Saturday, May 21, 2011

It's Official - The Casa has a bona fied Crazy Cat Lady

And Buddy makes thirteen. With 13, I have officially crossed the line into Crazy Cat Lady status, according to the IBKC's Laurie's reconning... assuming kittens count for the tally (somehow it doesn't feel like they should). And I couldn't say no.

My friend Rosalie is just the kindest lady you'd ever want to meet (I want to be Rosie when I grow up!). She called to say a stray had been hanging in her back yard for a while. Her neighbor had been trying, without success, to bring him in but both ladies had been feeding him. Rosie is highly allergic to cats but her hubby Jerry reported the boy welcomed petting and, sadly, that he was becoming increasingly beat up. So she called to ask if I could help.

Buddy taking his first look at his temporary digs - the back basement bathroom.

I made an appointment with Doc Andrew for Tuesday, fixed up the back basement to accommodate another charge, and arranged to drop off a carrier so Jerry could corral Buddy this weekend. As luck would have it, when I stopped by with the carrier, Buddy was napping under a rose bush. He came out, accepted pets and made no objection to being scruffed and put in the carrier. (We suspect he's finally at the point where he feels bad enough to accept handling, since her neighbor had little luck.) I could see he had a couple of open wounds so off the the emergency vet we went.

Oh boy. Not just a couple of wounds. Our not so young man is all torn up. By the time they got done shaving him to treat his wounds, he was half naked, poor guy! He has no obvious fleas, but has a monster ear mite infection. Buddy tested negative for FeLV but positive for FIV. That will probably impact his adoptability but you all remember how well Grey did here at the Casa, so I'm not too worried. I'm more concerned about the multitude of wounds and that, while he appears to be well fed and muscled (thanks to Rosie and her neighbor), he still tested as anemic. The ER vet sent off blood work and we'll see if it is a parasitic blood infection. Needless to say, our sweet guy will be in quarantine for quite a while.

I counted nine wounds on his body. His ears look like a pugilist's - thickened in some areas and they are leathery, without much fur. His tender little white nose is red with the seven scratches. It just hurts to look at him right now.

Rosalie and Jerry were right - Buddy was just such a good boy at the vet. They did have to lightly sedate him for the shaving - by then his patience had run thin after all the poking and prodding and blood drawing - but up until then he was as sweet as he could be. And, even though he was quite hesitant to leave the carrier when we returned home, he was very loving - wanting to be petted and purring up a storm. I wish I could sleep with him tonight, but I don't think I'd be much good to anyone tomorrow if I did. Maybe at 20 I could have slept on the bathroom floor, but that's not happenin' at 55 unless somebody is in really bad shape!

The next pics are not breakfast reading material so if you have a squeamish tummy, just stop reading here. We'll get more pics of our boy tomorrow and try to avoid the worst of the uglies. I'm leaving some scroll room for the tender hearted...


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There are so many sores on him I counted those grouped together, as though they happened at the same time, as one.

There are more wounds underneath on this side.

He seemed nervous about coming out into the main area of the back basement. For tonight I've closed the door to the bathroom so he'll know he is safe in the small room.
Here's hoping the big guy rests easy tonight.

So tomorrow we have big news from Mama Lucy (yeah, Judy, I just gave up on the Lucia and she's plain old Lucy now) and the babies. I'll leave you with a cheery pic of Miska and the feather thingy to remind you of the up side to fostering...

16 comments:

  1. Oh my God, that poor boy!! Bless you all for taking care of him. It sounds like he knows he got lucky, getting in off the streets and into a warm, safe place where he'll be treated very well.

    I've been learning, since volunteering with AFC, that the happy stories are the ones we have to cling to. Here's wishing the happiest of endings to Buddy!

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  2. OMC, look at him. The poor boy! Bless you, indeed, for taking him in, the sweetie. What a hard life he's had. We're purring hard for him.

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  3. Those photos of Buddy are heartbreaking... Now he'll be safe and loved for the rest of his life, thanks to caring people.

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  4. OH Buddy, poor sweet gorgeous adorable Buddy! Awwww :-( Thank you all for looking out for this sweetheart!! I'm just so glad he is safe and cared for and loved, now. Me and Charlie are sending him lots of purrs and healing hugs!

    Take care
    x

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  5. Poor sweet boy. Thank you so much for helping him. Purrs. Rescue rocks.

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  6. Buddy does look like such a sweet boy, even with all those horrible wounds. Thanks so much for helping this sweet one!

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  7. Poor Buddy! He looks like he tangled with something pretty mean. Thank you for taking him in, from one CCL to another!
    Trish

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  8. so if CCL starts at 13, what does that make me when I had 23?? :)

    I hope Buddy heals up quick and becomes a big strong healthy ManCat..

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  9. YEAH for Buddy that there are people like you. He does look pretty beat up but we bet he is better in no time.

    Oh - and we are glad to know that crazy starts at 13...mom is still safe for a while (and no, we never count foster kittens - they aren't staying).

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  10. Aw! Those sores look painful. I'm glad he's with someone who can take care of him.

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  11. Oh wow, poor Buddy! He does look pretty terrible, but I know he's in wonderful hands now. I'm sure he'll be hale and hearty in no time.

    Also, your kittens are just precious.

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  12. Poor baby! But, he's safe now and can leave those mean streets behind. We're sending loves and purrs to him to help with the healing process and the settling in! (And I, personally, am a sucker for furry gentlemen with raggedy ears! They just make them look like cuddly bad boys.)

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  13. Oh my goodness, poor sweet boy...I'm so glad he's safe and sound and being taken care of...thank goodness for crazy cat ladies and their wonderful friends! You guys ROCK!

    My boys are sending lots of purrs and headbutts to sweet Buddy and say "Bro, we're so glad you're with Auntie Lisa now!

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  14. Poor boy! I'm glad he's with you and not getting beat up anymore.

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  15. He reminds me of my parents cat Charlie. He was a little stray who my father fed. One day he was so tired he flung himself at my father's feet. 2 days later he started coming into the house despite 3 dogs. He had a broken tail and a multitude of wounds. My parents nursed him back to health, and he became the fluffiest sweetest lap cat ever.

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  16. Oh lil baby dude..You be a good boy and let Aunty Miss Lisa take good care of you ...she rocks !

    Blessed Be.

    Aunty Pol

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