Cat Scratch Fever

Last week I briefly mentioned my cat, Tut. He was the pale ball of fuzz hiding behind the still displayed Christmas tree. Considering most of my blog entries have consisted of cell phone zombies, gross ear infections, mini missiles, and other forms of violence, it is time for some wholesome, unabashed cuteness to run rampant through the Roost.

Tut is a Siamese breed. Technically, he is a Cinnamon, Chocolate Point, Snow-foot Siamese. A fairly uncommon breed, and at one point a pretty expensive one. Tut, bless his furry soul, was a stud cat before I got him. He had pedigree papers and his full name is "Mama's Little Tut Boy". (I can just imagine all the other cats in kitty school beating him for his kibble money over that).

His owners decided to get another stud after he turned a year old and Tut wound up with me. I didn't want a pet at the time, but I was overruled. And, I am thankful I was. He was fixed and declawed, as he was to be (and is) only a totally indoor cat. Hardcore cat people say he is "worthless" now, but I think he is the best cat ever.

Tut is going on 10 years old, so he is not as playful as he once was, but his affectionate level has risen to nigh nightmarish levels. You cannot sit down in the house without him trying to crawl into your lap, or in my case, onto my chest. He's starting to plump up a bit, too, though he weighs only about 8 pounds or so. He's got typical Siamese asthma, but other wise is very healthy for a 10 year old cat.

As you can see, he is still very bright eyed,curious, and extremely cute! ^.^;;

He had a friend named Peekachu whom he adopted as a kitten a year after he came to live with me. Peekie was a stray kitten who's mama was killed. She was all tiny and scraggly, maybe 8 weeks old when she came. She had to have been on her own for a few days before she was found inside a drain pipe. Originally, Peekie was only at the house until Animal Control could come get her, but Tut picked her up by her scruff and carried her under the bed and began cleaning her. He wouldn't let us get near her until she was cleaned by him. We had to keep her after that.

These two were inseparable. They played together, they slept together, they cleaned each other. It was a beautiful friendship.

Unfortunately, Peekachu died of heart failure last year. It was sudden and the vet told us there was nothing we could have done. She just had a bad heart and it gave up on her. I was very sad. :*(

Tut, however, was literally heartbroken. He would not eat, he would not play, he lost interest in even letting upset him ... he just sulked around and slept, losing weight dangerously. It was so heart wrenching to see. No one can ever tell me animals do not have feelings, that they cannot love.

We couldn't let this go on because we feared Tut would die of loneliness and heart ache. So, we went to PetSmart and visited the animal adoption area they have, which is run by St. Francis Society Animal Rescue. Our goal was to find a new friend for Tut to ease his shattered heart and bring some joy back into his little kitty life.

There, we found Gracie.

She was a very young adult cat. We didn't know what kind, at the time. She was skittish, but friendly, and so soft and lovable we decided to adopt her. The St. Francis workers told us her story of how she was rescued from a pack of feral cats but that since she had been spayed already, it was likely she was an abandoned pet. She also had a limp in her right rear leg. We adopted her right away.

The first day she was home with us we noticed there was something wrong. She limped badly, it seemed she couldn't meow, yawning appeared to hurt her, and she was constantly stretching.

Her trip to the vet was both enlightening and saddening. Gracie was in pretty good health, but she had suffered some very serious injuries prior; her hip was badly damaged, but healing; her jaw was damaged, off kilter; her ribcage seemed tender. The vet surmised Gracie had either been hit by a car, fallen from a great height, or had been severely kicked by someone several times. I felt so bad for Gracie, but she was mending, and she had a new, safe home. We also found out she was mostly Maine Coon mixed with some other breed, a calico type mostly.

Tut and Gracie did not hit it off right away, and it took about 3 months before they were comfortable with each other. But now, they play together sometimes and occasionally sleep together. Not very often, though.

She now meows a little, and sometimes even purrs where you can hear her. She jumps and plays with only a little trouble. Her leg works fine, though she'll still stretch it out really far after sitting a while. Gracie is acting like a two year old cat now. ^.^

So, those are my two furkids. They are more like family than pets, and I love them to pieces! ^.^;;