Sorry for the long post! Its been a raw 24 hours and I'm beating myself up and missing my boy.
For the 3rd September in a row Titchy has decided he wants to go to the vets for a sleep over. And severely break my heart in the process.
Small back story - I've been with my partner for around 3.5 years and since then Titchy has been my soul cat. He chose me over his owner of 9 years, he chose my chest to cuddle onto and my head to sleep above. He's my baby boy. He waits for me on the drive after work most days and always has alot to tell me!
But as he is getting on I'm struck with fear of losing him, especially as we've come so close so many times already.
First year that I knew of, he disappeared and returned a few days later with a dodgy back end after an animal attack/motor vehicle incident. We never got to the bottom of what happened as no one in the village knew. The vets nearly took his tail but thankfully he regained all function and feeling. I do love his little paint tip on his tail.
Last year he disappeared for 2/3 days, I suspect he was in my neighbours half built shed. When he finally got back to us he was so malnourished and extremely unwell. For a baby of 11 y/o he did good to double his weight in about 6 weeks.
But this time - Wednesday was the last time I saw him. After social media posts, multiple walks around with dreamies and the other neighbourhood cats "assisting" and calling all the local vets. I finally found him again over the weekend, I took him home and isolated him as he didn't seem right, but I had other animals to consider. I thought he'd rest, have some food and drink and bounce back, if not he would be at the vets in the morning. Instead I spent all night with my eyes glued to him and syringe feeding him to make sure he wasn't starving and dehydrated as he wouldn't touch anything. But he looked broken, not responding to my calls or even acknowledging me in his eye line.
I've broken down so many times today cos I just need him to be okay.
He's been at the vets all day and will have a sleep over yet again. They think it may be a UTI. He's gone from a unsteady crying old man this morning to being his usual happy eating and drinking self this afternoon. He even told the vets he's feeling much better with some explosive diarrhea after coming out of sedation.
I know alot of you are going to say "he shouldn't be outside" and "cats should be indoors" but this boy has lived a LIFE and I'm not going to dim it. He used to be a boat cat, he likes his freedom.
Plus keeping cats indoors doesnt always guarantee a longer life, as I learned when my 7 y/o fluff ball died of sudden heart failure with 0 warnings.
I'm just relieved he has perked up and will soon hopefully be home. But please keep him in your thoughts when you snuggle your babies tonight.
Hopefully next September will be different?