I've been concerned that there was something wrong with our cat, Ed. He's the one named for Edward Scissorhands, thanks to wicked claws.
Ed is an indoor-outdoor cat. During the summer he'd like us to acknowledge that he is an OUTDOOR cat....but we compromise on the subject. Generally we let him out from whoever is awake first in the morning, until about two o'clock in the afternoon. Most days he tests his freedom, by asking to be let in and then back out a dozen times. Finally....close to 2:00, we get tired of the game and refuse to open the door for him. That's his cue to slink off and take a nap in the safetly of the house. Other days, he refuses to return until much later in the day, as if to say "I'm in charge here; I'll do as I please!"
So, last week, I finally made an appointment with the vet. I was concerned that Ed looked as though he had lost weight, and thought maybe he needed his quarterly visit to be wormed.
Normally Ed is a tough cat, but when we get to the vet's he becomes a sissy. This trip, he pushed his face between my arm and my hip and hugged my body. I think he figured if he couldn't see the doc, she couldn't see him.
The doc was surprised at how he looked, and that made my heart sink. But, when she weighed him, he hadn't lost any significant weight since August. Because we were both disturbed by his appearance, she decided to do a bank of blood tests on him. We'll find out the results tomorrow night. If there had been anything serious, they would have called us on Tuesday.
I hate to admit it, but Ed is about 64 now. It doesn't seem that he's been with us that long, but he's about 12 in human years. The chart I was reading says that makes him older than I am. Perhaps what we are seeing is the result of a well lived life. I certainly hope it's nothing more!
Comments (6)
I hope that it turns out to be nothing to worry about. Ed is nice company. He's nearly MY age, poor kitty! (My doctor thinks that I look a little sad, too--LOL!)
Posted by Cop Car | November 18, 2004 8:24 PM
Posted on November 18, 2004 20:24
The doc called tonight, and we had a great conversation. It seems that inside, Ed is absolutely healthy. We have no idea why he looks a little rump sprung and scrawny.
I certainly hope that YOUR doc didn't call you "rump sprung!"
Are things okay??
Posted by Buffy | November 18, 2004 9:28 PM
Posted on November 18, 2004 21:28
LMAO That sounds like a couch! No, she hasn't said that I'm rump-sprung, but she does use me as a teaching example on geriatric medicine. The last time I was in, she explained to one of her students (a young man) that a woman of my age who has had normal pap smears for 25 years did not need to continue with them since their purpose was to catch...and...that there was no reason to have me disrobe for poking and prodding since I wasn't complaining of anything...and that it was OK for me to trim my own corn and calluses (can't remember how that came up) since I am not diabetic...etc.
Posted by Cop Car | November 19, 2004 4:25 AM
Posted on November 19, 2004 04:25
Glad to hear that Ed seems to be okay!
Posted by bogie | November 19, 2004 5:24 AM
Posted on November 19, 2004 05:24
That's fascinating, Cop Car! My sis, who has just retired as a geriatric home health nurse, has been telling my mother that she no longer needs to get mammograms. My mother thinks she should, since her doctor is recommending them, so there has been a LOT of heated discussion about the subject, since there have been no cases of breast cancer in our family.
I have a physical once a year, complete with pap smear and mammogram, but I have a way to go before I retire. At that point, we'll have to see what we continue to do.
Congratulations on your good health, and keep up the good work!
Posted by Buffy | November 19, 2004 11:20 AM
Posted on November 19, 2004 11:20
Thanks, Bogie. I wasn't unduly worried when I took him to the vet, but I believe in trying to head things off before they get out of hand. My conversation with the vet was exceptional, on both personal and medical levels. I'm really glad that we found her for our pets.
Posted by Buffy | November 19, 2004 11:22 AM
Posted on November 19, 2004 11:22