Update for Wolfie

Update for Wolfie

Dear Friends of Wolfie,

I hope you’ve been well and have been enjoying these glorious, sunny days. Spring certainly took her time arriving this year, but it was worth the wait! This is what I think of as “solarium weather.”

My health report is good. Although our alert health team found a lump on my chest, it was only a lipoma. I learned that’s just a fancy word for a “harmless, fatty lump.” My eyes are much better. I no longer am having problems with conjunctivitis. The medicine did its job!

Recent events have reminded me of an English expression: “May you live in interesting times.” It’s supposedly a translation of a Chinese curse. Curse is right! That curse is being felt right now in the FIV+ Suite! A short time ago, a staff member noticed a lesion on poor, sweet Charlie. Unfortunately, the cause of the lesion was one of the most dreaded guests to visit a sanctuary: RINGWORM! Of course, all of us were tested. Charlie, Chachi, Cisco, Rogue and Shea all have ringworm and are being given the full treatment: a three-week quarantine and delightful dips in a lime sulfur solution. Ugh!

Since Mona, Lester, McNulty and I were ringworm-free, I thought we were really lucky. Well, we weren’t as lucky as I thought because, as a precaution, we were also dipped. I was told that they’d had to use a big tub for me. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Not only have we temporarily lost our friends, we lost lots of the comforts of home. After our suite was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, almost everything was removed. Our two beautiful cat trees, the chair, our blankets, and our soft beds were all taken! The room looks so empty! We have litter pans, water bowls, and a ladder. Big deal! A few blankets have been put into the cubbies, but that’s it.

I looked at Lester the other day, and he looked so forlorn. He was standing where the chair once stood, and he looked lost. Lester really loved “his” chair. Mona seems quieter, too. I know Mona misses the cat trees; she used to like curling up in one. The first time Lynn visited after the demolition of our room, she said how empty it looked. She talked to me and said it sounded like an echo chamber. It certainly is different.

We have a new suitemate: Wilbur. He seems like a nice gent, but he’s still unsure of himself. When I tried to go into the solarium a few days ago, I could not get through the tunnel. Wilbur was blocking the end of the tunnel. I waited for him to go into the solarium, but he didn’t. He just stayed in that one spot, as if he didn’t know what he wanted.

The staff members and volunteers take great care of us. I’ve always had problems with my ears, and one volunteer noticed that one of my ears was bothering me. She was quite thoughtful and massaged my ear. It felt so good! To thank her, I licked her arm.
Unfortunately, not all of my interactions with volunteers have been so positive lately. As you know, I am now caged to be fed. When I saw one of my favorite feeders at my cage, I thought, “Great! It’s dinnertime!” What did I do? I did what I usually do and jumped into my cage. To be more accurate, I tried to jump into my cage. As I was jumping, she was closing the door. The result: she hit me on my head! OUCH! I know it wasn’t intentional, but it still hurt a bit.

One afternoon, Lynn visited me in the solarium. McNulty and I were out there, enjoying a quiet afternoon. We were both relaxing on the large cat tower. Because we were both at the end of the tower next to the chair, Lynn sat down next to us. As soon as she sat down, McNulty was on her lap. She immediately started petting him and talking to him. When McNulty put his paws on her shoulders, she hugged him. Did she forget that she’s MY secretary! When McNulty was back down on her lap, she finally remembered my existence and began petting me. She then scratched my head and rubbed me under my chin. Since I enjoyed the attention, I thanked her by licking her arm for a few minutes.

Mona and I both love the solarium and spend a lot of time out there. If we’re not on the cat tower or on the small raised bed, we’re cuddling on the large cot. Because I’m sure that Mona misses our friends, especially Chachi, Charlie, and Shea, I try to keep her company as much as possible. In difficult times, friends have to stick together.

I am so grateful, Dear Friend, for your support. Your sponsorship helps make it possible for me to stay at this wonderful place. Thank you, again, for all you do!

Love and prayers,

Wolfie

PS: I guess I’m not as lucky as I thought I was. Unfortunately, I do have ringworm and will be quarantined for three weeks!