Adventures of Melissa Wood ~~ Pet Sitter, Traveler, Nature & Animal Lover, Photographer

Well this isn’t starting out good.  While walking through the gardens yesterday, I noticed once of the sprinkler heads leaking water.  Since we are in the middle of a drought and have water restrictions in place, this is not a good thing!

Fortunately, the property owners left me a list of “people to call in case of….”, so I have placed a call to the plumber.  He came out and unfortunately, had to turn off all of the outside water.  He can’t fix it today; has to get a part.  So I’ll be without outside water until probably Monday.  This means I have to lug water jugs around to water the critical flowers and plants that provide nectar and food for the hummingbirds and other birds and wildlife that are dependent on them.   Well, at least I get my workout!

Well today the property owners leave for their 4 month trip to their summer home in upper Minnesota.  After some doing, we managed to get the two other cats in the main house, into a cat carrier.  Harry thought that hiding under the bed would work; it actually took all 3 of us to get him out!  But in the carrier he went along with the other cat, Dickens.  Sadie (the dog), is also along for the journey so they have the 3 animals with them to keep them company.  Amadeus, will of course, stay here for the summer.  A 17 year old kitty does not travel that well and that would disrupt his system too much.  Besides, he and I have gotten to be quite close and I’m glad he’ll be with me here in the house!  But I will miss Sadie and the other 2 cats for sure. My house and pet sitting adventure officially begins today!

Last night, we heard some “extra noises” in the attic.  I’ve heard them on/off for the last month or so since I’ve been here.  Is it squirrels?  Rats?  Coons?  We’re not sure, but I’ll be calling the Pest Control folks so they can come out and take a look.

Well it only took 3 days.  The swelling, inflammation and redness surrounding Amadeus’ teeth and gums have improved at least 60-70%.  The Ars Alb really worked!  The pet owner has decided to cancel the appointment with the vet for the teeth cleaning.  Amadeus seems to be much better and is not being so careful and tender with his mouth now.  So this is good!

Well after researching and reading, I finally have decided on Ars Alb 30c to address Amadeus’ teeth issues.  Am starting that today in his water.  We have stopped the Nux Vomica and the Bach Flower remedies as he has completely recovered and there is no sign of any more issue like we had before.

We’ll see how the Ars Alb does for addressing his teeth.

Well the property owners came home today from Europe after being gone for 2 weeks.  They had a great time over there, but I think glad to be home anyway.  For the next week, they are packing for their 4 month trip to their summer home in upper Minnesota.

Everything around here is good.  With all the drama surrounding Amadeus and his illness, I have neglected to report on the other animals here.  There are two other cats in the house and the dog Sadie who got walked every day.  We took great walks along the San Antonio River everyday and I enjoyed watching the various bird life down there…there’s quite an assortment of herons and egrets and other birds that are around.   Then there is the 1 cat outside (Mittens) that got daily attention and then the 10 rescue cats (5 of which are visually impaired) in the guest house.  Everyone is healthy and happy and this pleases the property owners. 

Especially with regard to Amadeus.  The “Mrs.” says that he actually is better than he was before they left.  She can see a difference in his focusing; he doesn’t seem so “spacey” like he did originally and he has stopped pacing back and forth around and around the perimeter of the house.  He seems more content now and much more happy.  I have showed her how to administer the meds; still continuing the Nux Vomica and the Bach Flower Wild Rose and Olive. 

Apparently, they had an existing appointment at the vets office for Amadeus to get his teeth cleaned.  The owner has now decided that after all the trauma while they were gone and now that he has fully recovered, taking him to the vet to be put under anesthesia is probably NOT in his best interest.  I offer to help…perhaps there is a homeopathic remedy that I can give him that will help his teeth.

So I examine his teeth.  Gums are red and very swollen and puffy.  He has always had an issue with his teeth and in fact for being 17, is lucky he has any!  I can tell when he eats that it hurts him; his mouth is very tender and sore.  We have a week before his appointment, so I’m going to do some research and figure out what remedy to give him.

BOTH cats are now doing really well.  I believe Amadeus has totally recovered.  I stopped the Nux Vomica once; he threw up again later that day.  So I’m back to giving it to him in his water, 3-4 times a day.  I”m still also continuing with the Bach Flowers Wild Rose and Olive.  Like the homeopathic, I stopped them once and then he got lethargic and acted like he was giving up again.  So I have started them again as well.  He apparently still needs them and as long as he is recuperating, I will continue to give them to him.  He perked right back up after I gave them to him again, so I will continue them as it’s obvious from his behavior that he still needs them.

I’ve been back to my old apartment several times over the last few days.  I’ve been checking on my feral kitty that I had befriended when I lived there.  He’s got that huge abcess on his head and it’s slowly draining, but I keep having to lance that area with a safety pin to get the pus pocket to continually drain.  It is draining, but only a little bit at a time, so each day I poke him with the pin and he keeps letting me do it!  The swelling is slowly subsiding, and I know he is doing much better.  I’m still continuing the homeopathics in his water.

Well I went to check on my apartment cat that I’ve been working with the last few days.  His fever is gone, so the Belladonna 30c worked it’s magic and got him over that.  But he still has a giant puffy place on his head where the pus is stuck.  I don’t have any choice; I have to lance it.  So I bring my alcohol swabs and a giant safety pin.  I was able to finally stick his head with it and get to the place where the pus is located.  Finally started to drain.  He was so tolerant of me doing this…this isn’t normal behavior for a feral cat!  But I think he obviously was in pain and uncomfortable and since I’ve worked on him before, he trusts me and knew I was trying to help.  All the while, purring like a kitten.

So it is draining now.  Continuing the homeopathics in his water to keep the infection down and to help make sure it doesn’t get any worse.

Well I think we’re over the worst of Amadeus’ illness.  He’s moving around a bit, drinking (without me forcing it down his throat) and eating a bit.  Giving him chopped up chicken with tuna juice all over it.  And of course, continuing the homeopathics and flowers.  He gets those in water, 4-5 times a day.  The Nux Vomica really has helped…he’s not vomiting anymore…hasn’t in 2 days ever since I switched the remedy.  He must really need this one!  And I’m going to keep giving it to him as obviously, it’s helping.

So after 5 days of emails back and forth to Europe keeping my property owners apprised of his condition, I get to finally write an email that is more encouraging and to let her know that it looks like he’s over the hump!

Well I talked with the property owners this morning.  She said that since she’s done LOTS of cat rescue work over the years, that it was almost expected that at some point, I would have to rescue a kitty.  So of course, “bring him to the house and this is what you do…..”, etc., etc.  So I went over to my friend Joe’s house and picked up “Parker” and brought him back here.

After a bath (he wasn’t very happy), I set him up in a large crate in the dining room with some kitten formula, small amount of wet food and some bedding and stuffed animals.  I also, snooped around online thinking perhaps someone had lost him.  I posted on Craigslist hoping to find his owner.  Can you believe it….a lady emailed me and said that if I didn’t get a response to let her know…she’s been looking for an orange/white stripey cat! 

So I met DiAnne at HEB later today and she adopted Parker!  She used to be a Vet Tech and has lots of animal experience and he was just what she was looking for.  So less than 24 hours, Parker has been adopted and has a new home!  YAY!

Well Amadeus survived the night and I’m so unbelievably grateful.  I really thought at one point during the night that the next time I got up to check on him, that he would have died.  But he made it!  I got up almost every 2 hours to check on him and force a little water down his throat (with the homeopathics and Flower Remedies mixed in with the water). 

He seems a little better this morning.  It’s hard for me to explain, but his energy has shifted somehow.  I’m changing the homeopathic remedy that I was giving him.  I’m going to switch from Merc Cor to Nux Vomica 30c.  I only have pellets so I’m dissolving 1 pellet in water. I also have decided to stop the flower remedy Clematis.  So I’m mixing in the Nux Vomica, Olive and Wild Rose in some water.  Then giving him a dropper ful of that, every couple of hours.  We’ll see how that does.

Well the 17 year old cat that is one of the many cats that I am pet sitting for, is not doing well at all.  He has stopped eating and drinking.  He’s extremely lethargic and I know he’s dehydrated. 

I have started forcing water down his throat with a 1 oz. dropper.  I’m probably only getting in 20-30 drops at a time, but I know it is better than nothing.  I am now also giving him Bach Flower Remedies.  I feel that part of his illness is partly due to the emotional stress he is under because his “family” is now in Europe.  So now in his water I am putting, Wild Rose (for giving up and showing no interest in getting better), Olive (for the suffering of this illness that he has endured for days), and Clematis (he seems really “spacey” and out of it).  I am also continuing with the homeopathic I started yesterday.

I’m not sure if he will make it through the night.

Well I guess the Universe feels I need yet ANOTHER cat to take care of.  I’m not sure why; my pet sitting job is quite detailed already with 3 cats and a dog in the main house, the outside cat Mittens and then the 10 cats in the guesthouse!  But, today in between running around to my old apartment and taking care of my old “apartment cat” and then going back downtown to take care of Amadeus, I went to Office Max to get something.  When I came out, I looked across the parking lot towards my car and I see this orange “blur” thing.  What is that?

Turns out, it’s a orange-white stripey kitty.  Well I can’t leave him here.  So in the car with me he went.  I have not had this discussion with the property owners….can I bring in an outside cat to care for?  I needed to ask them before bringing a stray home.  So I called my friend Joe, who I sort of manipulated into taking.  LOL.  He couldn’t resist this face!  I have named him “Parker” (because I found him in a parking lot and it’s as close as I could get!).  Here’s a pic:

Parker-The Rescued Kitten

Well the spot on his head that I had drained yesterday is MUCH better, but he now has a fever.  He doesn’t feel well, I can tell.  I took him some food and he’s not that interested in eating the dry, but I can get him to eat the wet food.  I mixed up a blend of homeopathics for him to help him through this:  Arnica 200c (for the injury), Staphysagria 200c (to help ensure it doesn’t get infected), Hepar Sulph 200c (to help abcess drain), Inflammation (calm down the inflammation), and Belladonna 200c (to address his fever).  I put it on his food and left the bottle with my friend so she can dose him more regularly in his water.

Well the vet finally called me at 6pm…and on a Friday!  Wants me to come get some medication for Amadeus.  But now?!  On a Friday night when they close in 1/2 hour?  I can’t make it there with traffic issues.  To say I’m furious and disappointed is an understatement.  I think perhaps she knows that now from my tone of voice on the phone!

This afternoon since I had still not heard from her, I called the property owners in Europe.  The Mrs.  is VERY upset with the vet and has asked me if I would work on Amadeus using natural therapies.  Since I am a Naturopath and for years have helped my clients with some of their animals, I decided to try homeopathy.  I started him on Merc Cor because of his diarrhea.  So I gave him a dose tonight.  Also put him on Slippery Elm herb, 1/2 capsule sprinkled over his food that he is “sort-of” eating.  Wants to drink ALOT too and then he throws up; it’s a vicious cycle. 

On another note, a friend from my old apartment complex called today.  Apparently the feral cat that I had befriended over there has gotten in a nasty cat fight.  She called me concerned and didn’t know what to do. I had given him some homeopathic and natural remedies in the past when this had happened.  So I went over to take a look at him.  She was right…his head and face were all VERY swollen….his eyes almost swollen shut.  He had several lacerations on his head that have scabbed over, but had abcessed; the pus couldn’t get out.   I remembered from the past that I had used Hepar Sulph to get out the abcess.  I picked the scab off from the right side of his face and I gave him a dose of Hepar Sulph 200c.  Within minutes, the yellow pus started to drain out.  He was a good sport about it; let me push on his head and force it to all “drain” out.  I tried getting the main scab on top of his head, but he had enough of me!  So I decided to call it a day and check on him tomorrow.

Well I’ve left 3 messages for the Vet.  I knew that yesterday was her day off, but she told me the day before that even though she was off yesterday, she would still return my phone calls.  I haven’t heard from her.  I left 2 messages yesterday and another one this morning.  Not sure what to do at this point, so I’m calling the property/pet owners in Europe to find out if she wants me to take him to another vet.

Well today is Day 2 after the property owners left for Europe.  This is not good as their elderly cat is still very sick.  I’ve talked to the Vet twice; she doesn’t seem very concerned and has not asked me to bring him in.  Apparently, this is something that they’ve gone through with him before.  So I’m trying to get him to eat, but he keeps vomiting and having diarrhea.  I know he’s getting dehydrated.  I’m set to talk to her later today, so we’ll see what other advice she has for me.

Well today is THE day.  They are off to go to Europe for two weeks.  I hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come, but their elderly cat Amadeus, was very ill last night.  Lots of diarrhea and vomiting.  Perhaps he just picked up the “energy” around here and knows they are leaving.  They do go through this routine every year, so I think perhaps the animals have a way of knowing what’s going on.   But I sure hope he doesn’t stay sick!  Apparently, he has gone through this before; he’s had Pancreatitis in the past and actually almost died.  I’m hoping we don’t have some kind of relapse while they are gone.  This is not the way to start out a pet sitting assignment!