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[Feb. 14th, 2006|01:44 am] |
Our Humane Officer, Patrice, posted a comment on yesterday's entry about a found white cat in Pine Mountain Club - one of the little communities here on "The Hill" (so we call our part of the Tehachapi Mtns). We name cats alphabetically as they come in, to maintain a sense of order, so I named her Pamela Ray. Pamela because we're in the "P's" and Ray because that was the name of the lady who found her and brought her from PMC to Lebec - about 18 miles. So Russ and I (I don't think I introduced myself - I'm Lolette and together, Russ and I founded Cause 4 Cats) drove her another 60 miles south to Sherman Oaks. We utilize Beverly Oaks Animal Hospital on Ventura Blvd. for emergencies and the more complex veterinary needs of our charges.
Pamela Ray is pure white with one blue eye and one light gold/green eye. She was very dehydrated and thin. Shaking. When her rescuer, Ms. Ray, found her along side the road on Saturday evening, the immediate concern was that she'd been hit by a car. However, when offered food and water, Pamela Ray almost inhaled them both. She was ravenous.
When we arrived at Beverly Oaks there was, as always, an emergency case ahead of us. So we left Pamela and went down the street for a bite to eat. When we returned, we waited a little while and were told that Pamela was definitely hungry and eating. She dove into a can of A/D placed before her to the extent she had it all over her face. "Pigged out" is the term I think they used. Her blood test was ok, but they determined she was about 7-8 years of age and wanted to do xrays as well. So we left Pamela Ray in good hands and took our leftover Spicy Sashami (ordered by mistake - we are not THAT experienced with Sushi) and headed for home.
To digress for a moment - we had no idea whether the cats would go for Sashami or not, but I HATE to throw away good food, so I thought better to take it home and try it rather than just toss it out at the restaurant. I put it in a colander, rinsed off all the seasoning and started offering it to the cats. Most of them LOVED it. It was a lot to us, but it didn't last long with the kitties who gathered eagerly in our kitchen when it was apparent scraps were being handed out. When they gather, it's especially evident we have a whole lot of kitties in the house.
Getting back to Pamela Ray, when I called on Sunday to check on her I received some disturbing news. The vet determined that Pamela Ray was blind, a hearing problem was suspected, and she also was having difficulty standing. The vet was concerned she has a severe neurological problem and recommended she be evaluated by a specialist. This was not good news.
I went down to Beverly Oaks tonight to pick up an FELV+ kitty who was rescued by Cat Connection (CatCo), a group of experienced rescuers who have an adoption center at Beverly Oaks. We had two FELV+ males, Jackson (a long haired orange tabby sweetheart) and Constantine (a snowshoe Himalayan) who were sharing a room of their own - a 4x25' sunroom we call "the long run" - since last year when we trapped them as strays in the area. Jackson recently started not doing well and we finally made the difficult decision to PTS. Constantine, now on his own in the room, was lonely. So we let CatCo know we certainly had room and heart to open our doors to another FELV+ cat, and it didn't take long for one to turn up. Her name is Corina, a lovely shorthaired tabby with a large teardrop of white on her chest, a white bellie and white toes on her front legs and white socks in the back. She was among dozens of cats rescued by Cat Connection and others when a very nasty so-called rescue group was closed down, hopefully this time permanently.
Anyway, at Beverly Oaks I met with the vet and got to spend a little time with Pamela Ray. She is not in good shape. She can't see, which is why she gets food all over her face and nose. She has trouble determining exactly where the food is. And when you try to get her to stand, she folds her front legs under like she's going to kneel, rather than extending them to support her weight. When finally on her feet, if she tries to walk, she keels over to the right. Something is definitely wrong.
I called a specialist today to see what a neurological evaluation would cost. We've probably incurred $600 up to this point with blood test, xrays and hospitalization for 3 days. The initial neurological consultation would be $110. It is likely that an MRI would be ordered to further diagnose the problem at a cost of about $800-$1,000. If a problem was discovered that could be treated with surgery, we are looking at a ball-park figure of 4 grand. When you are in rescue, you don't have that kind of money. And if you are having a good month and think you might squeak by without a cash advance on the credit card, you have to weigh the benefits of helping one cat or possibly helping 20 or 10 or may be just 5. So, what do we do?
I've asked another vet at B.O. to check Pamela Ray out. Was she possibly hit by a car so that the symptoms she's experiencing may be temorary and could possibly be reversed with time and perhaps steriods? Maybe. I'll find out more tomorrow, I hope. I'll let you know.
Meanwhile, I'm home now and need to get to bed. It's 2:35 a.m. and I do have to get up and go to work in the morning. Corina is in the long run with Constantine and, hopefully, they'll become friends in a short time. That depends on her, as the only animal that's ventured into the long run that Constantine did not get on peaceably with was a little lhasa apso we called Pee Wee. Poor doggy! He'd been dropped off at our vet's office on a Friday night, and when I went in to p/u my cats, the tech said to me, "You do dogs now, too, don't you?" One look at him, how could I say no? But where would I keep him overnight before he went to a foster home? In the long run! Ha! Constantine was all over Pee Wee, determined to beat him to a pulp. So out came a crate and in went Pee Wee for his own protection. Constantine has never lifted a paw to another cat, so his reaction to Pee Wee came as quite a surprise.
One last thing, before I sign off. I'd like to introduce you to another one of our cats in need of a home. This is Gregory and he's been with us since September, I think. I chose him today because he has a neurological problem, too. Nothing as serious as Pamela Ray. He sometimes is a little unsteady on his feet and has a slight head tilt, but he is doing fine. This picture doesn't show off his gorgeous blue eyes, and we had to have him shaved when he first came in - his fur was badly matted. He's a mellow cat. Will sit with a couch potato and watch football all afternoon. He loves kittens and kittens love him. Just a real easy-going guy to have around the house.
I'm glad you paid us a visit. Thank you. Please come back!
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