Mouser's status - All better now!

I've been pretty busy lately so have neglected to post about Mouser.  She was inside with me for 6 weeks and 2 days.  Her last abscess healed up, walking quite well on the injured foot and with new, short fur on her completely healed chest she went back out into the world on a Wednesday.  I was working from home that day and when I took the dogs out mid-morning and she wanted to go out, I let her through the door.  She stayed on the porch and didn't seem to want to come back in when I took the dogs back inside.  When I checked on her about 10 minutes later she was happy to come back in.  It was a bit cold, but dry.  A few hours later I checked to see if she wanted to go back outside.  Yes, she did, but when I went back in, she came right back inside as well.

Mid afternoon, around 3 or 3:30 PM, I took the dogs back out.  This time when I took them inside she didn't want to come back in.  She hung around for a little while, and I fed her outside again as I had always done when she was living outside.  Over the rest of the day I checked on her a few times, and while she was often there, she didn't want to come back inside the house.

Since then she has gone back to her usual pattern of being around for a few days, then gone for a few days.  She is more vocal about greeting me, and even more insistent about being petted.  She tolerates being picked up, but clearly prefers to be on her own 4 feet.

The fur on her chest is now fully grown in and it is no longer possible to tell it was ever shaved.  Her foot is fine, and all the fur has grown back on that as well.  I was amazed at how fast the last couple of abscessed areas grew the hair back once the abscesses were healed.

It is wonderful to see her running up to greet me, jumping up on the railing and clearly a very happy, confident cat!  Many thanks to my wonderful husband and younger son who helped care for Mouser.  I couldn't have done this without my husband.  Many thanks also to the wonderful vets and staff at Waynesville Veterinary Hospital.

Update on Mouser

I did get some more photo's of Mouser's healing abscess wound today.  While the hair around the opening is falling or she is pulling it off (not sure which) the healing is progressing quite rapidly, in my opinion.  Here are some pictures:

And here's one of the ways she likes to lie when I rub her chin.  She really is a sweet girl and is becoming quite a lap cat.

A little help for Mouser Outside Cat

For several years I've fed the neighbors barn cats whenever they come over to my house. I don't leave the food out all the time as the opossums, skunks and raccoons like it, and I prefer them to not be close by.  One little cat in particular has come regularly, staying for several days, before going off on her own for a few days.  Sometimes she'll be around for a couple weeks in a row.  Since the dogs go out several times during the day she gets fed and some loving and petting when she's around.

She has learned that if I'm there the dogs won't bother her.  Ironically, she shows very little fear of them, trying to rub against them and purring.  Chipper is the only one who will stand still when she rubs against him.  The others startle and will move, or in the case of Cadee, bounce, away.  Chipper has been renamed from Charlie, since that just didn't seem to fit him well and he doesn't care what we call him as long as he gets food and to run and play.

For a long time we just called her Outside Cat.  The neighbors had a name for her, which I think is Fig, but since I wasn't sure we just stuck with Outside Cat, Outside Kitty or Outside Puddy.  Until she started to bring me mice she'd caught.  She is quite a good hunter, perfect for a barn cat.  After she'd brought several I dubbed her Mouser.  She doesn't seem to much care, so long as you pet her and scratch her chin.

About a month ago now she came in limping on her left front leg.  She didn't want me to look at it and I couldn't see anything obvious.  Since she's basically wild I figured it would be best to see if she recovered on her own.

A week later I thought I saw a reddish, sort of raw patch on the next to outside toe on her left front leg, the one she wouldn't put any weight on.  My son and I worked together to hold her carefully and put some hydrogen peroxide on her foot.  The reddish spot foamed, sure sign of infection.  There was also foaming, even more, on the other side of the same toe.  The fur hid the spot it came from, but after a bit of bubbling a thick reddish discharge came out.  We treated her foot again later that night, and again the next day.  It bubbled the next after that didn't any more.  She still was limping, and after a day she was gone on one of her rambles, limping all the way.  She is still able to jump quite well, and can move quickly if she wants to, even on just the 3 legs.

She was still limping a week later, when it was time for the dogs and Hawkeye Cat (aka Inside Cat/Puddy).  I spoke to the vet about her.  He figured it was probably an abscess.

I explained that I was afraid to bring her into the house.  Cats that live outdoors can be infected with diseases that can quickly kill a cat, like Hawkeye, who has been living indoors and not exposed to such things.  I didn't want to risk Hawkeye by bringing Mouser into the house.  Also, Mouser is an outside cat.  I know she eats dry crunchy food, and will drink water from a bowl, but no idea whether she would use a litter pan.  Nor how she would handle being inside and especially taken for a ride in a car which would be required to get her to the vet.  The vet agreed that it was a potentially grave risk and we agreed to give it another week or so to see if her foot got better and I could talk to him about her if it didn't get better.

Didn't see her for a few days, then she was back on Monday, October 15, 2012, still limping, but rubbing and purring as always.  When rubbing under her chin, which she loves, I noticed that there was dampness on her neck.  When I looked further there was a very large wound gaping open.  It was nearly 2 inches across and about an inch tall.  No blood, but it was oozing clear fluid.  The skin was completely open, showing muscle underneath.  She wasn't looking quite so fit and glossy, either.  It was late in the evening when I found this, but there was no way I could leave her to live outside with that wound.  I brought her inside, put her in a bathroom with a thick towel to sleep on, food, water and a litter box.

First thing in the morning I called the vets office.  They got me an appointment early that afternoon.  When we arrived they took her to the back to be tested for infectious disease.  They would not even consider taking her into an exam room, which confirmed my worries about Hawkeye's safety even more.  Fortunately she was negative for infectious disease.  They gave her an antibiotic shot that was good for 2 weeks, shaved the hair around the chest wound, a little bit around her bad toe on her left front leg, and another spot on her right front leg.  All were abscesses.  The chest wound was an abscess that had burst open.  They had drained the fluid out of it.  The fluid had built up in the pocket of skin under the wound, causing it to stretch open even more.  Drained of the fluids the wound opening was no longer so large, down to about 3/4 inch around.  Not nearly so large, but still plenty big enough.

The chest wound would need to be cleaned with gauze pads soaked in medication (used for surgical scrubbing) twice a day and any fluids that built up pressed out.  The vet figured it would take probably 3 or even more weeks for it to fully heal closed.  It has to heal from the outside in to prevent infection from being trapped inside.

In addition the closed abscesses on her foot and leg need to be treated several times a day with warm compresses until the abscess opens to let the infection out.

Since I will be keeping her in the house until she heals up I asked the about fleas and internal parasites.  They agreed both should probably be treated for.  They would.  So I did.  They gave me medication for several sorts of worms and I would pick up flea medication at the store the next day.

Fortunately my husband will help me doctor Mouser.  I couldn't easily have done it by myself.  She did pretty well for a wild cat, but she is still pretty well wild.  Fortunately she knows me well, and for the last couple of years I've picked her up, petted her and put her down, so she trusts me pretty well.  Ironically she is very stoic when the chest wound is cleaned.  The only thing that seems to really bother her is the warm compress on her left front foot.

Over the last week the opening has reduced in size quite a lot.  It is now about 3/8 inch high and about 1/4 inch across.  The skin and hair around it aren't looking very good.  The area was shaved, but the hair seems to be falling out as well, possiibly because the liquid that seeps out is matting it together.  We wipe the excess medication off from the surrounding hair and skin as best we can, and try to soak off any dried stuff.

At first we did the compresses twice a day, but for the last few days I've increased that to 3-4 times per day.  She is still limping and doesn't like it handled at all.

It's pretty ugly, but here are some photos taken last Friday, October 19, 2012.  As you can see, it is healing, with pink edges, not the red inflamed edges it originally had.  No pictures of that, sorry.  We had inflicted her with enough indignities without trying to add photos to it. 

Life is moving along and I'm still stitchin'

Haven't posted in a while.  Things around my way are doing pretty well.  The dogs went to the vet yesterday and are doing fine.  Hawkeye Cat as well.  Yes, it's quite a production when we go to the vet.  Three dogs on multi length leashes arranged so they go diagonally across from shoulder to opposite hip on down to the dog(s), and a cat in arms, also on a leash.  The dogs enjoy the vet visits, especially since once in a while I'll take them over for nothing more than to just sit in the lobby for a while until they calm down, then take them back home.  None of them seem to mind getting shots, and all love kissing and being petted by the vet and office staff.  Even our newest guy, Chip aka Chipper.  (He used to be Charlie, but this fits him better.)  He isn't nearly as afraid of new people now, and is much faster to warm up and want to be petted.  I've been practicing doing baby talk to him since he growled at one of the ladies on staff one day when she had baby talked to him.  I felt terrible about that, since it had never occurred to me that might be a problem.  It was very clear that while he was unsure already, any sort of baby talking he took as a signal that Something Very Bad was about to happen to him.

I do wonder what he went through before he was rescued.  However, now he seems to take that in stride, along with feet touching him.  That also used to freak him out.  He was in fear for his life the first time I happened to raise my foot up at him to scratch his chest.  It took a couple of weeks, but now he's happy to be petted with feet, or see a human do some strange gyrations that include feet of the ground.

Cadee is no longer the extremely shy dog we rescued years ago.  She is still cautious, but she is also a very happy, cheerful dog.  She's happy to go with you anywhere, always dances with joy when it's time for a walk or to do something.  It was a turning point for her when she finally snapped at Chip when he was too intense and chasing her one day.  So many times before that she had this look like she wanted to, but didn't think she was allowed to defend herself.  When I saw her whirl and snap at the air in his direction, the doggy version of 'get out of my space!' I praised her and told her that she was wonderful, didn't have to put up with his stuff.  From that day on she has increased in confidence.  Now she'll even play with him sometimes, even though he tends to be much higher energy than she is comfortable being around.

Cadee no longer flops onto her back whenever someone wants to pet her, and sometimes she'll even take and eat a treat.  For quite a while she would take a treat if it was offered, but would then drop it and not eat it.  Now she'll even eat it.  And she'll come over for petting, sitting or even standing up for it.  Such a major change in her behavior.

On other notes I've continued to do some work on my linen things.  I have now hemmed 4 of the nice big violet handkerchief linen towels.  I use them all the time and they are fantastic for drying my hair.  I've finished one of the medium weight purple linen kitchen towels as well.  It is getting regular use as well.  I've started to hem the second of these and am alternating work on it with work on handkerchiefs.

I have 5 of the 100% linen hankies yet to hem, 3 of the smallest size and 2 of the medium size.  I also cut out some of the linen blend for hankies.  Six per width, so 12 total.  In the last couple of days during travel and meetings I have nearly finished hemming the first one.  I decided to make up some of the blend before going back to the 100% linen.  Interestingly the blend is whiter than the 100% linen.  While it is white, it is slightly more of a cream color. Perhaps there are optical whiteners on the other, not sure.  In any case the blend is a tiny bit softer and slightly more flexible.  That probably will change since linen just gets nicer and nicer, softer and more sheen, as it is used.  Regardless, the fabrics are quite nice, very easy to work with and make beautiful hankies.

I am also glad to report that the linen sheets and pillow cases are continuing to get daily use and are holding up very well.  It is nice to see something that one has planned out then made get that much good use and appreciation.

Recently I've been tempted to make myself a nice knitted coat or vest.  Something mid-thigh or even knee length for warmth when walking outside in the colder weather.  I'm still considering designs and yarns, but am leaning towards something like Meg Swanson's long rendition of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Rib Warmer as is shown in this newsletter.  I'm nearly certain I've got directions for it in either a Spun Out or one of the many books I've already got.  Not sure if I'll go for unspun Icelandic, Sheepsdown, or something else.  Who knows, I may decide to do both a vest and a coat.  I know I'd use them both.

Cat Dancer and Bubbles

Hawkeye Cat continues to do very well. He loves one toy in particular, called Cat Dancer. This is a great, simple toy that is fun for him and fun for me.

Hawkeye is an indoors only cat, which is my preference. I've had indoor/outdoor cats, and ended up with fleas in the house. Not fun, and not something I want to deal with again. Hawkeye loves to look out, and always tells me when there is someone out side, especially the outside cats from the barn next door which I feed outside. However, he doesn't have any interest in being outside himself. The experience of being outside alone in the cold for a couple of weeks and nearly starving to death has made him cautious and appreciative of being inside.

Charlie - New Dog

Wednesday, 31 March 2010 we came home with 3 dogs. We left home for our usual evening walk with our to dogs, BJ and Cadee, but came back with a new addition to our pack, Charlie. In the photo BJ is on the left, Charlie in middle and Cadee on the right.

This interesting turn of events I consider one of the ways the Universe provides for us, call it whatever you like. I've been about half thinking about getting another dog at some point. My sweet BJ is starting to get a little older now. He knows so much, and is such an awesome dog. My half-formed thoughts were that he would be able to help teach a new dog the ropes in our household. Cadee can, too, to a degree, but she is pretty submissive and somewhat afraid of other dogs, so is more likely to run away than give a puppy a correction.

In any case, I was walking with my husband, and our 2 dogs. Going past the house of one of our neighbors comes little Bella, a chihuahua, leading her pack of larger dogs. When Bella isn't out their other dogs don't even come out to the road, but she gets very excited and brings the pack out every time she is loose. I'm afraid to go past with her on the road, because I'm afraid she won't go back to her house, but instead will get hit by a car, or get one of the rest of her pack hit. So I always bring her and her pack, along with my dogs, back to their house before continuing on.

There was a new dog with them this time, a tiger striped young dog that I learned was named Charlie. He had been rescued in December when another neighbor brought him thinking it was his home. He had apparently been abused, was very shy and afraid, particularly of men, and the person who had found him couldn't keep him. So my neighbor kept him, hoping to find him a good home.

He offered him to us, because he knows we are dog people and would give him a good home. We decided to take him with us on our walk to see how he did, and to think about it. Our neighbor warned us that he hadn't been on a leash that he knew of. We clipped him up and off we went. He was unsure at first, but with our 2 just moving along happily, he caught on in a minute and did well. We liked him, but didn't want to make any decision until we had a chance to talk to our son who lives at home, since Cadee is his dog, and he takes care of them both much of the time, feeding and taking them out. They both sleep with him, too.

During our chatting and walking, it had gotten dark. We had just asked if we could take him back for our son to meet him and think about it when guess who comes walking up in the dark? Yup, there he was, coming to meet us walking. We all chatted a few minutes, letting Charlie meet our son and vice versa. In the end we decided to give him a try, agreeing that if there was any issue that we would bring him back. We didn't expect any issues, the dogs were getting along fine already.

Charlie is very sweet. Our neighbor estimates he is about 8 months old. He has a band of white around his neck into a white front, 4 white toes/feet, and the rest is brown with black marbling. Black nose and skin on his face making his face dark, with lovely dark eyes. His ears tulip, rather like a whippet. In fact, his body shape has aspects of whippet, also, with slightly arching loins, slender legs and tail. He can trot, if he goes fast enough, but he mostly seems to be pacing, which I don't recall seeing in dogs much before.

He gets along well with our other dogs, and while Hawkeye Cat isn't impressed, he hasn't been all that interested in the cat, either. He does fine with the friendly outside cat I feed, letting the cat rub up against him just fine.

Charlie is going through quite a lot of changes, as I'm sure our household is different from where he was before. Even though we had been told that he was afraid of men, we have seen very little of it. At first meeting he tucked his tail tight around my husband and son, but very quickly relaxed. Meeting another neighbor the day after we got him he tucked for a minute, but relaxed and was enjoying being petted right away. When our other son came home from university he barked at him once then did fine.

He has been learning that he has to walk next to or behind us, and not to go too far away from our side. Since I have been the one inside to do the umbilical cording (keep a leash attached to him inside, to make sure he doesn't get too many chance to do the wrong things), the others have been doing most of the walking. It is important for him to learn that he has to do the same thing with everyone.

We are very glad to have this new member of our Pack!

Rescued Pets - Hawkeye

On a cold, snowy day in December, I guess it must have been 2003, I happened to be out at Pioneer Village. It was Sunday morning, and most of the folks who had been there for the weekend had left. Four of us were wrapping things up, letting the fire burn down to nothing, and finishing up some leftover stew. I heard a cat meowing around the building we were in, so, being me, I had to go open the door and see this cat.

There had been brief glimpses of a young cat throughout the weekend, as it kept away from us, I think particularly the various dogs. There are several houses just down the road, so I didn't think to much about it at the time.

Into the cabin comes this black/grey young cat. Striped, except, no, not really striped, spotted. Interesting coloring which I hadn't seen before. Subtle, but pretty. He's so cold he's shivering, and under that lovely fur is the skinniest cat I've ever held. I can feel every rib, ever bump in his spine. There is no collar, and no one would keep a cat so skinny. Someone must have dropped him off. Some people do that, you know. Take animals out into the country and just put them out of the car and drive away. Apparently not caring that these small creatures, dogs or cats, almost never have the skills needed to survive on their own. This young cat, apparently about 6 months old, was dropped off in the winter.

We put out the last of the stew for him to eat, which he seems to really enjoy. After he has eaten he got up on the stones of the fire ring, huddling as close to the heat of the dying fire as he could.

I couldn't leave him there. He would be dead of cold or starvation in just days, if that. We didn't need another pet, already having 2 dogs at home. Well, I couldn't leave him, so I brought him back, hoping to find his home. Maybe someone hadn't dropped him off out in the country to "be free". Maybe he'd wandered away from home and some family was desperately looking for him. So home he came with me. I packed up the van and put him in.

He was apparently unshaken by being in a vehicle, got off my lap wandered around for a minute then lay down on one of the blankets in the back to doze. When we got home, he stayed in the van for a bit, watching as I unloaded. After a few minutes he jumped casually out and walked into the garage towards the house door.

Now, I don't know about you, but I've seen animals that haven't been in a building before. They stay carefully along the walls and are clearly uncomfortable. This young fellow, well, he just strolled on in like he owned the place! Good, that was one hurdle, whether he had been an indoor or outdoor cat. It was looking like maybe indoor.

Now remember, my husband and I had decided some time before that we had all the pets we need - 2 dogs. No cats at this time. And here I am coming home with this starving cat. I explain it's not to stay, just to try to find his home, or a new home for him. My husband sighs, but it's only for a few days.

I didn't let the cat go upstairs by himself. We have 2 dogs, and while they've been trained to stay inside a simple barrier, I didn't want to tempt them, or have a terrified cat dashing about the place. When he saw the dogs he hissed and growled, his tail puffing up, but he didn't otherwise seem too concerned. We had a litter box, from years before when I'd had cats, but no litter or cat food. Off we went to the store. You know whose lap he sat in on the way to the store, of course. My husband's! Down and back.

The little speckled cat happily ate the crunchy food, showing that he was familiar with that, too. For the night we put him into the bathroom with his litterbox, food and water, with something to sleep on.

The next morning I began my hunt. The cat has unique enough markings that if a vet had seen him, they'd probably remember him. Spots aren't that common. So I started calling. The first call I made the woman who answered turned out to live in one of the houses on the road to Pioneer Village! She was familiar with the little cat. She and her husband had been trying to cath it for a week or so, without any luck. The cat stayed away from their dogs. We determined that it's almost certain this little cat was dropped off to 'be free'. Poor thing!

Many phone calls later, to all the area vets and animal shelters, turned up nothing. No one seemed to be looking for this little cat. I even went on-line and put him in under the found section. In the mean time he was settling into our household quite nicely. He quickly learned that we wouldn't let our dogs chase him, so started to play with them. Everyone liked him. My husband started to say things like 'well, if we decide to keep the cat'.

It took about 2 weeks I guess before we really decided that we would give him his Forever Home. He's a really neat fellow. Very quiet, with a soft meow. He's even learned to trust people, and while he doesn't care that much for being held, he has decided to sit on our laps sometimes and purr.