Oh Patti I wish I was there to help you and sweet Charity.I hope she starts to feel better soon,and you can get her to the Dr. Sherry
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As most of you remember, Charity ["feral" mom dumped w/ babies] & I have a long & controversial history...... [She got out of taped-up box, so I had Timmy & Thomas as bottle babies..... ] I was able to trap her, but she "escaped" while I was cleaning her crate [post spaying thank heavens]. I decided not to re-trap her since I had a special area for ALL the strays/ferals here. And, also, she had me in ER so many times....... Clearly, she disliked humans, and after being tossed out like trash I couldn't blame her..... I believed she had been somebody's cat once upon a time & when she had babies, well, they DUMPED them!!!! (Education IS the key..... Spay/Neuter all your babies....) So, I believed as long as she always had food & shelter [here], it would be less stressful than trying to re-trap her. And, she had her constant companion, Black Bart........ However, life can change so fast....... I had my MVA, my room mate was NOT tending my stray/feral area & when I finally got home from hosp., o my way to Dr. I saw Charity running across the very heavily traveled, busy road I live on!!!! So, despite all my "handicaps" I made a promise right then that I would tend to my stray/feral area... Even opened up the barn so they could get indoors when weather turned bad...... So, I was very concerned about the cats I'd been tending to, but, I managed to "hobble" out to barn area to feed & water, put "fresh" bedding out, etc. (And barn is W-A-Y back in yard, never a problem before MVA, but after, well, it's very difficult for me to get there....) But, da_n it, I made a promise to these "lost souls"...... I was thrilled when I saw Charity & Bart back in the area...... Made me even more determined to get out there so they wouldn't wander & get killed on the road...... Which I did. But, the snow and ice this winter really made it even more difficult...... But, despite my problems, I kept barn open, re-insulated spots, etc. NOT EASY, but I somehow managed to get it done..... After all, I made a promise........ So, one snowy night early Feb.. while I was out walking my Rottie, [Lady]Bug, who's bigger than me no less, lo & behold, guess who stalks me out????? Miss Charity........ Now mind you, Bug is deaf, I'm almost blind [great combination, huh?]....... I heard this pitiful plea, couldn't see "who" it was, but Bug, who lives & loves all my furbabies, saw her {Charity}, went totally ballistic - strange cat in her territory....... When I finally realized it was Charity, I was mortified to say the least........Just imagine the thoughts running thru my head - me falling, Bug getting off leash & Charity's demise.......ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC, & that's putting it mildly...... Somehow I managed to get Bug back into house..... But sweet Charity was on a mission....... She NEVER gave up, and actually came & "waited" for me on back porch - something she never did!!!!! So, when I went back out, w/ a carrier no less, I decided the time was right...... But, not having any strength on my right arm, it was a disaster, to say the least.....Neither of us would give up......And, she "insisted" I hobble on the snow/ice out to barn!!!!! She was patient w/ me, but a tad irritated...... She knew what she had to do.... So, we finally get out to barn, where I thanked the lord I had my recliner [Boy, did I ever need that!!!] Lo & behold!!!! My Bart was there!!!!! And obviously in VERY poor shape! And, this mean 'ole intact feral came right up to me, rubbing my legs!!!!! I was shocked!!!!! He had never approached me prior, always "ran off" when he caught a mere glance, and now he was almost a love muffin. Something was off..... Big time.... He looked very ill - skinny, bloated in abdomen, you name it, .... I actually though e was another stray/feral - until I saw his " shrunken" equipment... Then I just knew it was our Bart..... So, I set him up, made an emergency appt. & deep down inside, my heart was broken...... While waiting the 2 days for appt., , he ate very well, turned into a love-muffin, I kind of got my hopes up...BIG MISTAKE!! At my vet, Dr. V. started to drain fluid, I finally asked him to stop. Also, Bart was pale white, all over almost.... NOT a good sign. He was also "mostly" blind...... Among numerous "other" things.... NO WAY TO "EXIST"............. So, I made the dreaded decision.....Very, very hard. but thought Bart would NOT have the [or any] quality of life..... [And, he was an "old" man.....] Ok, now to Charity.....We DID have a vet. appt.soon after, but I had to cancel because three was NO way to get her in carrier....Wane a compete exam, including BW, but never got there. And, she was doing so well. My primary concern was Puma, I must admit... Now get this..... Thurs. PM she wouldn't [hardly] touch her wet food... So I pulled a "Puma, Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys - NO GO.!!!!!!! But, when I pulled out the people tuna, she did eat that. However, ;last night, Friday, she ate NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH!!!!! [Been up w/ her ALL night......] I did give her sub-q fluids, she "seemed" to perk up for awhile, maybe 15 minutes!!!!!! But, she is crying, as if in pain......... NEEDS to get to vet ASAP!!!! Here's my rant - 1) I CAN'T DRIVE!!! 2) Mom is helping Aunt move...... 3) Rescue buddy has to take her mom to Dr 4) Room Mate - Don't even ask........ 5) Neighbors out of town 6) Daughter is in Mexico.... Wonderful thing..... Working w/ Wild Animal Zoo for 6 credits for college..... (Only 5 others, nationwide chosen, and, guess what???? She's going into veterinary medicine!!! AM I A PROUD MOTHER???? OF COURSE......... Just checked [again, I check every 30 minutes or less] on Charity..... She's still w/ me, but has ben "limp" since around 2:00 AM........ What's a Mom to do? And, besides all else, this [whatever it may be] came on so suddenly!!!! She's not pale, lke Bart, from anemia & I don't feed my babies "junk", and she's the only one w/ such severe problems..... All this time I was so worried about Puma. HAH!!! He'll probably outlive all of us [humans]. Sorry so long.... Had to rant..... Hugs, Patti & her gang --------------------------------- See what's free at AOL.com. --------------------------------- Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.