I walk into the Community Room, and without fail, for at least the last few weeks now, Colleen has been propped atop the comfy bench or on the ledge near the window. If it is sunny out, you can be sure she is soaking up those rays, stretched out in exactly the right position: enjoying her life, with the sounds of the waterfall in the distance. These have become her most favorite two spots, and I don’t blame her.
It does my heart good to see Colleen doing so well. When she was first released from ringworm isolation, her coat looked a bit raggy and she looked thin and worn. Tired out. But now she’s looking like her old self again. There’s a bit of a spring in her step as she skillfully avoids the kittens that have taken over the Community Room. And Colleen seems to have no trouble hopping down from the ledge to the bench when she wants a drink of water from the fountain, which is so conveniently located nearby.
The other day, when I stopped by, Colleen was sprawled out on the edge of the bench closest to the window, but she inched over to me when I sat down, eager to cozy up and get her pets. I just love that look of love in her eyes when she gazes into my face. I love to hear her purring. I have to admit that when I hear a cat’s purr, all my anxieties and worries seem to float away.
Just recently, I came into the Community Room and found Colleen stretched out on the ledge, her paws reaching in front of her. She looked like she had struck a kind of yoga pose, her fur hot to the touch. The sun was, of course, streaming through the window, and she appeared to be fast asleep, or at least in a very deep cat nap. This spot — right there — was heaven to her. After a while, I picked her up and held her in my arms, and it was very difficult to put her down and go home that day.
On the medical front, the Tabby’s Place staff has decided to keep Colleen on an oral anti-fungal medicine as a precaution to ward off any chance that she could get a second bout of ringworm. Yeah to that news! There was also a false report that Colleen was having a seizure, but it turned out that she was just aggressively scratching her ears. Col’s ears were a bit itchy, and seem to become more of an issue when there’s any inflammation or discomfort around her face. If you know Colleen, you know she has had an “issue” with her face since forever. However, the Tabby’s Place staff may be starting Colleen on a new anti-seizure medication in the near future to treat some of the symptoms she’s been experiencing.
Although I usually see Colleen soaking up the sun’s rays in the Community Room, she spends her nights in Jonathan’s office with Morgan. Now, rumor has it that these two cats are not exactly fond of each other. They haven’t come to blows, but when nerves become frayed, they do engage in “sporadic airboxing.” Having never heard this term before, I was anxious to understand what “sporadic airboxing” meant. Witnesses report that they have seen Colleen and Morgan stand about a foot apart, squint angrily at each other, and punch at the air. Thankfully, they rarely make contact.
This is a side of Colleen I’ve never seen, but she’s got the green Irish eyes, and I suppose there is a streak of the Irish temper in her. Especially after she’s settled back for the night and had her nightly pint. Wink. Wink. That, of course is a wee joke. Colleen is and always has been a “teetotaler.”
As always, Colleen and I thank you for your generous support of this wonderful place. Have a great rest of the summer.