Kitty Update

In July 2008 Virgo arrived here one evening with a tiny kitten. Would I keep him for just one night because reasons - well, actually because he was about to be sterilised although he was quite young for the procedure to make it easier for him to be rehomed by the vet practice where she worked. He'd already failed a couple of rehome attempts because, as we later worked out, he was simply terrified of men. I agreed knowing that this meant he was here to stay.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing with him. Although he bonded with me very quickly it took nearly a year of patience before he would allow Pisces to touch him and, while they now get on well, he remains a very nervous cat. Any unfamiliar sound or someone at the door and he disappears under the bed for hours.

But this we can cope with. His health problems are much more difficult to deal with. Until three years ago he seemed a perfectly healthy if twitchy cat but then he developed what the vet thought were behavioural problems. Put less politely he had started having 'accidents' all around the house. Though I was by no means convinced it was deliberate I followed the vet's suggestions - changed his cat litter more frequently, gave him an extra litter tray and so on. Things didn't improve so there was further testing and it turned out that although he had shown no obvious symptoms of constipation he had developed megacolon. That means his colon had become stretched and enlarged due to a build up of faeces.

The prognosis was not good - cats with megacolon often don't survive for long - but here we are three years on and while it's not always been easy - he has to have a laxative daily and he has had another two severe attacks - he's generally well and is much loved. He must be loved because during these attacks he often doesn't make it to the litter tray and I have to tell you living in a house where all soft surfaces like beds and sofas have to be draped in plastic drop sheets for some weeks at a time is not much fun. But when you take an animal into your life taking care of it to the best of your ability is part of the deal, isn't it.

The reason I've been thinking about this is because at the moment Angus is not well. He has an upset tummy and has been vomiting both of which are bad signs. If he doesn't improve soon - it doesn't seem like his usual problem and may just be a passing bug so waiting and watching closely seems a good idea - I'll take him to the vet. Keeping everything crossed this will pass.