Regular visitors to our website, as well as regular readers of our quarterly newsletter, Treats & Tidbits – as well as almost everyone who has visited Cat Hospital of Chicago – knew Boo, one of the hospital’s resident cats. Sadly, in 2007, we lost the big orange tabby who dispensed helpful and witty advice in this newsletter’s “Ask Boo” column and who had been our cherished friend for the previous six years.

Boo was adopted by Cat Hospital in 2001. He was left on our back doorstep with a note that read, “The dog doesn’t like him.” From that trying beginning, he quickly became a beloved member of our family. Although he only had three legs (we don’t know what happened to his fourth leg), Boo was able to get around fairly comfortably. He spent much of his time cozying up on the desks of Dr. Czerwonky, Dr. Pohl and Ruta (where he became a regular fixture in his later years).

Those who spent time at Cat Hospital after-hours always knew Boo was there due to his famous p.m. “squawking,” which he did every evening. Boo’s squawks were so loud that doctors who were on the phone often had to explain to the other party what was happening.

Like many of us, Boo loved drinking out of a mug – he had his own on the floor in the doctors’ office, and whenever fresh water was poured for him, he would dive right in to lap it up.

As he aged, Boo suffered from age-related kidney insufficiency, gall stones and chronic pancreatitis. Cat Hospital doctors were able to keep him healthy for some time, but when his quality of life seriously deteriorated, they decided to end his suffering and humanely euthanized him.

We will miss Boo terribly, but we intend to keep his spirit alive by retaining his name and picture atop this page. Although “guest” cats will now pen answers to readers’ questions, the space will continue to be called “Ask Boo.”