Gunny & Squeaker Hendry

Gunny (black) and Squeaker (white) were littermates who adopted us as kittens when we served as missionaries in Amman, Jordan.  When we went to the Middle East we had to leave our two beloved dogs behind because Muslims traditionally disdain dogs, but it wasn't long before we just had to have a "fur fix."  Cats are tolerated in the ME, but are typically no more than vermin roaming the streets and living out of dumpsters.  We were fortunate enough to have a missionary friend who had a well-cared for cat with kittens that needed homes.  Gunny (our son and future Marine named the black one) and Squeaker (who never meowed, but squeaked) came to live with us.  Not only did they look totally different, but they had two completely different personalities.  When our youngest daughter graduated from high school in the ME, she asked that as a graduation present we send the two cats back with her to the US.

They adapted well (even though they only spoke cat Arabic), and in true cat form, quickly dominated our home and dogs.  In late September of 2018, Gunny became very ill, which was then complicated when he developed pneumonia.  He eventually responded to medication and resumed his normal self for about three weeks, then took a dramatic and rapid nosedive in a 48-hour period in October.  We knew the end was near when we found Gunny laying listless on our bedroom floor, with Squeaker laying next to him with his front leg draped over him as if to be comforting him.  He passed away just a couple of hours later.

From that point, Squeaker stopped eating.  For the first week he would take a little broth or moistened food, but then stopped eating all together.  Initially we could coax him to drink a little water, but after three weeks he had wasted away to nothing and it was clear that he was dying of a broken heart.  When he reached the point of not being able to walk or stand, we were forced to make the hard decision to have him put to sleep so he could join his brother.

Bill & Terry Hendry