Merlin Attacked by Feral Cat

I just got back from the vet and Merlin is not a pretty sight. No, pics at least not yet. He seemed fine last evening but by bedtime he was acting wierd; difficulty walking, listless. He hadn't had anything to eat or drink since morning. For Merlin, the glutton that was unusual but the sure sign that something was wrong was his lack of purring. Merlin has the loudest purr on record and he purrs constantly. He spend the night glued to my side, still and silent. I'm not an early bird but at dawn I was up to check his vital signs. Checking heart rate and respiration was easy. Groping half asleep for rectal thermometer probe covers... not so much. Sticking it up his butt, less so. Prognosis, a high fever.

That meant an infection. I suspected a cat fight when I saw tiny scatches. The bit of kitty claw embedded in his neck clinched the diagnosis. It was time for the vet. We've been lucky to have a mobile vet who'd drive up to the house in his clinic  RV. No waiting with other cats or horrors, dogs. No travelling with non stop yowling. No longer though, our beloved vet had recently retired. He'd referred his patients to a new mobile guy but he didn't have a clinic on wheels and didn't do housecalls for emergencies.

Merlin remained near catatonic until we got into the car and he talked for the first time in 24hrs. Loudly, incessantly. It was music to my ears. It must have been doggy day at the clinic. The waiting room teemed with dogs of every description and all in need of the dog whisperer. I paled and held my bundle close. Merlin being the star that he is got whisked almost immediately to the examination room. A few minutes later the vet ushered us in the see a shaved but perkier Merlin, shot up with drugs, hydrated and anal sacs squeezed happy.

The vet found an infected puncture wound that despite my careful examination had missed. That's why he gets paid the big bucks. We left with the patient, who is on antibiotics and to be kept indoors for the next few days. Merlin hates being cooped up and that may prove to be the biggest challenge. That and what to do about the new feral in town named Domino who's part Siamese and all bully.

So friends, I'm lying low on Gather this weekend. I won't be commenting much but I do have a special edition of 'before and after' coming to YOUR FAVORITE PICS. I'll be showcasing Ron B's circa 1969 pics from Vietnam. Check them out on Monday.