Lupi (originally ”Suzy”) was born July 8, 1995, shortly before Mickey. She was a striking specimen; strong, healthy, exotic, and completely hairless.  As in Mickey's case, her cattery family was looking forward to her contributing to their Sphynx breeding and strengthening program. Shortly after Mickey left the cattery to live with us, Lupi fell very ill, with the same severe respiratory symptoms as Mickey.  It was determined that she, too, was now infected with rhinotracheitis, and she was also suffering from a closed pyometra, a serious uterine infection.

Her cattery family, recalling that we had seen Lupi on a couple of videotapes they had sent us, sadly told us that they would be having her put down, as they were already dealing with so many sickly cats and kittens, and the expense of treating her seriouse case was far outside their capabilities.  They did, however, offer Lupi to us first, especially after we had had so much luck getting Mickey through the worst of his rhinotracheitis symptoms, so I made the 12-hour drive to the cattery in Pennsylvania and brought her home to allow her a chance at a long and happy life, smothered with love.

When we arrived back in Milwaukee and noted the serious appearance of her uterine infection, our veterinarian insisted that I bring her in immediately so he could perform an emergency hysterectomy - and it wasn’t a moment too soon! As for her rhinotracheitis, she remained weak, frail, severely congested, wrought with conjunctivitis and tiny lesions on her lips and nose.  We tried several months of injections of an immune system booster and fed her numerous other supplements to help strengthen her against the virus.  We loved her and massaged her like crazy (as we still do - which, in her opinion, is the best part!). She eventually regained nearly all the vigor of a healthy cat, with bright, clear mysterious eyes, but to this day, still suffers from what a Cornell University cat specialist classified as “chronic snotty nose” along with occasional coughing attacks as well as a bout with a sore throat and lesions around her nose and lips for three or four days every few months.  We tend to her sneezes as part of our everyday activities, chasing her around with kleenex like a couple of lunatics, especially right after she awakens, or if she is startled in some way.  Lupi has been on a strictly home-made diet for almost a year now, but has always loved food in any way shape or form - ANY meat, vegetables, spaghetti, pizza, fruit, cheese, even the occasional tiny cube of raw garlic! Her favorite, above all, is fish, to which we also treat her once in a while - salmon, swordfish, catfish - you name it, she'll eat it!  Since we changed her diet to a natural one, we have noticed that she is significantly more active, assertive, and confident, spending less and less time inside her snug snack, and more time running about, exploring, and calling out for attention - whether it be to herself, a soiled litter box, a twisted (and thereby unusable) snug sack, or a bowl of water that isn't full enough for her drinking enjoyment. The change has been remarkable, although we haven't seen much improvement in her rhinotracheitis symptoms.