He belonged to no one and everyone at once: the black-and-white campus cat Luna. He was not only beloved on the TU/e campus but also by the staff at the regional shelter for stray animals in Eindhoven (ROZE), where he had spent the past few months. “It was not easy to put him to sleep,” says caretaker Alma van Dorenmalen. “When an animal opens up to people and makes contact, a bond and affection develop. That also happened with Villian (the new name Luna got at the shelter, ed.).”

“You have to switch off your emotions and stay objective,” says Van Dorenmalen. Luna was in pain and developing more complications. He could no longer empty his bladder, which became damaged, and there was blood in his urine. The strong medication he was treated with had insufficient effect. “We monitored him every day and saw that it only got worse.” There was no prospect of improvement.

Peaceful

Ending his suffering was the only option left, Van Dorenmalen explains. She was present when the veterinarian carried out the euthanasia. Luna peacefully fell asleep, she says. “He first received an injection to put him under anesthesia. He barely noticed it because we gave him a snack at the same time, which kept him occupied. Once he was in a deep sleep and no longer aware of anything, the euthanasia was performed.”

Severely injured

Campus cat Luna had been missing since May. On June 10, he was found on Hertogstraat in Eindhoven. His tail was denuded, and he had a dislocation and fracture in his hindquarters. Surgery was performed to amputate his tail. The fracture had to heal naturally through rest. What exactly happened to him remains unknown to Van Dorenmalen, but his injuries suggest he suffered a severe impact to his hindquarters.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.