he's such a good little guy
If it's not overly imposing to ask you all to pray for a cat, could you please pray for my cat?
Fuzzy took a turn for the worse. I didn't even have him home 12 hours before the urinary blockage returned.
When we walked back into the veterinary hospital today, they immediately grabbed him and rushed him into the back somewhere. I haven't seen him since.
At first they weren't even really going to treat him, just give him a shot. The next suggested step was euthanasia.
They have a policy to not do any more major work if there is an outstanding balance -- the result of too many deadbeats not fulfilling their obligations and leaving other animals to suffer and die in their wakes. Fortunately, someone had offered to pay off the previous bill. Based on that check being in the mail, I used everything but the rent money so the kitty-rooter process could start over.
The doctor was reluctant to do it. She didn't like the idea I was using my bill money to pay the hospital balance only to stick myself with an even larger hospital bill. But she eventually agreed.
Until Fuzzy was gone the other night, I didn't realize how much I do strictly in consideration of him. Whoops, have to put the cover on the water faucet in case the cat gets up there to explore. Uh-oh, don't do that -- it freaks out the cat! I look to make sure he isn't laying next to the bed before I get up. I see a shadow in my peripheral vision and think he is walking by, or laying on the bed. There's any one of a hundred things I never noticed till I realized none of it matters or could be because he isn't around.
Even tonight, after just leaving him at the hospital, as soon as I got out of the car I looked at the window to see if he was waiting for me. Usually, he sees me and runs to the back door to wait. Now I open the door to an empty house.
When I first brought him in and he was acting up a little bit, I picked him up and said, "Look, you're the only cat I'm ever going to have. I only ever have one of any type animal. You will be my entire experience of cats. You will forever represent your entire species to me. Please be a good cat." And you know what? He has been a very good cat. As much as he may annoy me sometimes, he hasn't given me any real trouble. He doesn't claw me. I don't walk around like so many cat owners with a collection of scratches. He comes when I call him, and gets down when I tell him to. He's actually been a far better cat than I ever could have hoped for.
I can't stand the thought that he should die so young just because I couldn't afford to give him enough care.
So if you could spare a second to pray, or pause a moment amongst your thinking good thoughts, please send some his way. Okay?