Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

Dreaded by me not Benji as cats don’t dread, they just live in the moment.

I had to take him to the vet today after a worrisome week. On Monday night I caught him wheezing. The next day he came in late, completely lethargic. I feared the worst (an unfortunate habit of mine) having lost a dear kitty to heart failure some years ago, where the end was respiratory distress.

Thankfully the wheezing was short lived but the lethargy was not. He was not at all himself for the next couple of days. And then I noticed a small matted spot on his belly that he didn’t want me to touch – a puncture wound of some sort I thought.

Today was the earliest I could get him in so that would have to do. But this morning rolled around and wouldn’t you know it? – the spring was back in his step! Regardless, I planned to keep the appointment at noon – already confirmed – and I still worried about the wheezing.

So why the dread? Getting him there of course – I’d rather go to the dentist! Okay, not really, nothing compares to that!

But it’s not easy. It normally takes two of us to wrestle a cat into the carrier and Bob wasn’t available to help – I would have to do it alone.

How was I going to get Benji into that box?

I tiptoed around all morning with the planning and Benji obliged by sleeping quietly on the bed, blissfully unaware.

First I sprayed Feliway – a natural cat pheromone product – into the box. This would help calm him. Then as the time approached I moved the carrier closer to him but still out of sight – if he saw it, game over. I turned out the light and went to where he lay, sweet talking to him as he awoke. Then I gently picked him up and walked backwards toward the box and before he knew what happened he was in it. Hooray! The hard part was over!

After a short ride in the car with only a few pitiful cries from the back we arrived at the vet’s for his exam. Oh what a good kitty he was though scared out of his wits!

He was a gentleman in the office, no fighting or crying, just eyes wide open as he frantically looked for someplace to hide. I petted him as they poked and prodded, wishing I could explain! It wasn’t long before he was released for the drive back home – no need to coax him into the box for that, it was his new favorite place.

The good news is that the blood test ruled out heart trouble and anything else more serious. The vet agreed the lethargy was likely due to the small wound and after it ruptured Benji felt much better. I’ll continue to monitor any wheezing, sneezing or coughing, which is probably due to allergies or asthma. With heart trouble ruled out, we could safely try steroids if necessary.

So all’s well that ends well. Benji is happily resting in his garden bed and has forgiven me – knowing I was trying to help him feel better.

And now I’ll go rest too. 🙂

~ Susanne and Benji