Cat Scratch Fever
Did you know that was a real condition? I didn't! We took the cat to the vet today because she had a weepy eye. Turns out one of her tear ducts is clogged. She did not enjoy the ride to the vet at all. She had this weird stressed out meow the whole way. We didn't have a carrier, so the husband stayed in the car with her while I went in to check in. There were a few dogs in the waiting area so I waited until it they called for our cat before having him come in. In the mean time, I saw this cat back behind the counter, down the hall, sort of leaning against the wall and wobbling a lot when it did move around. Poor thing looked like he was drunk! I thought it must have had surgery and was coming off the meds. I asked the staff about it and they said it was born that way, had a condition called cerebro something-or-other dysplasia, I think. So its legs were all stiff and it had this staccato walk and it basically staggered all over the place, bumping into walls and such. It was sad! After watching him for a while, he made his way to the other side of the counter from where I was standing. It leaned up against the wall and made this sad little meow. I guess it's like their mascot or something (one of them, anyway). Its name was Bonkers!
Another cat came to say hello while we were there -- it walked straight down the hall towards me, jumped on the counter, walked over the keyboard on the counter and climbed up to the ledge I was leaning on, then laid down right in front of me, as if to say "pet me, please!" So, I did.
When it was finally our turn, the husband came in with the cat and we went to the exam room. We waited in there for a while for the vet to get to us and in the mean time, Bonkers staggered in and flopped into our legs here and there, letting out its plaintive meow. Before the vet ever came in, we were ready to take Bonkers home with us!
Our cat was doing remarkably well, considering there was a dog howling away somewhere in the building and Bonkers the cat was mulling around at our feet. The vet finally came in and examined the cat's eye, put some drops in and held up a UV light to them. That's when she saw that she had a clogged tear duct. She basically said it's cosmetic and that we can give her drops 3x a day for 10 days to see if it clears up, and if not they would have to do it surgically or we could just leave it. She said any water in her eyes would just roll down her face but that it wasn't a big deal. Maybe not, but the occasional goo that's showing up in her eye might be a hassle. I just hope the drops fix it.
So she had this exam, and the vet was doing this stuff to her eyes and wiping her nose and all that, and she did so well. The vet even opened her mouth to examine her teeth, listened to her heart, did a brief physical exam and it was all good -- the vet was commenting on how good the cat was -- then our cat lashed out at her! I couldn't believe it. We've had this cat for over 3 years and I have never seen her go after anyone. She hissed and tried to bit her and scratch her all at once. Luckly she doesn't have any front claws and I was holding her body so she couldn't get her head far enough to bite the vet. Then the husband reached for the cat and the cat went after him! The vet said it happened right after she touched the cat's back, down by her tail. I said sometimes she will get annoyed if someone messes with her there, but I've never seen her hiss at or try to bite anyone like that. I was the one holding her still, so I was a little worried I was next but she never did anything. Suffice it to say the cat had reached her limit on being poked and prodded. The vet chuckled because the moment the cat lashed out at her was right after she said the cat needs to lose a little weight. We decided the cat does not like fat jokes. Then I had to put her on their scale and keep her from running off of it without touching her. We managed, and she weighed in at 12.8 pounds. The vet said she only needs to lose 1 or 2 pounds. I wish I could say that for myself! So now after the car ride, the poking and prodding, and the eye drops she doesn't even know she's going to get, she's also going on a diet. Only 3/4 of a cup of food a day, and it's their special kitty diet food.
I predict kitty's moods are gonna be a little dark this Christmas!
Another cat came to say hello while we were there -- it walked straight down the hall towards me, jumped on the counter, walked over the keyboard on the counter and climbed up to the ledge I was leaning on, then laid down right in front of me, as if to say "pet me, please!" So, I did.
When it was finally our turn, the husband came in with the cat and we went to the exam room. We waited in there for a while for the vet to get to us and in the mean time, Bonkers staggered in and flopped into our legs here and there, letting out its plaintive meow. Before the vet ever came in, we were ready to take Bonkers home with us!
Our cat was doing remarkably well, considering there was a dog howling away somewhere in the building and Bonkers the cat was mulling around at our feet. The vet finally came in and examined the cat's eye, put some drops in and held up a UV light to them. That's when she saw that she had a clogged tear duct. She basically said it's cosmetic and that we can give her drops 3x a day for 10 days to see if it clears up, and if not they would have to do it surgically or we could just leave it. She said any water in her eyes would just roll down her face but that it wasn't a big deal. Maybe not, but the occasional goo that's showing up in her eye might be a hassle. I just hope the drops fix it.
So she had this exam, and the vet was doing this stuff to her eyes and wiping her nose and all that, and she did so well. The vet even opened her mouth to examine her teeth, listened to her heart, did a brief physical exam and it was all good -- the vet was commenting on how good the cat was -- then our cat lashed out at her! I couldn't believe it. We've had this cat for over 3 years and I have never seen her go after anyone. She hissed and tried to bit her and scratch her all at once. Luckly she doesn't have any front claws and I was holding her body so she couldn't get her head far enough to bite the vet. Then the husband reached for the cat and the cat went after him! The vet said it happened right after she touched the cat's back, down by her tail. I said sometimes she will get annoyed if someone messes with her there, but I've never seen her hiss at or try to bite anyone like that. I was the one holding her still, so I was a little worried I was next but she never did anything. Suffice it to say the cat had reached her limit on being poked and prodded. The vet chuckled because the moment the cat lashed out at her was right after she said the cat needs to lose a little weight. We decided the cat does not like fat jokes. Then I had to put her on their scale and keep her from running off of it without touching her. We managed, and she weighed in at 12.8 pounds. The vet said she only needs to lose 1 or 2 pounds. I wish I could say that for myself! So now after the car ride, the poking and prodding, and the eye drops she doesn't even know she's going to get, she's also going on a diet. Only 3/4 of a cup of food a day, and it's their special kitty diet food.
I predict kitty's moods are gonna be a little dark this Christmas!
posted by PlatinumGirl at 7:44 PM
3 Comments:
As a matter of fact, I did know that that's a real disease. The bad part is that I'm taking a test in 15 days that will require me to know not just that, but the microorganism that causes it, the antibiotic you'd use to treat it, and what other things are associated with it. And all I can come up with is, "Yep, that's a real disease all right!" I guess I should get my butt out of your comments section and onto studying ;-)
Just curious, how old is your kitty?
My previous cat, a calico, got pissed when anyone other than me touched her back. She only got pissed at me if I ever touched her front paws. *rolls eyes* Some cats are just weird.
I really hope your kitty's eye clears up. Poor baby.
Jo: I'm glad I don't have to be studying right now!
J: She's about 8 years old, I believe. She's still taking the drops well, but she fusses a little more once she realizes what's coming. Her eye seems to be doing better. :o)
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