Cat update

[tenaya]

We took Brindle back to the vets last week and got him a steroid shot. He loved the vet tech, put up with the indignity of having his temperature taken with just a few bunny thumps of his back feet, but when the vet came in, he hissed. He took an instant and deep dislike of her. She doesn't greet the animals, treats them like they're objects, and apparently they can tell pretty darn fast. So, she started to give him a shot and I was trying to hold his head and got a full deep cat bite just above my wrist. The vet smiled and said better me than her. Then she got the shot in on the second attempt by holding ol' wildthing by this scruff and shaking him. Brindle was furious. The vet, in a display of machismo, proceeded to write on the chart right next to the cat. Brindle was a hair trigger away from flinging himself at her face. I could see it in his eyes because he's done that to me in the past. I told her to step away from the cat, but she ignored me. Luckily, she left before he went for her, but I wonder what would have happened if he'd attacked her. Would we have been liable? Would he be confiscated as a dangerous animal?

Then this week, Reg started having blood stained fur around his penis area. Back to the vets, but this time we got a different vet who, of course, fell in love with Reg. After a lot of money, we now know he has 3 kidney stones in his left kidney. Apparently we need to get a ultrasound done to find out more about them, but apparently they don't do anything for them anyway, except monitor them. Worse case scenario is they plug up his ureter and cause kidney failure which we won't know about until it's too late. Best case scenario is that they won't significantly impact his life except for some blood now and again. He was restless last night, but is better tonight. He's on some sort of antibiotic that has anti-inflammatory effects and he seems more relaxed. He purrs all the time and just wants to be near us. The vet wants him to lose weight though. We'll try but he's such a chow hound.

Oh, when we gave him his first pill a few nights ago, I thought he'd stroked out. His eyes went black, he slumped over and his mouth did this rhythmic biting motion. He came out of it after about 10 seconds that lasted about a hour and was okay. Now I'm wondering if the poor thing didn't have a post traumatic stress flashback.

Varmit update. The fourpack is down to three, but it could be that one of them just decided to move on. Cutiepie comes by occasionally, still, which is her usual pattern. It won't be until next March/April that she'll be a regular again. Less skunks are around, but they still enjoy chasing Brindle about. I just have to laugh because he's such a tough guy but these skunks just go stomping up to him with such joy. He gets *so* annoyed but he always ends up running away.

Comments

[chance1562.livejournal.com]

Dude, next time you go to that office, demand that you get a different vet. That's just irresponsible and if Brindle had attacked her, she probable could have caused trouble, even if it was her fault. Sounds like you got a better one the next time. You can refuse to let certain people treat you or your animals, my mom's done it before.

Poor babies are already scared or in pain, they don't need the added stress.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

This vet clinic has about 8 doctors and we've pulled this one only a few times. Reg looks like he just wants to hide when she comes in and he's the most compliant, easy going cat. It's odd to think of a vet that most animals dislike; it would certainly make her job harder. Anyway, after this last event, I think you're right. We'd already decided not to ever let her treat Brindle again, but now I think we'll just extend that to all the cats. It's scary to think that she could cause trouble. I can't count how many times I've been bitten and scratched, it's just no big deal.

Brindle, now that he's had his steriod shot, he's as sweet as can be. He's been sleeping next to my pillow for the last 4 nights, he likes to nuzzle and use my hand for a pillow. This is the cat that bit my face for no good reason a month or so ago. Jeckle and Hyde. He sure keeps me on my toes.

I write about Reg and the rest because I've got friends that know these cats and are interested in them. But I also think, "Chance will probably find this interesting, too." *g*

[chance1562.livejournal.com]

Just refuse, its your right and its better for your animals.

And yeah, I totally love hearing about them, it seems like I know them even though I've never met them ;)