Panda (October 1990 - May 5, 2009) R.I.P. Peacefully at home, after saying goodbye to Tommy Peaches, Julia and Victor on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. Panda had lost a lot of weight in the past year, due to a hyperactive thyroid condition. He had stopped eating for almost a week, and was suffering. It’s his time to leave us. Panda was born underneath the porch of Victor’s home in Whitby (the rectory of St John’s Church) before Thanksgiving, 1990. He was the smartest kid of the litter. He stayed with Victor and Kit Kit through his many moves, lived in 2 houses in Whitby, 2 condos in Toronto and 2 condos in York Region. He was a shy and timid cat in his early days, always went hiding when he heard the door bells. He was smart enough to tell the different phone rings, when it was the ring from the entry phone system of the apartment, he would go into hiding, too. He was a very affectionate and loving cat, very verbal especially at meal times with his ‘al’s (instead of meows). In his prime, he played “dry food baseball” with Victor as “Panda Alomar”! (that’s when the Blue Jays were champions) He always loved to eat, beside cat food; Victor and Julia spoiled him with many human food, too -- BBQ pork, steak, yogurt and cheese… When he was big, he was as heavy as 18 lbs… “Panda Man” lost his companion Kit Kit two years ago, and in grief he lost some weight. When the new young kid Tommy Peaches arrived, he began to show his age and became Panda the Old Man toward the end. A couple of nights in March, he curled up around Victor’s feet in bed as he used to do, before his health deteriorated further, as if to say goodbye. We are grateful for his beautiful companionship and we will miss him! He had a wonderful life of over 18.5 years. Thanks be to God. Amen.