Cato was first examined by a neurologist at a referral clinic for a medical work up and a cat scan after a head injury. The cat scan showed a lesion, a pocket of fluid on the left side of the brain. The neurologist's advice was to continue Cato's career, as the lesion was most likely due to the head injury, although it could possibly be a slow growing brain tumor. Cato continued his field work this winter in Texas, and got a JAM in the first all-breed qualifying trial he ran in in March. However, upon return to Maine in April, he became disoriented and confused, and his condition rapidly deteriorated. On April 12, the painful decision was made to put him to sleep.
