March 2, 2006
And then there were three - - -
FreshBoy (pseudonym) had a urinary tract infection and a bronchial cough when I first met him. He looked scrawny and had been shaved in places. Evidently before he came to Halfway Home (http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/CT211.html) in North Haven he had been covered with fleas and mats. He wasn’t looking like a Maine Coon - - - poor thing. Despite his unwonted looks and apprehensive demeanor I really liked this cat and was looking forward to his coming home with me.
I went to visit him every weekend so he would get to know me. I named him; so the folks at Halfway Home would call him by name. It took about a month to get the okay from Halfway Home staff that he could leave. I picked him up to take him to my vet on a very sunny, autumn day. I put the carrier on the front seat, seat belted it and we were off. FreshBoy sat looking out the window the whole time. I had the radio on to a classical station and kept using his name as I spoke with him. He just looked straight ahead as we were humming down the Wilbur Cross Parkway. He was very lovable towards me at the vet - - - what choice - - -I was his only ally. He got a clean bill of health; I was told he was a great cat. At least - - - great big!
I had such empathy for this cat - - - I loved him for what he had endured. I felt badly that his ‘mom’ had to relinquish him (he was a six week old when she got him) because she really loved him. She had her aide at the nursing home call every week to make sure he was okay…they were together for seven years. My instinct was to contact her and send pictures giving her a visual sense that FreshBoy was doing well, safe and loved. I was advised not to contact her; she had probably grieved for her losses – cat and home. My sending pictures may only cause her more heart-ache. I’ll never know for sure - - - I have thought about going to see her - - - incognito - - - and bring some cheerful conversation.
I was advised to drop it. “You adopted a cat - - - gave him a good home and love. Leave well enough alone.” OK. Amen.
Again, I put hand cream on their snouts so they all had same scent. I kept FreshBoy in his crate and introduced the other cats one at a time. 16 was accepting, Missy disliked yet another cat to share her space. She wanted to be the queen and still does. :-D) When FreshBoy finally exited his crate, Missy chased him around and downstairs. When I finally caught up to these two greyhounds FreshBoy was cowering under a table, Missy guarding him. Poor guy had an accident. As I was cleaning him up, he got frightened and bit me. I was a bloody mess - - - he got me good. Saturday was a visit to the doc for a tetanus shot. I got pet insurance for him, perhaps I should get more life insurance for me or - - - my survivors.
Unless one is present you’re never quite sure who inflicted the damage. FreshBoy got a scratched cornea** from one of his furry housemates. The vet showed me a magnification – it was like a crater. He laid out the facts: he was going to operate, if it didn’t solve the situation, next step was a vet ophthalmologist or he could be blind in one eye. Okay, ka ching, ka ching – do it. Operation was done; FreshBoy had his eye stitched shut and donned an Elizabethan collar. I had to take the collar off him for eating and drinking purposes - - - he had to be kept under close supervision so he wouldn’t scratch himself or bear another attack by ??? Weathered that fine – FreshBoy was good as new in three weeks. Eye perfect.
Next, a couple of months later I felt a huge lump on the side of
FreshBoy’s neck. There was no apparent wound so off to the vet again.
It was an abscess that had to be lanced, a drain put in and medication topically and orally given for a week. FreshBoy, FreshBoy.
Everyone has had their check-ups for this year and pronounced healthy.
FreshBoy and 16 are really good friends, Missy and 16 get along well and FreshBoy and Missy - - -well, it’s usually a hiss and surrender type standoff. Remember those math problems, If 4 = a and b=12 what does c =. Let’s say there’s never a dull moment in Dodge with 16, Missy and FreshBoy. You can understand better why they all have
crazy pseudonyms for this blog - - - to protect me.
**The transparent convex anterior portion of the outer fibrous coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and the pupil and is continuous with the sclera.
Until next time - - -
Posted by johanna on 3:27 PM | Comments (107)
