It's International "Do Pirates Get Embarrassed Day?" Yarrrgh!!!

Hello, Daddy Kiril, here.

I'm posting this story, as Nikita is keeping an eye on Elvira.

She gave us quite a fright last night.

Early in the evening she was competently practicing her "Yarrghing", in preparation for today, by chasing  the Laser Light around the room, growling, and hissing, up a storm, as she tried to find, and catch it, pouncing on it, only to find it would mysteriously vanish right from under her!

Nikita, and I were greatly entertained by all this. ;-D

We also took a few pictures of the 2 of them playing with their balls, for a new song parody I've written.

After they took a nap is when things took a decidedly unhealthy turn.

Around 945pm I noticed Elvira scooting her daintily little behind on the carpet, in a decidely, um, very unlady-like manner.

 Further investigation discovered a, um, well, nice, small Stool, peeking out from under her tail.

 Assuming it was just hanging around looking for help leaping off its perch, I picked Elvira up, and gave a little tug on the offending mass.

Elvira loudly objected (Well, OK, loud for her!), and I discovered that stuff was litterally, um, hanging on by a thread...that was extended about 2 inches out of her, um, well, you know. ;-D

I freaked out thinking I might have done her some harm with my little tug, sat her on the bed, and watched her dash into one of the tunnels.

I went online looking for an emergency vet to call, and ask questions, and found one that told me I should bring her in for a look as soon as I could.

 

 

She loves scratching, and climbing, all over, and sleeping in, the Tower that Nikita long had for himself. ;-D

This sometimes caused threads to come out, as seen above.

Until last night I'd never given a thought to her wanting to chew on them, and cut them off with scissors each time I saw them.

Nikita never chewed on them, and being de-clawed, never even caused them to appear.

 So, I tossed the confused little lady in the carrier, told the puzzled Nikita what was up, and to hold the fort until I returned, and dashed out the door, rushing to get to the bus stop as quick as I could.

 I had no idea how long we'd be at the Animal Hospital, only knowing we'd get there at 1115pm, and the last bus I could catch home would be at 1245am.

 I took along a couple of books to read, but found myself looking in at Elvira every few minutes.

 She was behaving like a champ, and you'd hardly know there was an issue to be concerned about.

 When I got to the Hospital, and told them what was up, and they took a first look, they told me it was a good sign that she was not vomiting, and semed in relatively good humor.

 

This was not the way we'd intended to celebrate Meow Like a Pirate Day.

I wonder, did Pirates ever get embarrassed when one of their exploits turned out, um, badly? ;-D

I had cut off the earlier thread, but by the time we got to the Hospital, another stool hung 2 inches out her back side, apparently looking for its missing companion.

Needless to say this was really embarrassing to the dainty Mistress of Pussydom.

Like totally, fer sure! ;-D

They took her in for xrays, and showed them to me afterwards.

Xrays showed the food she had eaten that evening, and that she had a gas build up, plus she really, really, needed to go pee, um, like an hour ago.

They could not really see any more thread beyond what was currenting sticking out her butt, but it was a good sign that no blood was seen, and no apparent intestinal, or abdominal, damage, was seen either.

 

They recommended anesthesizing her, giving her an enema, and seeing if they could pull  anymore string out of her.

This would have taken an hour to do and, if unsuccessful, surgery was always an option if required.

When they told me the cost involved, just for the sedation, and enema attempt, I knew that it was beyond my means, until next Friday, because all I had was the donations made to the 2 wonderful auctions held on her behalf.

 
I could not apply for their credit program, and this being my first visit they didn't know me enough to trust I'd pay on Friday, even if their policies would have allowed it (Quite Understandable, though frustrating to me.) 

So they told me what they COULD do based on what funds I could afford to pay, and I agreed.

After, um, gently, pulling another 4 inches of thread out of a very annoyed Elvira's butt (They said she cursed like a pirate, the whole time, hee, hee!), this time with no need to cut as this bit came out unattached to anything behind it, they gave her a subcutanious injection of fluids to make her relieve herself, and gave me a small bottle of Antibiotics, and a dropper, and instructions to watch her closely for vomiting, and feed her wet food, and make sure she has access to water (Hopefully the wet food, and water, will help her pass whatever may be left of the string along with her stools.).

If there is still no bowel movement by late Sunday afternoon, they said I should call them.

I may have to take her to our regular vet on Monday morning as a precaution.

She was given a souvenir DVD of her xrays, which we can show our vet. ;-D 

Oh, and  she now weighs almost 8 lbs! ;-D

So we headed home, on the last bus, and when we arrived, I hugged her, and gave her a loving, but worried, talking to.

Then I took the Cat Tower, and tossed it in the dumptster, afterwards explaining to Nikita everything I'd learned, and why the Tower had to go.

He took it rather well, considering, but this morning he has several times leaped on my desk, prepared to jump to the top of the tower, only to remember that it was gone.

Undeterred, he decided that maybe he really could leap the extra height, and distance, to the top of the nearby bookshelf, instead...an idea which I've busily discouraged him from attempting several times already today. ;-D

I will have to find a safe, and appropriate, alternative scratch pad for Elvira, plus research safe alternative climbing perches for the Kitties to sleep, and play on.

This morning she turned down a portion of Fancy Feast Elegant Medley, Shredded Yellow Fin Tuna in Broth, energetically trying to bury it (Not shocking, really, as she is not used to wet food, and turned down other attempts to get her interested.). ;-D

She did eat a little when I mixed it with a little of her dry, but she caught on real fast, and tried to bury that, too! ;-D

She's peed, and been playful, and got pissed off when I gave her the antibiotics, and may have pooped, but I can't be sure because the only poop is in a box she, and Nikita, have both used this morning.

At least no string is sticking out her butt, she's not scooting around, and not licking herself down there.

She's been napping for the last hour, and so has Nikita, but with one eye open, watchful for signs of any trouble.

***UPDATE - 6PM***

History in the making!

Be there, or be square!

The very first blog post by Miss Elvira!

Elvira Explains Herself: A 100 Word Cat Story

***END UPDATE***

***UPDATE 2 - 845PM***

OK, it's official...Elvira has found a Wet Food that is suitable to her very, um, discriminating, tastes...

Bumble Bee Chunk Light Tuna in Water.

She just ate 1/2 a can. ;-D

***END UPDATE***

***UPDATE 3 - 9/20***

Kitty City Gazette Exclusive Exposes! - Absolute MUST reads!

Not many cats are aware of the very real dangers of string and yarn addiction

Support Grows For Limiting String in Local Schools 

***END UPDATE***



Comments

[jansfunnyfarm]

Poor Elvira.

What a trial.

Guess it wasn't too much fun for you either.

Glad you made the last bus home and didn't have to walk in the middle of the night.

[Sparkle]

Oh, purrs to Elvira - she did not have a fun evening!

I am keeping my paws crossed that the less-invasive treatment she got at the emergency clinic is all that she needs and the string has passed.

That would be best for all involved - both Elvira and her human's pocketbook!

Sisal and cardboard scratchers are probably best for claws, and for climbing, maybe consider installing some cat shelves - you can check some out here: http://www.therefinedfeline.com/.

That way you wouldn't need thready, stringy, carpet stuff.

[Lee County Clowder]

Purrrss to Elvira and her bean.

We're all hoping everything came out OK for you.

Be careful with strings, El-virus. They can be fun to play with, but they can do all kinds of nasty things to your insides if you eat them.

[KC]

Hee hee, reading tha comment above, hoping effurryfing came out okay... tee hee.

Yes, Elvira, I haf also sampled string.

Not a good fing to do unless you want peoples poking around on yours belleh.

I had to lick lots of butter, too, that was pretty yummy.

Mommy ML buys special surgical string fur mine "flying" toys, just in case I eats it again.

I don't know what it is about strings, but they is so delicious looking, us torties just can't resist.

Hope you feel better, Elvira.

Love & Purrs,
KC

[Everycat]

Gosh Elvira, that's no way to spend a Saturday night, & Sunday morning.

Sorry you had a nasty string incident.

We all hope that you are fixed up good now, and your Dad can find a safer scratch pad solution for you.

Maybe your Dad could fix a couple of them to a wall if you prefer a vertical scratch n' stretch?

Could your Dad rescue the cat tower and maybe recover it with carpet tiles?

Some carpet tiles have a foamy backing rather than the stringy one.

Whicky Wuudler

[PDX pride]

We're only partway through catching up on your blog, so we'll refrain from commenting on your poopie situation until we read if it's been resolved or not.

We can, however, comment on the string situation.

Sisal scratching posts are great, but not the ones with the rope-type sisal (because that creates the same problem, just with a different material.

But the sisal that's woven into a mat is great!

Cardboard scratchers also work wonderfully, although it's a different feel that may take you a bit to get used to (and some of them are messy, as the cardboard gets torn into little bits that float around the house if not taken care of right away).