On a very sad note, yesterday evening I made the extremely painful decision to have Gunga Din euthanised.

He was on exhibition at "Cat of the Year " (August 9th, 1996) last Saturday. By Sunday,  he was depressed & looked terrible. I had him admitted to my vet hospital in renal failure. By Thursday evening his BUN had not decreased significantly and he was refusing to eat anything. What is so desperately sad is, that Gunga Din was only 8.5 years old. My vet is unable to give any insight to his sudden onset.

He looked absolutely magnificent on Saturday.

He became the first ever Supreme Champion Burmese stud in July 1991 and sired many Supremes, Grands and Champions/Premiers.

He was my pillow kitty, my bedmate, my lap fungus until he started to spray. He had never had a days illness in his all too short life.

Sleep well my Gentle Prince....

"I caught up with my mail, I feel even more terrible about not mailing having now read of Gunga Din's death.

This news is to me at this stage still unreal - it has not yet hit home. You must be feeling awful.

I know just what a special place in your heart this cat has held over the years - not only because he was the 1st male supreme and a good sire, but mostly because he was special and gentle.

A dark shadow looms over the Burmese fancy in SA, because a living legend has fallen. And though his great name will live on in the show pursuits of his offspring, this somehow does not make up for the loss of the individual himself.

Gunga Din was much, much more than just the superb specimen, he was a person of gentle greatness. Someone whom I will remember not for his many titles, but for that unique character.

It is a privilege to be able to state that I knew that cat personally."

Dr. Ivan M. Clark BVSc MRCVS