The Mud Princess Meets Trouble

  The other day, I made mention that we had to take the Bayou Princess Cat to the emergency room for pets.  There is a fine hospital just a few miles up in the country that takes wonderful care of pets that have met some dire fate.  Ms. Nycto had done just that.  It all started when she decided to traipse out into the marsh for a while.  She has been doing this lately against my better judgement.  It may have been safe going during the winter months but now that the weather has warmed, the cottonmouths and alligators are active.  No, the Princess did not meet either, as far as I know, but she did come back looking a dreadful mess.  The Bayou mud had caked upon her long belly hair and matted it into one rock-hard snarl.  Anyone who has ever successfully buzz-cut a cat is my hero!  She was having no part of any attempts to rid her of the mats.  She almost appeared to have acquired a shell of some sort on her underside!  Then, the next day, I noticed that she was having extreme difficulty eating or drinking.  Also, anyone who has ever successfully peered down the gullet of a cat is also my hero!  It ain't easy!

  There was nothing to do but take the poor thing in for a bit of medical help.  At the first examination, the veterinarian thought Ms. Nycto had a broken jaw.  "Leave her and we will get her fixed up no matter what it is and we will finish that hair cut for you."  (That last part was enough to convince me that these were good people!)  The cat remained behind and I waited at home for a phone call.  That call came late at night.  It seems that there was an odd wound that was causing the poor cat's complaint.  Somehow, she had sliced the underside of her tongue from the base to the tip.  The tongue was useless as it was so the veterinarian stitched it while she was sedated.  The cat would have to stay in the hospital overnight.   

  The Bayou Princess is back home now.  She is attempting all normal functions but, of course, eating and drinking is labored.  Cats fully depend on that lapping technique!  Son and I are doing our best to accommodate her every need and she is the perfect patient as she never complains.  She is, however, a bit embarrassed as she now looks like a terribly skinny poodle with a bad haircut!  Tufts on her feet, skinny legs, bare belly, fluffy back and head and a tuft of a tail make up the entire coat of this once extremely fluffy cat!  Poor baby slinks from dark corner to dark under-bed hiding spot.  Having that cone of shame on her noggin is not helping, either!  Hopefully, she has learned a lesson about going gallivanting in the marshes.  YOU are a princess, Ms. Nycto!  ACT like it!

Tiger by the Tail

I battled the tiger today..and I was victorious! It was not really a tiger and it was not a battle but close enough! It was time for the cat's annual visit to the Veterinarian. This would not ordinarily be such an ordeal since our Vet is a very nice person, his office is practically next door and I have a cat carrier. It is just that Ms Put is not one that does anything that strikes her as a nuisance action. She does not like to be picked up and surely does not like to ride in the truck. First off, when Ms Put wakes in the morning, she wants out of the house. She will go through the motions of making you feel needed by eating a few bites of breakfast if offered but then will sit at the door waiting for it to be opened. If her whims are not met, she starts to pace. Next, the pacing goes into window mode and she jumps to each window to see if there is any possible opening for her to squirm through to freedom. If all else fails, she throws a fit. By throwing a fit..I can fully compare it to a temper-tantrum thrown by a candy-deprived toddler. This usually starts with a low gurgling and tail twitching but soon escalates to a full-blown howling, claw-wielding hissy fit! At this point, any human within range should take extreme caution!

This morning, I could not let her out at Her Majesty's desired time for fear that we would not see her again until nightfall. Not good..Ms Put wanted out! By the time we needed to get her in the carrier, she was already in a foul mood. Then she noticed the cat crate..not good news. She steered clear of this thing..she knew that to be in the same room as the crate was as good as already being stuck with the Vet's needle. I had to do some careful maneuvering to pull this deed! I set the crate near the back door and walked away..ignoring Ms Put. In the kitchen, I offered her a tidbit of bacon..ahhh..I was back on her good side! A mere mention of going outside and she raced to the back door! Yes! Now came the sly moves...I pretended to unlock the door, reached down, scooped her up and into the crate before she knew what was happening! Quick moves! I avoided the claws but Ms Put was now a very, very unhappy camper! There were sad, mournful howls coming from the crate. I stared at her..she gave me the saddest look that she could muster, hoping to play on my sympathy. Poor Ms Put..she was in jail and for no other reason than being a cat. My heart was breaking at this point..and for a split second, I had second thoughts. But NO! It is far more important that she receives her vaccinations! I wanted to do all I could to keep her healthy and happy even if it meant being a cruel jailer! Off we went to the Vet's office.

There, contrary to what one might think, Ms Put was the perfect patient! All of the techs and Mr Vet complimented her on her behavior. They did all of the usual prodding and probing..taking temperatures, checking teeth and ears, feeling for lumps or protrusions and she was completely oblivious to it all. She never bared her teeth, extended her claws nor made any growling, hissing or gnashing. She was the sweetest little kitty in the world! They petted her! They held her! They even hugged her! Nothing! Not even a squirm to get away! If they only knew what I had to do to get her in that crate! Through the entire exam and shots, she was as calm and placid as any cat could ever want to be. Afterwards, she walked serenely back into the cat carrier. Wow! This could not be my cat! Once home, I thought surely she would bolt as soon as the crate door was opened. Not so, she leisurely strolled out of the box, rubbed against Son's legs and waited at the door..TO GO INSIDE! My, oh my! I think the shots might have made her a tad drowsy as she has been snoozing on the foot of the bed since she came home. Good Kitty! Now let me see if I can pick her up.....NOT!

I am happy to report that Ms Put is healthy as can be!