Kitty Saga Continued

Friday I was still feeling down about Sappho (15 years is the longest relationship I've maintained with an individual not related by blood). I was also missing Mackenzie who had taken up residence at a local hippie stray cat cult (though, admittedly I hadn't seen any other cats when I went to visit her there). Doing what any good mother would do if her daughter had run off with a hippie cult, I marched down and brought her back kicking and screaming (and scratching and tearing my shirt). After the initial shock of being brought back home (though not inside, I wasn't ready for that drama yet), she settled quite nicely into my lap (after eating her supper) and let me pet her. Maybe she just forgot the way home. Maybe she was glad to be back since the male stray wasn't around. Whatever it was, I was deliriously happy to see her all curled up on the back porch Saturday morning when I woke up. She still refused to come inside and when I tricked her inside with some food (then shut the door), she panicked and frantically scratched at the door to get out. Even when I brought her to familiar places in the house, she made a beeline for the back door and mewed to get out.

Of course, this presented me with the same problem I had originally: what will she do for shelter when the cold weather comes? I still had to find another home for her rather than leave her in the woods to fend for herself. So, I drove around Easthampton and Florence looking for farms. The first one I stopped at already had an established barn cat community (this was going to be the primary obstacle to overcome); however, she recommended the farm down the road since the man had just lost his cat and was cat-free at the moment. (She even said to use her name since he was a "typical grumpy farmer".) Well, I don't know if I actually spoke to the man she was referring to because the gentleman was absolutely sweet as can be. He said he would take her after quizzing me a bit about her mousing skills (I was honest and said I had never seen her chase a mouse) and her health. I drove back home and was easily able to snatch Mackenzie (as she was still curled up on the back porch and very eager for attention when I opened the door). She was less welcoming of the cat carrier I wrangled her into. I brought her to the farm and let her stay in the cage while the man spoke to her and I reassured her. We put some food and water out, then opened the carrier to let her out. She slunk around the garage, which was open to the driveway, sniffing at everything. Then, to my horror, she started heading towards the busy street. Thankfully I caught her before she got close and steered her in the other direction towards the other buildings, the fields and the greenhouses. She was meowing up a storm as she seems to do now that she's been living outdoors full-time. She hid under my car and for a moment I thought she had crawled into the wheel well. Then, she was gone. The man asked if I would come back to visit. I replied "absolutely!" He said I was welcome anytime I wanted. He even gave me two pieces of the best tasting corn I've ever eaten. They must have just been picked.

So, although it seems as if I sold my cat to a farmer for two ears of corn, I think this is the best situation for Mackenzie. She's got plenty of places to hide (as evidenced by the fact that I couldn't find her this morning when I visited) and certainly many options for warmth in winter. I only hope she grows to like it and doesn't freak out and do something stupid. I, of course, am still a nervous wreck even though I know it will take a few days (if not weeks) for her to be acclimated to her new home. I'll keep checking back and whistling for her. So far, she has not responded, but hopefully that will change. If anyone wants some delicious corn (among other vegetables), stop by Ravenwold Greenhouses on Florence Road in Florence (close to the Easthampton line). And tell your friends, too!

I think my family is completely sick of hearing about my cat issues. In fact, I think my Mom wishes I would just get a life already. Maybe some of you readers think that as well. So what. I want what's best for the cat since it really isn't putting me out that much. I wasn't about to take the advice I got from several professionals and friends which was to euthanize her for her "peeing" behavior. I know most people would have put her outside and then let her fend for herself. I just couldn't do that. She's not a feral bad-ass cat. She is a sweet little skittish cat who just wants her freedom. She'll probably learn fast in the "outside world" to become a bad-ass cat; but, at least for humans, that is part of growing up.

As for me, I'm still learning how to become bad-ass in the outside world. I don't think it's likely that I will ever really be a bad-ass though. I like that I am sensitive and go above and beyond to tend to the welfare of those in my care. (And I know my Mom appreciates that as well; and if not now, she will when she starts having issues with her bladder!)

Kitty Saga

As some of you out there know, I have been dealing with some kitty issues in August. To recap, Mackenzie started peeing in my house (resulting in the loss of my couch, a chair and a futon pillow) and demanding to go outside. So, I made sure all her vaccines were up to date and gave her some AdvantageMulti to protect against the creepy crawlies and let her outside. Here's where the saga continues:

Mackenzie has been living outdoors for two weeks now. She comes the back door in the mornings and evenings for food, love and attention (she still loves to have me pet her). Her outdoor personality is WAY braver than her indoor one. She seems truly happy. That's the good news. The bad news is she stopped coming home for food last Friday morning. I left food for her Friday and Saturday, but then stopped doing so figuring she found another outdoor home (hopefully) that she preferred. Monday night, I let Kes and Willow out for a romp and when it was time to call them in, Kes refused to come. Instead she was across the bike path meowing up a storm. I went down to see what was going on and heard the pathetic little cry of Mackenzie but couldn't see her (of course, Mack always had a pathetic little cry so that shouldn't have worried me as much as it did). I kept calling her and she would meow but not move. I, of course, pictured an emaciated and bleeding cat since I still couldn't get a visual on her. I tramped through the woods (which I hate doing), got eaten alive by mosquitoes and finally tracked her down to where she had run to--a trailer in an open field where a lot of stray cats hang out (a stray bar?). She stared at me from under the trailer, looking bright eyed and healthy and seemed to say "I just wanted to say hi and let you know where I was living now". So, I guess that's where she's living now. Which means I officially have three cats. Which brings me to the other saga: Sappho.

Sappho spent last Monday (the 18th) at the vets to find out why there was bright red blood in her stool and why she was crying for what seemed to be "no reason". After $300 of tests, the doctor sent her home with antibiotics saying "she might have a urinary tract infection." She seemed to be doing better, but since she pretty much sleeps in one place most of the day anyway it was difficult to tell. Though she did come upstairs once or twice (once to have a fecal "accident" in my bathtub). [Side note: it's hard to get mad at a cat who has "accidents" in the bathtub. I mean, there are WAY worse places to have to clean up that sort of a mess.]

I had gotten a 2 x3' kennel crate which I had hoped to use to confine Mackenzie during the winter months, but thought that if I needed to keep a better eye on what Sappho was doing (litter box and eating-wise that is) I could let her stay there. It is big enough for a small litter pan, food dish, water dish and space for the cat to lie down in a couple of places and turn around to change positions if she wants to. It's not a palace, but it's not a cat carrier either. Well, Sappho left another fecal surprise in my tub on Tuesday and I found some fecal accidents on the carpets in the basement. So, I decided it was time for her to hang out full-time in the kennel. She wasn't too happy at first, but seemed to get used it. Like I said, she spends most of her day sleeping anyway (she's 15 1/2). Well, she spent a night and day in the kennel. I let her out while I cleaned the litter pan this morning and planned to do the same when I cleaned it out this evening. In fact, I figured since I would be downstairs she could hang outside the kennel so I could watch her. Well, she came out of the kennel, but kept falling down. Her left leg wasn't supporting her weight. She had vomited (just a little bit) in three different areas in the kennel (including the litter pan which was otherwise empty from "deposits" from her) -- it seemed like typical kitty puke though. She seemed to get better when she tried walking around but she was clearly not doing well with her left leg. She made it to another spot in the basement and lay down. She otherwise seems fine. I can only conclude that staying in the kennel aggravated something. She has ample room to walk around in there, so I can't understand why her leg would cramp up (if that is infact what is going on). It's been about an hour of her "walking around" outside the kennel (well, sleeping in her favorite spot really) and her left leg still won't support her weight. I checked and she can move her left leg and even push against my hand with it. She doesn't like me to touch it, but she doesn't cry out in pain either. Maybe the incontinence and the leg thing are related? Maybe it also has something to do with the bright, red blood in her stool? I feel so stuck since I really can't afford hundreds of dollars of tests for the vet to tell me he doesn't know what's wrong. (He did a full blood work up and all sorts of things last Monday--there was one result that was elevated which is why he thought it was the kidneys, but it didn’t seem like much since the other tests which "verify" kidney disease were all fine.) I can't keep her in the kennel tonight. It may simply be a causal relationship between the kennel and her leg issue, but I can't risk that it was the one that caused the other. Hopefully she will be better in the morning and I won't have to clean up any more surprises. I am going to do some research online and hope that things are better in the morning (or, I hate to say it, if it is her time to go, that it happens peacefully in her sleep).

This has been a crappy few weeks as far as kitty issues go. I really, really do not want to lose two kitties in August. I am still hoping that Sappho rallies and will continue to live a decent life with me for years to come. I can assure you though, if she does go gently into that good night, I am not getting another cat. I still have two more (Kes and Willow); and that will be it.


UPDATE: Sappho's right and left legs are now not fully supporting her weight, but she lets me touch both of them with no complaint. After doing some research online, I am guessing that dehydration may be playing a part in the leg weakness. For some reason she didn't drink much of her water today. I gave her some wet food and two new bowls of water downstairs (one plastic bowl and one glass bowl--maybe she has a preference). She snarfed down the gravy from the wet food along with some of the chunky bits. She still didn't touch the water though. Aside from not wanting to move much (and obviously having trouble doing so) she seems fine. She's responsive to me and lets me pet her. She's purring and I am hoping that is because I am down there with her rather than from her being in pain.

Update: Today at 12.15 pm the vet had to put Sappho to sleep. She had lost functionality in both her hind legs, lost bladder control and was generally not happy. The vet said it might have been a tumor or a bad disc that was causing the neurological symptoms and that even with a ton of expensive tests, the end result would be that she probably would never regain full bladder or motor control. It was a hard decision to make, but I think it was the right one. She had 15 happy years with me. I will miss her dearly. As I miss her sister Mackenzie, who, thankfully, is at least alive and well and just refusing to come home. So now I am down to two cats: Willow and Kes. They may not be happy with me in the next few days since I will be keeping them indoors "just in case" and to keep them close to their Mum who needs some extra TLC right now.

outdoor indoor cat

Another in a series of poems about Mackenzie who has decided she doesn't want to live indoors anymore. (BTW, does anyone have a barn for an outdoor-only cat? Winter is coming and I don't have a place for her to keep warm outdoors.)


outdoor indoor cat

in the tree line
amidst the slate
which marks where
a garden once was
she sits camouflaged
paws tucked underneath
eyes closed contentedly
nose high sniffing
the air for danger
each breeze that
ruffles her whiskers
brings a status report
from her new home

ltv
8/17/08

Note from the Poet's Cat & other poems

As always, Thursday was the Florence Poets Society Meeting and I quickly jotted down a poem so as not to have to recycle any of my older stuff. I wrote these two little bits which reflect the current issue in my life. The third poem was written in response to a poem that was read at the poetry meeting. It felt as if I was channeling the poem, I simply had to write it right then and there. I don't have a title for it now (well, at least not one that isn't trite).


Note from the Poet's Cat

Communication
when done right
brings awareness
shows all the light

but if it's stunted
not complete
all my tactics
I must repeat

and if it breaks down
no hope there
all that's left --
pee on the chair

ltv



Kitty doesn't care
that Mom had to clean a mess
now Kitty goes out

ltv


[untitled]

in the fog of pain
killers pumping
through my veins
I choke -- cough
up this tube
memories of college
suddenly evoked
drinking aftermaths
but that was decades ago
and though my aged body
feels just as bad
aspirin won't fix this
I struggle without
the aid of pure oxygen
my father and I
when I was ten
watched fish that we caught
flop and gasp on the floor
of the rowboat he rented
I watched him die too
like my family
is watching me now
how they can do it -- well
it won't be long at least
already their voices and songs
are getting far away
and it feels better
not to breathe

ltv