Sunday, January 8, 2012

He's baa-aack!

I received a phone call from the shelter on Friday afternoon wondering if I could pick up Wren. He's sick, she said. Upper respiratory.

A simple cold can be a death sentence for a cat at the shelter, where there is little room to treat an illness for a few weeks while the sweetie gets better. Of course, I went and picked him up right away. I had dropped him off a week and a half before that, thinking he would go for surgery and then be adopted.

Well, that poor baby was crying, and had ringworm in four or five places, and a few fleas, and a cold, and his eyes were all crusty and swollen. And he was dehydrated and hungry. I thought, good golly, what have you guys been doing with this poor baby for ten days? He hadn't gained one ounce! I went and checked in the kitten cottage, and everybody there was fat, happy, and healthy. I just decided Wren has delicate sensibilities...a "Prince and the Pea" type situation had developed, and he needed some good loving in a proper home.

Luckily, I had my carrier in the car that afternoon, and so I scooped up Wren and started driving home. Within a few blocks, he was scratching at the carrier door and reaching his poor little paw out as far as it would go and meowing and meowing. At the next stop light, I unlatched the gate, and that pitiful orphan leaped into my lap and started rolling like a crocodile, over-and-over-and-over. Purr, purr, purr, said Wren, and he was practically saying: "I thought you'd NEVER come back!"

So, we got home, and he ran right to where the food goes when it's time to eat. I put out a tin of chicken, and he wolfed down a bunch of it, drank for a while from the communal water bowl, everybody gave him a good sniff, and then it was bath time. I used a couple different types of soap, then dried him off in a big old towel. And I put ointment on his ringworm (which isn't really a worm...it's a fungal skin condition). And I cleaned out his ears really well and scrubbed all the crusties out of his eyes. I picked the fleas off his belly. We all loved on that kitten for the next few hours, and he curled up in bed next to Steve that night, and wouldn't you know it, he already looks good-as-new.

We'll have Wren for another week while he finishes his antibiotic, and then I'm hoping a Facebook campaign will help him find a home, so he can skip going back to kitty "jail." He just likes to be pampered, that's all. He's going to be a big old orange cat who likes to sleep on laps, and I know he'll make someone a wonderful pet. How lucky we get to borrow him for a little while longer.

(P.S. If you want to see what Wren looks like, take a peek at my previous blog post.)

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Theresa you are saint to help these helpless little kitties. I would have a hard time giving them up. Our bunny of 9 years died in my arms in April and I still haven't gotten over it...I would be heart broken I think to have to give them back.. You are so wonderful..

diamondc said...

I think he has found his home I really do, Steve do you not think he has found his home?
Come on kids Wren really likes it there, come on think about it.
So sorry I just could not help it I do wish I lived closer I would take him I live in Annandale, Mn.
just to far to travel.
Catherine

Lynn said...

I wish I could scoop him up myself! I've always wanted a big old orange cat.
Those folks at the shelter were just too busy to give him the extra lovin' he needed. Glad he's back with you now for some extra TLC!

Gabi said...

I hope you'll find him a loving home. Sounds like he is a pretty sensitive baby who doesn't thrive well in kitty jail.

robindefender said...

You'd better watch it! Sounds to me like Wren has already decided where his forever home should be.

Chris said...

Glad you rescued Wren again. I hope that he is healthy and in a new home soon :)

Karyn said...

Oh Theresa....you are the angel of mercy for these little guys! I agree with diamonddc, he seems to need you :) Maybe we can take up a campaign fund to pay for his care with you since it seems as though his home is your home :) LOL.
Hugs to you and Wren.
Ma

Debbie said...

Theresa...I don't know how you can give these sweeties up when adoption time comes! Although, goodness knows they can be a handful when they are well!

SharoninStitches said...

We love your stories. They are life-affirming. Thank you for all you do.
Love,
Beanie and Cecil and their mom, Sharon

Clara said...

Poor baby! Evil RW AND fleas! That's rough on the kitty baby boy! I'm glad he's feeling better. :) Life is tough when you are a little orange kitten.

P.J. said...

He is HOME. He knew right where to go to eat and cuddle. My heart aches for his heart ache he must have felt. Wish I was closer, I'd bring him home for my little Chewy to play with. She makes me smile every day, dragging her mouse around the house and up on the couch so that we will play with her. She is a lap kitty too!

Colleen said...

Theresa, Wren is at home...with you & the family. I don't think you are borrowing him for awhile. He has bonded with you! Looking forward to seeing Wren in a few weeks...curled up on your lap.

Teri said...

I agree with the others. Wren has already found his home, and he has chosen you. You are so blessed, and so are all the kitties in your life.

Kirby said...

Theresa KEEP HIM! First of all orange males are the biggest loves.
Besides what's one more. I use to rescue and am up to 7. But be careful. Ringworm is highly contagious, not only to your other cats, but to humans also. GOOD LUCK with your NEW baby!

kkrause said...

I would just love to have this orange kitten - they are my favorites!!!

LoriU said...

Oh Wren is SOOO cute. I wish DH liked cats and that DS was not allergic. Boo.