I took the day off of work on Thursday to take Thunder(cat) to the vet – along with other errands. \u00a0It didn’t go great.<\/p>\n
Thunder was fine with wearing a collar and was okay getting into the cat carrier. \u00a0He was okay with being taken out to the car – but he freaking hated the car ride. \u00a0He yowled like it was the end of the world the entire time. \u00a0I reached back to try and comfort him \u00a0while I was driving, but he wasn’t having any of it.<\/p>\n
I got him to the vet and took him inside and set the carrier on a chair. \u00a0I was signing in when he slammed against the wall of the carrier and managed to knock the carrier onto the floor.<\/p>\n
I am the worst pet parent ever.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Thunder has inflamed gums. \u00a0In spite of the previous tests the vet has done, he doesn’t know what is causing it. \u00a0Thunder is a good eater and has no trouble with dry food or treats. \u00a0Plenty of energy, no trouble with the litter box, and seemingly fine.<\/p>\n
But, he’s got those inflamed gums and bad breath.<\/p>\n
So, the treatment – according to the vet – is to pull all his teeth.<\/p>\n
I asked if there were other options – brushing his teeth, etc. – but the vet made a remark about not relying on Dr. Google. \u00a0Thinking, I guess, that this is a popular suggestion on the internet for feline gingivitis – and that I shouldn’t rely on that.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
I didn’t make the appointment yet for the extraction – instead I’m going to get a second opinion. \u00a0I’m not generally one to question a doctor – they have more training than I do – but this just didn’t sit well with me.<\/p>\n
I got a grateful cat back into his carrier and listened to him yowl all the way home. \u00a0When 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.<\/p>\n
It wasn’t just the bad news, it was just kind of a lack of empathy. \u00a0Thunder(cat) is a my little furry buddy (LFB) and I don’t want him hurting. \u00a0Just… I don’t know.<\/p>\n
—————————-<\/p>\n
I drove down to visit my folks yesterday morning. \u00a0It was early when I got on the road – just a little after 5 – and it was just me and the truckers on the highway.<\/p>\n
I had some music on – mostly Sia – and while the drive itself was uneventful, it did give me far too much time to think.<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0FTL travel, zombies, lasers, superheroes, origami, etc. \u00a0 \u00a0But in a car, by myself, on the empty road in the dark, well… it started to bring me down. \u00a0I starting thinking about work and then the sort of general stress of life we all have – yard, house, car, family, etc. \u00a0Then I thought about Jeff and ran through the thousands of what-if’s I’ve already been through before. \u00a0 \u00a0Couldn’t seem to kick myself out of the brooding.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0Just 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”.<\/p>\n
Not sure the fix here, perhaps I just need to sleep in and get a later start to the day and the car ride.<\/p>\n
Or bring my cat. \u00a0I’m sure the constant yowling for 2+ hours will keep me distracted. \u00a0But, then, I don’t want him to be depressed.<\/p>\n
The visit has been a good one otherwise – my nieces are fun and we’ve had some good food and played games.<\/p>\n
I’ll be heading back to Akron later today \u00a0– in the daylight – and resolve to keep the music (and hopefully my mood) lighter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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