Thank you for all the sweet comments left on my last Silent Sunday post, the picture of my beautiful cat, my much loved Henry.
It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions on Planet Penny this week, because, when I put the picture of Henry on the blog, he was actually in intensive care at the emergency veterinary clinic, and I was trying to think positively
It’s been hard to believe that last Friday Henry was chasing Higgins round the garden. On Saturday morning he was not well and we took him to our local vet. Some time ago he had stones in his bladder and I was concerned this had reoccurred, but an Xray showed he was very constipated, a side effect not uncommon when cats are fed the special food which keeps the bladder stones away. He needed an enema, which of course required sedation, but everything was done without a problem and we took him home to recover.
However it was soon clear that all was not well and being a Saturday afternoon we had to make the trip to the other side of Norwich to the emergency clinic. By Sunday lunchtime,when we went in to talk to the vet he was on a drip, his eyes were cloudy and he barely responded to my touch. The vet was concerned he had had a stroke and appeared not to be able to see, and we
were soon on the way to Newmarket to the specialist for an MRI scan. By this time I was convinced we were looking at the end, and worked my way through half a box of tissues. Once there, however, he managed to walk out of his crate and hide under the chair, and while having his reflexes tested showed signs of the feisty Henry who appears exclusively for vet treatment, cursing and swearing and biting Tim on the thumb. At this point my hopes were raised once more, and the vet decided to keep him in for observation, keep him on the drip, and wait before doing the scan…
We drove home, stopping off for our anniversary meal on the way. The cancelled Sunday lunch at a posh pub turning into something in breadcrumbs in a Little Chef…
Two days later, with little improvement, he had an ultrasound and the MRI scan. The good news, no sign of anything sinister, and his brain seems fine, no clots. But, a severe infection in the middle ear, eating into the bone, requiring an operation.
It’s been so hard. I’ve gone from feeling that it’s not fair to put him through so much, he’s had a good life, that we all know that from the moment we take a little fluffy bundle into our lives we are heading towards that dreadful moment of loss years down
the line. Every vet has said, well he’s 16, he’s an old cat. But he’s my cat. He might have retired from thehunting life, but he’s happily been lord of all he surveys in his own garden, stalking around like a tiger and having the odd funny five minutes with
Higgins. And apparently he’s otherwise in good shape, liver and kidneys absolutely fine, and has been coping with the infection, the anaesthetic on Saturday just knocking everything out of kilter.
If anything sinister had been found, well I think I would have to make the hard decision, but if he can come through this op, there is a chance for him to have a few more years of contented life.
So, all being well, he has the operation tomorrow, and should be home at the weekend..
And I’ll be wearing my nurse’s hat…
I’m really grateful knowing you’re all out there and you’ll be rooting for Henry. Thanks for reading your way through, I want Planet Penny to be a happy place, but sometimes life gets in the way…
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