Nightmare exerience

Remember that nightmare from Monday? About Lady Jane falling off the wall and breaking her back? Well … something like that, though not so bad, happened today!

I was up early and let the Mips out, then put the kettle on and stepped outside as well. As I come out, I see Lady Jane sitting on the wall above the courtyard and Mewthos jumping up behind her … only he slips and falls! Onto the cemented courtyard! I got such a fright – for an instant I saw my nightmare coming true!

Then I saw Mewthos running out the courtyard along the stairs and up the stairs – and I started breathing again!

He came upstairs, running on all four paws, so I figured at least nothing was broken. But then he started flopping down and limping and his pupils were wide open and he was behaving rather … unlike himself. So I packed him into the carrier, called Lady Jane inside and went off to the vet. This time he mewled all the way, which increased my fear and worry!

In retrospect, he may just have been reacting to my own fears – because I was not as calm as I had been the first time he fell. This time I had just woken up, not had my coffee, yet plus the vivid memory of those nightmares!

It was quite early and the vet wasn’t open, yet – but a good thing I left when I did, because as I was waiting for the vet to arrive, the traffic increased – being just before eight.

The vet said he doesn’t seem concussed, there’s no swelling and nothing broken. The only thing she can do is give him pain killers, Temgesic, since I did administer a couple of drops of Metacam last night. She gave me another 3 doses and prescribed a full dose of Metacam tonight together with the Temgesic dose. Another Temgesic tomorrow morning and both again tomorrow night. She administered an injection, but I was glad to see the dose she gave me was oral – I can’t see myself giving an injection!

My poor Mewly! He stayed with me for quite a while before venturing outside. The pain killer probably made him a bit drowsy. Lady Jane was also a bit subdued, she would come upstairs and mip at me without her usual cuddle-abandon. Eventually Mewthos goes out, but not very far. He limps completely – I haven’t seen him take a single step on his left paw. Whenever I look for him, he’s sitting at the bottom of the stairs looking wistfully into Rose’s garden – he can’t reach it on three paws! I’m near tears half the time, my poor little Mew-Mew! When he curls up to sleep on the blankie behind me, he lies different to his normal position. I can’t tell whether he’s in pain, being a cat he refuses to show any weakness – it’s their nature.

See how he holds his left paw, putting no pressure on it?

And this is not how he usually curls up to sleep

Romeo pops in for a meal – and stops to play with the Catnip Chaser! It’s the smell of the catnip that attracts him, he’s very keen on catnip! I took that opportunity to give him a much-needed brushing – he loved that!

Snowball ventures inside for the first time, today, as well – and he, too, stops to investigate the catnip chaser!

Yes, Snowball is a he – also not neutered! He would seem to be kin to Romeo – they have a lot in common. But then again, Mewthos and Earl are brothers – and they have very little in common! Neither in looks nor personality! In fact, Mewthos is the odd one out from the litter – he’s the biggest and the cry-baby. Lizzy, Jane and Earl are all adventurous, agile and extremely active! And none of them are cry-babies!

It does make me wonder, though, whether someone is using this area as a kitten-dumping ground? If Romeo and Snowball are indeed litter mates, and we suspect Ziva and Shadow are siblings – and they all seem to be about the same age. Ziva and Shadow are both between 2-3 years, according to the vets. Romeo and Snowball seem about the same age – and Ziva tolerates both Romeo and Snowball, she doesn’t attack either; although that might be because they’re males? But then again, she does attack Mewthos and Lady Jane at times. Yet she never attacked Shadow. Maybe it was just one litter that was tossed away 2-3 years ago. That is just so despicable! I hope no more turn up!

As I was getting the Mippies indoors, Ziva came strolling in as well. I took the opportunity to give them some wet food and shut the door while they were eating. Ziva is NOT happy! She came to growl at me, letting me know just what she thinks of this mean trick!

She hides behind the curtains to sulk for a while but eventually settles for a nap in the chair next to me. Mewthos and Lady Jane settle on the blankie behind me, with Lady Jane giving Mewly a couple of loving licks before settling down. I’ve given Mewly his medicine, which may be making him a bit sleepy again.

 

Ziva taking a nap

Isn't this just too adorable?

Sibling love! Neither is really comfortable in the position, but they comfort each other

I spent most of the day catching up on this blog. I forgot to mention my visit to Shadow on Tuesday, though. Her nose was looking much better, it had dried, and I think it was somewhat painful. Like fever blisters when they dry, they pull the skin together and just hurt non stop. She was alternately purring and growling at me – not an ugly growl just a little grr in between the purrs. Lady Jane mipped outside the door so I let her in to say hello to her auntie Shadow. That backfired, though, because they both hissed and spat at each other!

As I wrote that, Mewly was sitting amidst his toys looking at me with big eyes! So I sat down and played with them for half an hour – now he’s happy! That’s one thing about all of my cats: they all need quality time with me! So much for the ‘cats are aloof’ myth! I don’t have to do much, but they like having my undivided attention for some time every day. Lady Jane demands her cuddle-time, Mewthos demands attention – Ziva is not demanding, but needs my time just the same.

Right now they are beginning to realise that the odd kibbles on the floor are related to the pink kibble puzzle, so now they are both investigating! Definitely not money wasted!

I hope Mew-Mew feels better tomorrow. I’ll be glad to see him using his his left paw again – hopefully soon! He is such a klutz! It took such a long time for him to overcome his fear of heights after his first fall – I somehow doubt he’ll ever get over it now! Which may be a good thing, considering his ineptitude at keeping his balance! When Lady Jane is wobbly, she always manages to jump to the safer side – she’s also had her stumbles on the wall, but always managed to topple onto the stairs rather than the long drop to the ground. Never having fallen, she’s also more confident than Mewthos.