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| Author | Message |
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cerealkiller  
| #1 posted February 11, 2008 at 2:44pm (EDT)
edited February 11, 2008 at 2:47pm (EDT) |
We have some semi-feral cats who live in the garage. Their space is air conditioned in summer and heated in winter. They have beds and get good food and bottled water.
Usually when I go in there they are all out lounging on their beds. I noticed almost a month ago that one of them named Patches (because she's a beautiful calico cat) wasn't out. Day after day I wasn't seeing her. There are plenty of boxes and other places to hide so I didn't think much of it at first. However, after a week of not seeing her I became alarmed and started looking for her.
There is a large kitchen type base cabinet with a sink in there. Sometimes they get into the space under the sink. I looked there and I think I looked in the drawers. No Patches. Day after day I moved things around but couldn't find her. I didn't say anything to my wife since I didn't want her to panic.
After almost two weeks of not finding her I figured that somehow she got out the side door that I use to take stuff to the garbage cans. I stopped looking for her but still didn't tell my wife.
Yesterday my wife called me at work and said she hadn't seen Patches for awhile and when she went into the garage she could hear muffled whimpering coming from somewhere.
When I got home we both went into the garage and I started again looking everywhere. When I opened one of the drawers in the sink cabinet there she was. I figure Patches must have been shut in that drawer for a minimum of 3 weeks without food, water or light. She was very thin when I took her out and she kept drinking and drinking when we put a water bowl in front of her. She also ate a whole can of cat food ravenously.
It's a miracle she is even alive. And a miracle she called out for help since I'm sure she would have died in that drawer, all alone and starving.
I'm now doing everything I can to get her back in shape. I'm giving her IV fluids, high potency liquid vitamins and special food from the vet. Hopefully she didn't suffer any major organ damage and will recover. She is currently weak and can barely walk. Sadly though it appears that her ordeal has caused her to go blind. Maybe it is temporary but I'm just glad she's alive right now.
I don't know how long an animal can go completely without food or water but 3 weeks has gotta be at the extreme limit. My poor little girl must have used 8 of her 9 lives to make it through this. |
Enheduanna 
| | #2 posted February 11, 2008 at 2:55pm (EDT) |
I'm glad she's alive! That's pretty impressive! |
Irene007 
| | #3 posted February 11, 2008 at 4:27pm (EDT) |
Wow, poor pet! I hope she gets well soon! |
jettles
| | #4 posted February 11, 2008 at 4:48pm (EDT) |
wow that is an amazing story of will and an amazing animal to call for help! keep us updated! |
RGirl
| | #5 posted February 11, 2008 at 6:38pm (EDT) |
Holy cow, what a cat! Do you have a picture of Patches? |
cerealkiller
| | #6 posted February 11, 2008 at 11:15pm (EDT) |
I don't have a picture of her but will take one with my cell and put it on when I go back to work in a few days. |
cerealkiller
| | #7 posted February 11, 2008 at 11:19pm (EDT) |
Patches is doing the same this evening. Understand that before this I haven't handled her in 4.5 years since we caught her to bring her with when we moved. She would always hiss and run if it even looked like I was heading her way.
Now, she puts out a little hiss but doesn't fight me at all picking her up, giving her IV fluids, hand feeding her and shoving liquid vitamins in her mouth. She just calmly sits on my lap. Maybe she's too weak to put up a fight or maybe because she is now blind and is scared to make a move. Or, maybe she's just so happy I rescued her. I don't care what the reason is. I'm just praying that she can recover from this and be back to feeling normal. |
Irene007
| | #8 posted February 12, 2008 at 1:50am (EDT) |
She's not stupid - she knows that you're caring for her.... |
justjulie
| | #9 posted February 12, 2008 at 6:14am (EDT) |
very cool, CK. |
jettles
| | #10 posted February 12, 2008 at 8:47am (EDT) |
> Now, she puts out a little hiss but doesn't fight me at all picking
> her up, giving her IV fluids, hand feeding her and shoving liquid
> vitamins in her mouth. She just calmly sits on my lap. Maybe she's
> too weak to put up a fight or maybe because she is now blind and is
> scared to make a move. Or, maybe she's just so happy I rescued her.
> I don't care what the reason is. I'm just praying that she can recover
> from this and be back to feeling normal.
hey ck, is she making urine?? |
cerealkiller
| | #11 posted February 12, 2008 at 12:29pm (EDT) |
So far she hasn't urinated. I figure to this point the fluids I'm getting in her are being used by her body to overcome the dehydration. There have been stools though in the litter box. |
thecomic22
| #12 posted February 12, 2008 at 12:39pm (EDT)
edited February 12, 2008 at 12:40pm (EDT) |
Poor little kitty.  Hope she gets better soon. (((hugs))) |
cerealkiller
| | #13 posted February 13, 2008 at 2:50pm (EDT) |
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandit1cat/2263577184... |
Irene007
| | #14 posted February 13, 2008 at 2:54pm (EDT) |
Awww..... She looks well cared for; she has a good chance! |
cerealkiller
| | #15 posted February 13, 2008 at 3:02pm (EDT) |
She was well enough last night to hiss, spit and bite me.
My concern is that she can't seem to walk either, probably from being immobilized for weeks. She can crawl from her bed to the litter box. Tonight I'm going to try some physical therapy with her, holding her and making her 'walk'. |
Irene007
| | #16 posted February 13, 2008 at 4:17pm (EDT) |
Hmmm, might be a good idea. May I suggest that you use gloves? |
jettles
| | #17 posted February 13, 2008 at 5:36pm (EDT) |
she does look well cared for (i agree with irene) and the hissing and spitting are probably good signs! i again ditto irene on the gloves! |
moviesnob
| | #18 posted February 13, 2008 at 6:35pm (EDT) |
She's looking good, so seems like a good chance she'll make a great recovery. |
RGirl
| | #19 posted February 13, 2008 at 6:38pm (EDT) |
What a beauty! I might take her awhile to build up her muscles and get her joints moving again. Time and patience, which, when it comes to cats, you seem to have plenty of. That she is moving on her own, even if it is only crawling, is a good sign. What about a little hydrotherapy or is that not an option with cats? I have always wondered that. |
cerealkiller
| | #20 posted February 14, 2008 at 12:59pm (EDT) |
I don't know about hydrotherapy for cats. I started last night putting her down on the floor. She initially wobbles a bit but she can walk and "trot" to the other side of the room. She also sat up on her hind legs and tried to jump up on a box but couldn't make it. I'm happy though she can walk and am giving her walking time every time I take her out for feeding and fluids.
She's also getting tamer the more I handle her. She still hisses once when I put my hand towards her to pick her up but that's it. |
Irene007
| | #21 posted February 14, 2008 at 1:05pm (EDT) |
See? She's figuring out that you're there to help her... |
cerealkiller
| | #22 posted February 14, 2008 at 1:19pm (EDT) |
Here's a good one. 8 at once..... Who says cats are loners? The two on the second shelf down from the top are a "married" couple. They're always together side-by-side....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bandit1cat/2263577188... |
RGirl
| | #23 posted February 14, 2008 at 10:35pm (EDT) |
Oh my you love your cats! They look so happy and pampered. |
cloudhugger
| | #24 posted February 14, 2008 at 11:23pm (EDT) |
|
jettles
| | #25 posted February 15, 2008 at 8:36am (EDT) |
wow, they are pampered for strays............... i want to come live at your house!!! can anyone just wander into your garage?? that is fantastic! she sounds like she is making a great recovery! keep up the good work. |
cerealkiller
| | #26 posted February 15, 2008 at 2:03pm (EDT) |
So far no one is turned away. They come and go. Some stay and 'live' on the front porch until we let them in. We have however realized enough is enough and now find homes for any new ones who come along.
Patches is slowly doing better. Last night she walked without any wobbling. Still doesn't want to eat on her own though. Hopefully that will be soon. I must have her sufficiently hydrated now with the IV fluids since she's creating huge urine balls in the litter box. |
Irene007
| | #27 posted February 15, 2008 at 3:22pm (EDT) |
Good news!!  |
jettles
| | #28 posted February 15, 2008 at 3:29pm (EDT) |
yeah! |
RGirl
| | #29 posted February 15, 2008 at 7:01pm (EDT) |
Huge urine balls, YES!!!!! |
Irene007
| | #30 posted February 15, 2008 at 9:29pm (EDT) |
Oh Gawd! I never thought that we could get excited about urine balls!!  |
justjulie
| | #31 posted February 16, 2008 at 7:53am (EDT) |
This thread is the number ONE reason as to "Why I do So Love CK"...
huge urine balls... served on paper doilies??? |
jettles
| | #32 posted February 16, 2008 at 10:34am (EDT) |
> huge urine balls... served on paper doilies???
now if you could find THAT doilie picture, that would be something!!!! |
Irene007
| | #33 posted February 16, 2008 at 11:38am (EDT) |
Oh I'm not going there...
|
cabinfever
| | #34 posted February 17, 2008 at 4:34am (EDT) |
I'm sure someone could find a picture...
I'm glad she made it, CK. Any idea how old she is? |
Irene007
| | #35 posted February 17, 2008 at 12:33pm (EDT) |
I found a cat litter cake... Ewwww! |
LindaH   
| | #36 posted February 17, 2008 at 9:04pm (EDT) |
I thought you weren't going there |
Irene007
| | #37 posted February 18, 2008 at 8:05am (EDT) |
Yeah... a litter box was a funny place to end up in. What was I thinking? |
cerealkiller
| | #38 posted February 18, 2008 at 2:05pm (EDT) |
Patches is probably around 10 years old. My guess anyhow.
Happy to report she is almost back to 100% strengthwise! I've been letting her out of the cage every night to walk around awhile and exercise her legs. Last night she actually ran, jumping up tall boxes all the way to a high shelf we have for them. It was her favorite place to be and she was able to hang out awhile with her sisters. Hated to chase her back down and put her back in the cage, but she is still underweight and I need to keep hand-feeding her a bit longer.
I'm so glad she made it. I kept praying, knowing that with the last 4 who died in the last 6 months it didn't make a difference. I asked for once that Patches survive this ordeal. She really deserved to live after going for 3 weeks without food or water. I guess this time my prayers were answered. |
Irene007
| | #39 posted February 18, 2008 at 4:55pm (EDT) |
Keep loving her... |
RGirl
| | #40 posted February 18, 2008 at 5:15pm (EDT) |
That is so sweet that your efforts are being rewarded but I think that even though the others didn't make it through their ordeal they still appreciated your love and help in those last days. What a survivor! |
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