Escape Artist Forfeits One of Nine

Let us return now to our story of Shadow the cat at the vet.

The vet had to put Shadow out to fully examine the extent of damage to his eye. When he was under, the nurse called to give some results-- the injury was a puncture wound BELOW the eye that had abscessed. The eye was fine (we were worried he might be blind in that eye). She also said that, while he was under, the doctor was willing to neuter him for FREE, and that would help him not get in so many fights.

[The vet probably took a look at the massive scarring from previous fights on his body, and thought that this is one cat that really needs less motivation to fight. He probably looked at the circumstances and thought that the cat's owners weren't likely to do their civic duty and get him neutered on their own, so he would be a very kind man and offer. And for the record, my hat is off to people who sleep better at night by having made the world a better place.]

Fast forward to time to pick him up. They show us our cat (who looked terrible, btw), and explained what they found. The wound by his ear and the wound under his eye were puncture wounds, from the bite of either a fairly large dog, or a BOBCAT!!! Apparently, all those deer that have been eating everyone's bushes? Yeah... they are great food for bobcats, so they come down out of the mountains to hunt. When they can't find deer to eat, they settle for cats. And does that make them cannibals? Ew.

I figure Shadow's escape cost him one of his nine lives. My kids figure he has about two left.

My question is... Since his manly parts are missing, and a desire to fight is gone with them, how's he supposed to survive being hunted by a bobcat?!

A Tale of Two Owners

Our beloved cat, Shadow, got in a fight. After a few days, he wasn't doing so well and was looking pretty infected and lethargic. We decided we ought to take him to a vet. He must have heard, because he then decided to hide in the 3 1/2 inch high space below our playhouse between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm (the hours the vet is open). Finally, on a Friday, he was around during daylight hours, and I seized the opportunity to shove gently place him in a cat carrier.

I took him into the vet at the back of Petsmart (btw, GREAT vet, if you're looking for one), and soon I felt someone standing behind me in line, listening to the following conversation between me and the kind lady at the counter (who, incidentally, was blessedly VERY nonjudgmental) :

Me: Hi. My cat got into a fight and his infected eye is looking pretty bad. By his ear got hurt, too, but that one's mostly better.

[I place said cat on the counter. He happens to be a long haired cat who has been living on the bare ground in a small space for the better part of a week. Because of his lethargy, he hasn't spent a great deal of time on personal grooming besides the constant wiping away of infection. He has burrs, twigs, and leaves wrapped up like bows in his clumped hair. In short, he's looking like the kind of cat that you cross to the other side of the alley for when you see him, afraid you might catch something nasty just by being near him.]

Kind Lady: Wow, yeah. He looks pretty bad. How long ago did he get hurt?

Me: Um... about a week ago? I think? I would have brought him in a couple of days ago, but we couldn't find him.

Kind Lady: Has he had his shots?

Me: Um. He had some when he was a few months old.

Kind Lady: So, he's gotten his newborn shots, but no others. Do you know anything about the cat who attacked him?

Me: Not at all. He doesn't exactly stay at home.

Kind Lady: Does he get in fights often?

Me: Yeah-- this isn't even close to his first time getting hurt, it's just the worst time.

Kind Lady: I understand. Don't worry, we'll get him taken care of.

I turn around and smile at the lady standing behind me who is holding a puffball of a dog. Her dog is perfectly groomed and wearing a sweater AND a scarf.

Dog Owner to Kind Lady: Hi. This is my little schnookums. She woke up this morning with her voice sounding a little bit raspy. Can you have the doctor take a look at her?

The King of Tenacity

I have a friend who keeps balloons around just to see how tenacious they can be.

I got Alecia this balloon on VALENTINES DAY, figuring it would be laying on the ground when she woke up the next day. Much to my surprise, it is still brushing the ceiling! He is now 22 DAYS OLD and showing no signs of heading to his refuse laden grave any time soon. And he's a Latex balloon!


Here is Mr. Balloon, wearing his kingly crown, as the rightful heir to the throne in the honorable Kingdom of Tenacity.