GIC DK La Forêt's Duchesse

HCM, PKD, HD & PL: Normal on 10.03.04

Duchesse (Sesse) is related to one of my studs, IC Tilia Nova´s Ingjalf. I thought that Ingjalf was such a good representative of the breed that I wanted a cat with almost the same qualities and I got that with Duchesse.

Since Duchesse is a blacktortie, it can be hard to see her qualities on a picture, but she has a very nice NFO-type. She has the best chin, of all my cats, has a correct triangular shaped head, ears are of medium size, but is placed totally correct in the triangular. She is over all a medium cat, but has, after 5 litters, gained some weight and weighs 4.3 kg, on the vets scale:-)

Several of her kittens has been sold as breeder/show cats and have done very well at shows.

The H2-litter was the last litter from Duchesse. She was extremely tired after giving birth, even though it only toke 4 - 5 hours, but it has taken her nearly 4 days to get *on top again* and that isn't something we will submit her to again. 2 of the 5 kittens were fighting to survive, but unfortunately they didn't make it:-(, even though Canberra has been assisting with everything, from helping out during the birth to supplying milk for the babies as well.

In the winter of 2005 Duchesse developed a really bad case of gingivitis and we decided, after consulting the veterinarian, that it would be best to have some of her teeth removed and he would do it while neutering her as well. A very powerful dose of antibiotich were prescriped and then it was the veterinarians intention to operate her, as soon as her contidion had stabalised. Unfortunately Duchesse became increasingly worse and very soon she was in such a poor condition, that the veterinarian felt, that further treatment was futile. In the last periode of time we had with her, we also saw how much weight she lost, simply because she couldn't eat properly due to her sore mouth and when the situation became unbearable, despite the very strong and intensive antibiotic she was given, the veterinarian recommended that we had her put to sleep:-( We thought that we would share our life with Duchesse for many more years, but that just wasn't meant to be. It's a small comfort that we share our life with 2 of her daugthers and her grand daugther, Oktavia, who besides sharing the same color, resemblance her grand mother in so many ways! We have also kept Sweet, another of Duchesse's grand children.

Duchesse, you were and are loved and you are sorely missed.....