A kitty just adopted my family

[Maestro]

We found her last Friday. She had an infection on her neck from at least three puncture wounds. All were infected and filled with puss. Otherwise she seemed in good health. We took her to the vet the next day. We cleaned her up, started the antibiotic treatment and today she went back to the vet for a follow-up. Everything seems fine although a small surgery might be necessary to remove the rest of the infecttion. Apparently a small puss filled sack may have formed in her neck that will need to be removed. We are continuing the antibiotic in the hopes that the sack will disappear. We also have her scheduled to be spade. Here are some pics. I haven't had a cat since I was a teenager.

Her name is Patches.

[LaurenG]

1. Aww - what a lovely kitty and a wonderful thing you did.

:)

[Maestro]

22. Thanks

and it was an easy decision. I can't stand to see animals suffer needlessly.

[liberaldemocrat7]

49. What a beautiful cat. I hope the infections go away.

Thank you for giving the cat a home.

[Maestro]

56. No problem.

She seems to be a great cat. She is playing with my daughter right now chasing an old tie of mine from the late 80s. It (the tie) needs to find a good use. :)

[fizzgig]

2. what a pretty girl

thanks for taking her in

[Maestro]

23. And now I can participate in kitty threads

as well as dog threads. :thumbsup:

[BarenakedLady]

3. She's gorgeous!

Thanks for giving her a home.

[Maestro]

24. Have I given her a home or

has she taken it over? ;) :hi:

[jobycom]

4. I love Patches!

Beautiful kitty!

Here's my Amber. No link to yours. I just like kitty threads. And they are both calicos.

[Maestro]

18. Well at least there two cats in Texas

with progressive owners (servants) :rofl: :hi:

[Roon]

36. Here is my 23-year-year old calico kitty

[jobycom]

37. Wow, what a smart cat.

She looks ready to tell you the secrets of the world, only she knows you wouldn't understand them. Perfect example of why the Egyptians thought of cats as wise and intelligent.

[Maestro]

38. 23!?!?!?!?!?!

Wow. What a cat!

[KT2000]

47. She still looks good too!

That is really amazing - 23 years!
I sense some attitude - that must be it!
(pretty girl)

[Eurobabe]

53. your cat is 23?? wow, that's amazing...

my oldest is now almost 16, but he's in good health -- other than being stone deaf. :hi:

[Roon]

67. My ex has had her since he was 15

When we broke up, I begged him to let me keep her. And he did!!!

[TZ]

5. Patches is adorable!!

How wonderful it was that you did this. There is nothing nicer than being owned by a cat, IMO.:)

[Maestro]

21. "Being owned by a cat..."

That is funny. The second night she spent with us she got mad at me I think because she insisted on sleeping next to my head on my pillow. I am all for a close-knit family but I draw the line there. She can sleep at my feet but not my head. Anyhow, I finally picked her up and put her in her bed. She then proceeded to meow and meow until I had to put her outside where she slept on our patio table. She hasn't tried that since. :rofl:

[Richard Steele]

6. What a lovely girl.

And how lucky for you, to have her choose you
to be her servants-for-life! You must be special.

[Maestro]

17. Funny

But so true. :rofl:

[SeattleGirl]

7. She's a beauty!

And good on you for rescuing her and giving her a good home!

[Maestro]

16. Thank you so much.

It was an easy decision. :hi:

[zanne]

8. I love Calicos!

What a beautiful girl. Thank you for adopting her!

[Maestro]

14. The only other cat I have had was a Tabby

that my family got in the 70s. Her mom was a calico and to this day I remember the mommy calico not liking the fact that we were taking one of her kittens.

[meow2u3]

9. What a pretty calico!

The good Lord knew exactly who would love that kitty--you! It's no coincidence; cats know who loves them.

That's exactly how I ended up with my Ruby--she adopted me (check my sig pic)!

[Maestro]

12. You have a cutie too.

She wouldn't leave our backyard so I finally went over to her and she rolled on her back, a sign of sumbission I suppose, and then I picked her up. She immediately started purring. She had me from that point on. :)

[meow2u3]

29. What's special is that she picked you

eom

[SoCalDem]

10. Such a pretty girl ..You are all lucky to have found each other

:)

[Maestro]

11. Thanks. She has a great personality.

She is really fun.

[SoCalDem]

13. My calico is a drooling MANIAC

and she's as mellow as a wound up spring..:shrug: but we love her anyway :)

[Maestro]

15. That description sort of reminds me

of your McCain pic in your sig. :rofl: I am sure your cat is much smarter though.

[SoCalDem]

19. Come to think of it, she IS a bit McCainish

She NEVER gives up.. I'll put her off my lap 10 times in a row, and she'll bounce right back up.. I would not mind holding her, but she drools and then there are the claws.. She is a kneader to the OCD magnitude and she uses every claw she has.. She will even knead the tile floor :)

[txwhitedove]

20. Lucky you! She is beautiful.

[Maestro]

27. Thanks -nt

[Inchworm]

25. How Cute!

Here is another "Patches."

This one is still looking for a home. I'm sooooo close to giving in. It has Calico, tabby and tortie all in one. :D



:hi:

[Maestro]

26. She is adorable

and does look like one heck of a mix.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

28. Those eyes are fantastic!

She looks so relaxed and indulgent in that last pic.
And those markings are so peculiar and beautiful.
Duckie

[Maestro]

58. Aren't they?

I just love the color of calicos. Thanks for looking and commenting.

[hyphenate]

30. She's purty!

Calicos are always pretty--my little girl died last year. :(

I hope she gets better soon!

[stuntcat]

31. omg you are an Angel!

She is too, she's so beautiful. I'm so glad she came to the right people to help her! :hug:

[Maestro]

34. I didn't do much.

And she is a pleasure to have around (except when she is sharpening her claws on my furniture). ;)

[MissMillie]

32. she's gorgeous

and she's lucky to have found you

[Maestro]

33. Thank you so much

:hug:

[Roon]

35. Awww, kisses for Patches

You are lucky and she is lucky you found each other!! :o

[Maestro]

39. Thanks.

She is really good with my kids as well. She permits quite a bit of poking and proding. :)

[YDogg]

40. She's a beauty!

:hi:

[havocmom]

41. She is a gift from the fates

Your family is blessed for kindness to her. She will be the blessing herself.

Mark my words, she will be a very important part of your lives.

[LibertyLover]

42. Awww - she is very pretty

Regarding the infection, please watch it carefully even though you are giving her antibiotics. Several years ago, our Siberian Husky was toothed by another dog while at a boarding kennel. We didn't realize it until a week or so later a large lump appeared on his size. We took him to the vet's and they found the tooth mark and the infection. They drained it and put him on antibiotics, pretty sure that it would go away. Unfortunately, it didn't and came back. It was drained twice and the vet suggested that the best idea would be to go in and surgically remove the cyst so that it didn't fill up again. Well, my husband got a call from the surgeon from the operating room - the infection had penetrated beyond the cyst, was in the fat layer of his abdomen and that if it had gotten into the abdomen what did we want her to do with the dog? My husband told her to do everything that could be done to save him. Luckily the infection had not penetrated the abdominal wall, but he was a sick puppy for a week or so.

Wishing you and Patches many happy years together.

[Maestro]

57. Thank you LibertyLover.

The penetration marks look like they could be teeth marks as well, from what, I don't know. It was probably another cat defending its territory. Anyhow, what you describe is basically what the vet is worried about. This vet is great. He has seen all of our animals for about 10 years now. If we have to do surgery. We are going to do it. We are prepared. Somebody dumped this beautiful little cat and we are going to do everything we can to ensure a quality life.

We do the same for other animals. About 10 years ago, before my wife and I had kids, on a run through our then neighborhood we noticed a goose visiting our local neighborhood pond. It had a horribly infected foot that was wrapped in fishing line. We captured it the next day and put in a dog carrier and then took it to a bird rescue here in the Dallas area.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

43. How serendipitous that she chose you!

She's adorable, reminds me of a cat I once had, Spot. Calicos are lovely.

[Maestro]

59. Spot was our second choice for a name.

In the end we went for Patches. :hi:

[ellie]

44. I enjoy a nice kitty

I have been adopted by four kitties and a puppy.

[legally blonde]

45. she's beautiful!

You did a wonderful thing. :bounce: :hi:

[KT2000]

46. perfect name for her!

SHe is really pretty!
She looks pretty comfy too. Congrats - and good luck with your training. :)

[spinbaby]

48. Lucky kitty

We just took in a stray, too. Unfortunately I don't think ours will live--he's extemely emaciated and lethargic and not getting better in spite of our (and our vet's) best efforts. Vet thinks he might have cancer.

[alittlelark]

50. She is BEAUTIFUL! You are a very lucky adoptive parent!

<PUUUURRRRR>

[Lasher]

51. Cats heal real fast

Sometimes they heal so fast an infection like that doesn't have a chance to drain. That happened to a cat of mine once. She had an infection like you describe, but on the top of her head. The vet had a tube of anti-biotic cream with a long plastic nozzle on it. He re-opened the wound and inserted the nozzle so he could squirt the cream into the sac under her skin.

He gave me the tube and told me I had to do that every day for I think it was a week. That was hard to do but if I hadn't done it she would have died. My wife said if it had been up to her the cat would have been history. The wound was just above her eye and the nozzle would go way back under her scalp.

It seemed odd that she never complained when I gave her a daily treatment. Surely it hurt, but she just held still and cooperated. I believe cats understand a lot more than we think they do.

Kinda gruesome story, but I hope this helps you understand what you're up against with the infection.

[Eurobabe]

52. Aw, she looks sweet Maestro!

Just make sure she stays home on your bird outings. :rofl:

Congrats, and hope you all enjoy each other. :hi:

[Maestro]

60. Funny you mentioned that.

I have already caught her once stalking some finches in my backyard. The finches didn't seem to mind though. :rofl:

[xchrom]

54. for Patches...

Dear God, you have given us care over all living things; protect and bless the animals who give us companionship and delight, make us their true friends and worthy companions. Amen.



Dear God, protect and bless all beings that breathe, keep all evil from them, and let them sleep in peace. Amen.
--Albert Schweitzer, "Memoirs of Childhood and Youth"


Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.
--Franciscan prayer


Patches, may you be blessed in the name of the Holy One who created you, and may you and Maestro and family enjoy life together and care for one another in peace.

[Maestro]

61. Thank you so much xchrom.

:hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

55. She's really beautiful - your life will be forever changed!

Thank you for helping this gorgeous beastie - and she will help you in many ways, as well.

[huskerlaw]

62. Congratulations!

She's lovely!

Thank you for taking care of her. :hug:

[GenDem]

63. What fabulous markings

Patches is a beauty.

We have a relatively new family member, too. We thought that he was a she, so my daughter named her Gypsy. We just learned a couple weeks ago that the name is not gender appropriate, so we renamed him Harry.

[AwakeAtLast]

64. We had a cat marked very similarly growing up

Beautful cat! She chose well! :hi:

[applegrove]

65. Lucky kitty.

[SoxFan]

66. Patchy Kitty!

What a pretty cat!

I had a calico named Patches when I was growing up. She looked a bit like your girl.

[Kajsa]

68. What a beautiful Calico!

Patches is a real cutie.
;-)

Thank you for rescuing her.
She's a lucky kitty to have such a good family.

:hug: :hi: