Puddytat Number Three
I chose this background because it looks just like BabyCakes. My husband calls him "Smokin'Jack"...he says "BabyCakes" is too sissy for a boy. But, for me he's "BabyCakes"! And, This is BabyCakes story. It could take a while...
It was July 1991 and I had just returned to my office with lunch and as I walked toward the door, I could hear this pitiful meowing coming from the end of the sidewalk. I walked down that direction and there crouching against this brick wall on some steps was the prettiest longhaired gray cat...scared to death and still meowing loudly. Bless his heart...he had scratches all around his ears and some pretty bad ones down his back near his tail. As I got closer, I could see ants all over the scratches on his back. Ouch! I ran in the office, got some water and returned to the kitty and washed the ants off of him. He was real friendly with a sweet bashful way about him. I just knew I couldn't keep him and a co-worker of mine somehow managed to convince me to call the dreaded Animal Control. Why I did this, I'll never know! But, they came and put him in a cagelike carrier and I went to say goodbye to him, stuck my finger in the cage and he reached his paw up and touched my finger as if to say Goodbye.
I was useless the rest of the day at work and even worse at home that night. I couldn't get that sweet face out of my mind. The animal shelter always keeps these animals for one week in order to give the rightful owner a chance to claim them. Then five more days available for adoption depending on how crowded they are. After that, well need I say what happens next.
My husband was out of town and I was an emotional wreck worrying about the fate of this sweet cat. So, I called the animal shelter and tried to offer to pay the adoption fee for anyone interested in adopting him. But, for some stupid reason...they don't allow that. So, without another thought...I told them I would adopt him if no one else did during the 5 day adoption period. I had that week off from work and on day one of the adoption period, they called me to tell me they were overcrowded and the cat would have to go or be put to sleep. I slammed that phone down and took off for the animal shelter. With cat carrier in hand, I marched in there, paid my $25.00 and went and got my cat!
I didn't waste any time. With my new puddytat safely in the passenger seat, I headed for my Vet's office. I left him there overnight for blood testing, neutering and shots. The next day, I picked him up and took him home. Because I already had Bubba and Booptie, I knew I had to isolate him from my kitties. All seemed to be going smoothly. He was so happy to finally have a home even if it was just a bathroom. I was happy to have saved his wonderful little life.
That evening, I noticed this noise coming from the bathroom. A sneezing sound. I called the vet and she told me to come and get some antibiotics just in case. "Just in case" is right! It turned out that my new kitty had been exposed to one of the deadly upper respiratory viruses at the animal shelter and we were in for several weeks of intensive treatment to save my sweet baby's life. I had to drive him to the vet every morning before work for IV fluids and force feedings and injections to control his extremely high fever. He was miserable. I've never seen such a sick cat. But, all the trips to the vet and constant love and attention at home paid off and in just less than a month since his adoption, BabyCakes was well. He always runs the risk of a relapse which could be brought on through stress, but so far...so good. He has a constant virus condition in his left eye which causes constant tearing, but that's all.
BabyCakes is now approximately 7 years old. I say approximately because we can only guess that he was not quite a year old when I found him. He's Daddy's boy...loves to curl up next to my husband every night. He's also the official big brother to the next two kitties we've adopted since him. He's such a sweetheart. Takes them under his wing and shows them the ropes. My youngest, Frito still curls up with BabyCakes everyday and snoozes the afternoon away with his big brother.
We just got him through a lower urinary tract infection. Just now finishing off the last of the Baytril and he's doing fine. I'll always have a special place in my heart for BabyCakes...he's been through so much and he's such a sweet bashful cat. I hope you feel he's a little special, too.
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