Malfoy's Excellent Adventure

[ellid]

The ingrown claw looked really bad this morning, so after Una and I tried (and failed) to take care of the problem ourselves, I stuffed him into the carrier and took him to the emergency vet. Ninety minutes and $202 later, I learned the following:

1. He weighs less than Siren. Considering how he steals her food, this was a major surprise. I guess him running around like an idiot being more active than she is must be a factor as well.

2. He is otherwise perfectly healthy.

3. The claw had grown completely around and into his foot, so it had be completely removed. He is now on antibiotics (fun!) and must have his foot soaked a couple of times ago (even more fun!).

4. He must wear an Elizabethan collar for the next few days. How I am supposed to accomplish *this* without clubbing him into a stupor is beyond me. He wouldn't allow the vet to put it on him at the office, and slipped out of it *twice* since I got him home at 2:00. Right now he's under the bed, sulking, while my knees bleed from being clawed through my clothes.

Note: the clothes are intact. I am not. ?????

5. He is "neurologically and mentally appropriate."

Yes, you read that right. According to the examination report, he is "mentally appropriate."

Malfoy-the-cat, who is too dumb to kill a katydid, is "mentally appropriate."

Riiiiight.




I am now headed to Petco in quest of a collar that the little demon might tolerate. If anyone is interested in a used, not particularly intelligent flamepoint Siamese mix, I'm open to offers....

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Okay, I will stop complaining about the sulfur-lime baths and daily pills on my monster. I can't imagine trying to keep an Elizabethan collar on a Siamese.

Good luck.

Since you're supposed to be protecting the paw, maybe instead of the collar, you could try wrapping it in that self-sticky medical tape they use nowadays? I bet he'd be really annoyed by trying to lick it off.

[samantha-vimes.livejournal.com]

He is smart enough to figure out how to claw you without ruining your clothes.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Cat claws are like needles, which also can pierce clothing without tearing it. Sounds like he dug in, as opposed to raking. Or dug in first and then raked, but at that point the needlepoints are already on the inside of the fabric.

Cat claws = no fun + much pain

Glad he's doing better now (and you too!)

[orphandani.livejournal.com]

About #4: if he's not messing with his foot/toe, I wouldn't worry about trying to keep a lampshade on the kitty. But by now, it's probably a moot point. (I really am late in catching up with my other world...)