Slate as that is how he was! And, the 2nd paw print was perfect with the little mouse and quote. We both cried buckets. I've been crying for days and now as I write this I'm crying again, which is why I haven't responded until now - it's so hard for me to talk about Slate without the tears. I am very grateful to you for giving us the 2nd one. We will treasure both forever.
Slate's ashes were delivered on Monday. A very lovely and touching presentation and tribute. Your words were so comforting. Receiving the ashes is always such a finality of the process - Slate's pain is gone and his spirit is free. His ashes are now next to Slash's (his best buddy and big brother) and Goggles' (his sister he never knew as he was adopted after her death) and they all sit in the headboard of our bed at the top of my head, somehow a comfort to me.
McKinley really seems a bit lost still. Looking at old pictures we both realized that he was very attached to both
Slash and Slate. All 3 slept together, played together, sat in the windows together, ate together, etc. When Slash got really, really sick and finally died, then shortly after Slate got really sick and everything changed all within just a year's time. The 
stress of caring for our sick boys one after the other was the priority. (Wasn't easy on Slate for that period we were helping Slash either.) Not to mention the addition of Callie - a six month old crazy girlie, girl kitten. Poor Mic. But we're doing everything we can as far as giving him extra love and attention. He still gets pretty irritated with Callie but there are more times now where he actually will go up to her and lick her head and face, he'll sit in the window with her and they'll both play together with me.
The first pic is Slate as an 8 week old kitten. We brought him home for Slash who lost his sister Goggles to intestinal cancer at the very young age of only 6 years. It took about 2 days and then Slash took over as mentor and big brother to Slate.
From kitten on until almost the very end of his sweet life Slate loved playing fetch with little mousies. There is a pic of him as a kitten carrying the toy mouse.
Mic showed up on our patio and obviously wanted Slate and Slash to be his brothers - he actually tried to jump up on the outside window ledge to the boys who were sitting on the inside window ledge. Both Slash and Slate welcomed him in almost immediately. They were a great threesome for almost 5 years and the final picture is of the 3 of them doing what they loved to do, lazing and looking out the big window from their cat condo.
Then we lost Slash who succumbed to complications of inflammatory bowel disease at age 14 in June of 2009. It was shortly after that, we found out Slate, at only 7 years of age, had kidney failure disease, a cruel horrible fate to such an amazing, good cat. I only wish we had given Goggles and Slash the peaceful and dignified end to their beautiful lives that we knew to give Slate. As I have told you before I am so grateful you were there for us that sad day, August 22, 2010.
Before Slate passed a little girl cat, we named Callie, (whom you had met) age 6 months old showed up on our doorstep in October of 2009. Despite Slate's illness he welcomed her in with open paws. He was so amazing in that he was always such a cheery cat. He was curious, playful, loving and had that strong spirit you had mentioned before. Callie's kitten playfulness at times was hard for Slate especially toward the end when he was so weak, but he never became mean.
Mic was not as hospitable toward Callie, but he was having a hard time missing Slash and not understanding what was wrong with Slate, especially with all the medical things we had to do for Slate, like the fluids and medications. 
We realized that Mic lost his best buddies within almost a year of each other so we have to give him some slack. It has taken awhile, but Mic and Callie are actually sleeping near each other and play with each other. Mic doesn't smack her hardly at all any more!
John and I can't thank you enough for everything. I think back to that evening and wouldn't have known what we would have done without you. Thanks for listening. I guess writing is therapeutic as I've stopped crying. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Best,
Terri Dzialo
Brea