I took the day off of work on Thursday to take Thunder(cat) to the vet – along with other errands. It didn’t go great.
Thunder was fine with wearing a collar and was okay getting into the cat carrier. He was okay with being taken out to the car – but he freaking hated the car ride. He yowled like it was the end of the world the entire time. I reached back to try and comfort him while I was driving, but he wasn’t having any of it.
I got him to the vet and took him inside and set the carrier on a chair. I was signing in when he slammed against the wall of the carrier and managed to knock the carrier onto the floor.
I am the worst pet parent ever.
We got him into the exam room and I got him out of the carrier and held him while the tech checked his weight and asked a few questions.
The vet came in a little later and gave him a shot and then a perfunctory exam as if to verify that yes, he’s still a cat – then checked his teeth.
Thunder has inflamed gums. In spite of the previous tests the vet has done, he doesn’t know what is causing it. Thunder is a good eater and has no trouble with dry food or treats. Plenty of energy, no trouble with the litter box, and seemingly fine.
But, he’s got those inflamed gums and bad breath.
So, the treatment – according to the vet – is to pull all his teeth.
I asked if there were other options – brushing his teeth, etc. – but the vet made a remark about not relying on Dr. Google. Thinking, I guess, that this is a popular suggestion on the internet for feline gingivitis – and that I shouldn’t rely on that.
Now, I don’t want to brush my cat’s teeth and I can guaran-damn-tee that Thunder doesn’t want that either – but I’ll do it if it will make a difference.
I didn’t make the appointment yet for the extraction – instead I’m going to get a second opinion. I’m not generally one to question a doctor – they have more training than I do – but this just didn’t sit well with me.
I got a grateful cat back into his carrier and listened to him yowl all the way home. When I set the carrier down in the house and opened the door, he peeked out and then stepped out with what I’m sure was relief.
It wasn’t just the bad news, it was just kind of a lack of empathy. Thunder(cat) is a my little furry buddy (LFB) and I don’t want him hurting. Just… I don’t know.
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I drove down to visit my folks yesterday morning. It was early when I got on the road – just a little after 5 – and it was just me and the truckers on the highway.
I had some music on – mostly Sia – and while the drive itself was uneventful, it did give me far too much time to think.
I tend to be “in my head” quite a bit and that’s not a bad thing – it’s pretty cool in there with interesting things to think about. FTL travel, zombies, lasers, superheroes, origami, etc. But in a car, by myself, on the empty road in the dark, well… it started to bring me down. I starting thinking about work and then the sort of general stress of life we all have – yard, house, car, family, etc. Then I thought about Jeff and ran through the thousands of what-if’s I’ve already been through before. Couldn’t seem to kick myself out of the brooding.
As the sun began to come up, I switched the music to something a little cheerier (I really need to download some J-pop) and the mood started to lighten as the sky did.
I was pretty much over it by the time I got to my destination, but for a little while I was stuck in a funk. Just kind of a sad little car trip – reminded me of Douglas Adams describing the unfortunate immortality of Wowbagger the Infinately Prolonged as “the Long, Dark, Tea-time of the Soul”.
Not sure the fix here, perhaps I just need to sleep in and get a later start to the day and the car ride.
Or bring my cat. I’m sure the constant yowling for 2+ hours will keep me distracted. But, then, I don’t want him to be depressed.
The visit has been a good one otherwise – my nieces are fun and we’ve had some good food and played games.
I’ll be heading back to Akron later today – in the daylight – and resolve to keep the music (and hopefully my mood) lighter.