Cat

The Beginning of Today’s Story:

Every summer Cat gets thin but it’s usually about August we start to notice that she’s gotten skinny and once it cools off, she starts eating again and looking a but chunky.

This year, she’s skinny – really skinny and not eating much. I’ve tried practicing picking her up, hoping to be able to get her in a carrier and get her to the vet some day but she’s not having any part of it. Since she’s still somewhat feral and who knows if she’s ever had any shots, and surely not recently, I don’t want to risk being bit by her.

The last few nights, we’ve tried putting yummy stuff in a trap and nope, I think she’s seen what happens with that trap.

I ordered some wormer (tapeworms), crushed the pill and put it in just a little bit of food this morning and she didn’t eat enough to be effective. Vince has always fed her inexpensive hard cat food because we often see other cats eating Cat’s food but for about the last week, I’ve been switching her over to the food Boots eats. This morning I added a bit of canned cat food and I don’t think she liked that at all. I was wondering if maybe her teeth are bad and eating the hard food was painful.

I’m pretty sure I can rule out getting her to a vet. I’ve thought about trying to get something to knock her out and put that on her food. Even if the vet would give it to me, I’m afraid she’ll run out in the woods and pass out and get eaten by a coyote.

The Middle of Today’s Story:

I decided to call the vet and see if they would give me worm meds for her. Yesterday I got a card that it’s time for Boots’ annual. I decided we could take Boots in and talk to the vet about Cat so I called and they said to bring him in.

The vet took Boots out of the carrier and he said “Oh, my! This is a HUGE kitty!” He is a big guy but he’s so sweet. The vet was petting him and he said ‘He has way too much fur!” and told us they can clip him and that will stop a lot of the shedding so we left him there to get all his shots and to get clipped.

Then I asked him about Cat and he said he really needed to check her for feline leukemia and aids. I explained to him that there’s no way I could get her in a carrier and we’ve tried a trap many times and she won’t go in it. He said to fix the trap where it won’t spring and put her food in there. Let her get used to going in and out, then we could set it to close.

We got home and when I walked over to the shop, she came up and let me pet her. I sat down on a bucket and petted her for the longest time. Then I started trying to pick her up – just her front half and leave her back lets on the ground. She didn’t panic so I went back to the house and asked Vince if he would get the other carrier for me. He was adamant that I should NOT try to get that cat in a carrier. He was afraid she’d bite me or scratch me up and no telling what I would get from that. I said “The worst that happens is I have to go to the hospital and get stitches.” Actually, I had a cat once and she wasn’t friendly. I was outside, friends came by. I said “Let me go in and put the cat up before you come in.” When I tried to pick her up, she was ready to attack the other people and she attacked me. I had to get 5 stitches and when we were at the E.R., they asked “Can you find out who owns the cat?” Hmm . . yes! I own the cat. They couldn’t believe my own cat did that so . . what are the chances of being attacked by your own cat twice?

Vince got the other carrier out. I moved my 5 gallon bucket over near the carrier. I asked Vince to move so she couldn’t seen him but he stayed where he could see me. He was so sure our next stop was going to be the E.R. I’ll admit that my heart was pounding and I was scared but I know if we don’t get her some treatment of some kind, she’s not going to make it. I’m hoping it’s just a bad case of worms and not feline leukemia.

She was across the yard and I had to call her to come let me pet her. I’ll admit – my heart was pounding and I kept saying to myself . . this may not end well!

She walked up, let me pet her for a minute, then stuck her head in the carrier to see what it was all about. All I had to do was give her back end a little push, close and latch the door and she was in the carrier! Vince couldn’t believe it. Neither could I.

So, we loaded her up in the car and went back to town. Surprisingly, she was quiet in the car all the way to the vet. Boots, on the other hand, screams all the way there and all the way back!

Here we were waiting for the vet. She was so nervous and unhappy. She hissed at me a few times but I told Vince . . remember when we would open the door to walk outside and even if we couldn’t see her, we’d hear her hissing? She’s come so far in the 5 or 6 years we’ve been working with her.

The End of Today’s Story:

This will have to be written after I talk to the vet. He told us to call at 3:30. I know what’s going to happen . . he’s going to say “Come get them and I’ll talk to you when you’re here.” I’ll report back as soon as I know something.