Since bad things generally run in threes, I wonder what is likely to happen next. Today I voiced the question "Where is the cat?" I hadn't seen him for several hours and usually he's a yo-yo. "Owwwwwwwt! I wanna go OWWT!" "IN! Lemme IN!" This goes on all morning long.
So, I was rather surprised that I hadn't seen him for several hours. It was chilly out, and Ed's getting to be a cat who likes his creature comforts. I asked Elegant Mother if she had seen the cat. No. That left Dear Husband, who said he had let the cat out early, and let him back in shortly thereafter.
I started looking in all the favorite snooze spots and found him under the table that holds the computer in the living room. He was still there a couple of hours later, so I called to him. He rose partway, and hung there, as if trying to decide whether he could make it the rest of the way. He wouldn't look at me, and finally settled back down on the carpet.
I got down on my hands and knees, and gently ran my hand over him. He didn't seem to have anything broken. He let me touch him without offering to bite or crying out. I let him rest through the afternoon, and then got him to eat some cat chow. Just a few moments ago he lapped up some water, so I'm hoping it will be safe to let him sleep through the night.
I have no idea what's causing the problem. I'm not even sure what the problem is! It could be that he has been hurt in a fight, or that he's eaten a bad mouse. I suppose he could have been poisoned, or perhaps he's got a cat version of the flu. My stepson just looked him over, and we agree that he doesn't seem to need a flying trip to the emergency vet, so the game plan is to let him rest, and check him out in the morning.
It's really difficult when a pet becomes ill. You want to do your best for them, but they can't tell you what's going on. I hope he feels better in the morning.
Comments (10)
I hope he feels better come morning too. It is so difficult to assess a pets health, harder than kids as they have all that fur that covers them so you can't look at skin color. You know you can feel inside their ear to tell if they are feverish, though.
Posted by Desiree | March 1, 2005 1:39 AM
Posted on March 1, 2005 01:39
Hopefully Ed is alright and just sprained something that will heal quickly and on its own!
Posted by bogie | March 1, 2005 4:14 AM
Posted on March 1, 2005 04:14
I knew he needed the vet's attention, but she seemed to think he was just suffering from wounds received in a major fight. She showed me a couple I had missed, and he was already starting to heal. She used her stethoscope and took his temp, weighed him, and spent enough time to let Ed relax with her, so she could assess his behavior.
Ed, who is normally such a rough, tough cat, was a wuss. He actually jumped down from the examining table to try to hide behind DH (who is NOT a cat person)! When I opened the cat carrier, he made a bee line for it, and hid himself away in it without having to be encouraged.
We are going to have to give him a liquid antibiotic for the next 10 days. Oh, fun.
At least I know he's not mortally wounded. Thanks for your comments, ladies. *S*
Posted by Buffy | March 1, 2005 10:47 AM
Posted on March 1, 2005 10:47
I hope the kitty cat is doing good girl. Not fun when a pet is sick!
Posted by Joe Smitherman | March 1, 2005 6:42 PM
Posted on March 1, 2005 18:42
At least it doesn't sound too bad - you may be in worse shape after trying to give him antibiotics (of course I have no idea how well Ed take medicine - but I know people that have a heck of a time!).
Posted by bogie | March 2, 2005 4:35 AM
Posted on March 2, 2005 04:35
Glad Ed will be back and at 'em in a few days. It's always amazing to me how much a vet can find on a pet that we mere mortals miss.
Even our neighborhood bully (looks like our CC, only larger, male, and without collar and tags) gets beaten up, sometimes. I saw him slinking through our yard a couple of days ago, limping badly. Unfortunately, he wouldn't come to me for assessment. I haven't seen him since.
Posted by Cop Car | March 2, 2005 8:24 AM
Posted on March 2, 2005 08:24
We've kept Ed in for the last three days...without much complaint from him, but I think the time is coming when he will INSIST that the door be opened. Ed is one of those He Who Shall Be Obeyed cats. Maybe tomorrow morning.
As to the drugs....I'm going to need a course of antibiotics when we get done giving him his. Today is day two and he got my little finger with one of his claws as I squirted the juice down his throat. I hope we make it through the entire ten days! BOTH of us.
I hope the bully turns out to be all right, Cop Car.
Posted by Buffy | March 2, 2005 3:41 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 15:41
Cat scratch, cat scratch feaver, be careful, Buffy! Thanks, on behalf of the Bully. I haven't seen him since, but something riled a skunk this morning (and it wasn't one of OUR cats!)
Posted by Cop Car | March 2, 2005 4:18 PM
Posted on March 2, 2005 16:18
Bully cat is OK, Buffy. He was yowling outside my bedroom window as I was getting dressed. (BTW: I'll write "fever" 100 times--by cutting and pasting!)
Posted by Cop Car | March 3, 2005 6:06 AM
Posted on March 3, 2005 06:06
Yeaaaaaaaa for Bully Cat! I'm glad to hear that he's still alive and kicking!
You and those typos! I'm going to have to spend the evening editing your comments to keep you looking good. *G*
Posted by Buffy | March 3, 2005 3:19 PM
Posted on March 3, 2005 15:19