February Greetings to You, and to All Fenek’s Friends!
There is health news to report this month. If a cat’s ears are prone to wax build-up and/or ear infections, an ear cleaning procedure may be required. Soon after the first of the year, Fenek was sedated and underwent that procedure.
The vet team took x-rays and spotted what appeared to be a mass in the middle ear area of his left ear. While malignancy can be one reason for such a mass, it isn’t the only reason. The team worked from an initial diagnosis that the inflamed tissue was due to an infection, and took cultures of the affected area.
They began treating him with oral and topical antibiotics, and then after culture results came back from the lab, his ear medications were adjusted and he was taken off the daily oral antibiotics. The team is pleased with his progress, as it appears that the medications are reducing the inflammation.
No known connection, but during that treatment, Fenek wasn’t enjoying his food as much as usual, so he was started on an appetite stimulant. The stuff seems to be working, because the last time I visited, someone came in with a tray of wet food and first served Samantha and Baby. Fenek saw this and the Distinguished Gentleman Cat proclaimed, “Meow!” I took that clearly to mean “Where’s mine?”
The server brought her tray to the table and placed a plate of diabetic diet in front of him, and he left my lap to tuck into it. His special diet and all the other extra care Fenek receives as a Special Needs cat—all this is thanks to you and your generous donations to Tabby’s Place. His good life now is something for which you can help take credit.
After several minutes, Fenek hopped down to the floor for a few sips of water. With hunger and thirst at bay, soon he was back on my lap. Time passed pleasantly; he was purring contentedly. I was enjoying myself, too, but it was getting later and later.
As I wondered how I would get out of this, a staff member inadvertently came to my rescue, bringing meds for the Lounge cats, including ear medication for Fenek. When she reached for him to put drops of solution in his left ear, he growled, jumped down, and hid under a chair. Nevertheless, the staff member persisted, although by the time she gave Fenek what he needed, I was on my way back home.
Before I go, it was T.S. Eliot who wrote that the naming of cats is a difficult matter. At Tabby’s Place, kittens are often named with a theme of some kind, such as the recent arrivals Donegal, Doolin, Dunmore, and Dublin. Some other places are skipping the familiar and going straight to unexpected and downright peculiar monikers, like Kevin From IT and Linda From HR. If it helps bring them attention and helps speed the process of finding Forever Homes, then bring on Serotonin and Good Soup!
Be safe! Until next month, wishing you all good things!
Your correspondent,
John