Linda
1st August 2010, 11:52 AM
I have posted before and after pictures of Tomas.....
As you know we have quite a few cats here and Tomas joined us some years ago...here is his story.
A white cat was patrolling the perimeter. When Jeff once saw him in the lane he asked him his name...he ran off!
A regular visitor he wouldnt come too near and would watch. This might be the reaon for some of the cats coming home looking bedraggled - presumbably following fisticuffs with Tomas, he didnt have a name then.
We asked the local CP if they could help and we were given some help towards neutering but told it would be difficult to find him a home. So we agreed to look out for him and feed him.
Winter was approaching and I was worrying about this little creature being out there...so Jeff said he would put up the cat chalet we already had from when we lived in Machester. we had bought this for a little cat called Mister who had joined me in cartmel and I was nervous about him being in a city. He never went in it and was absolutely fine being a very street wise little man! We did use it for a cat called Monty...who I will tell you about another time.
So I set the trap for this little white cat and very soon he was caught...his appetite has always been extra good!! :)
Oh! what a shock....his head was full of gashes and cuts and he was in a state! Down to the island vet.... Back we came with meds for him and although he was very friendly towards me immediately he was not going to have anything to do with meds!!! NO!! was his final answer...so using his voracious appetite I put the meds on there....
'yum! yum! like my breakfast! Very tasty what do you make it with?'
'Oh! a little receipe of my own..hope you enjoy?'...
'Yes very much!'
:)
Unfortunately we couldnt let him out of this cat chalet since as soon as any cat came near he was on their backs and fighting.
He was in there for a while as we thought we would find him a home...winter came and I asked Jeff if he could move the chalet indoors to the sun room ..that way he would see us and the cats frequently and that might help his socialisation...added to which it would be wamer...and we could make the run area bigger.
He loved that...areas high up....platforms to lay on and watch the world go by whilst he lavished in comfort warmth and food...oh! yes he had a bed heater and an overhead heater..he was as warm as toast! (Whilst our electric bill went up!)
The we took on some kittens who needed homes - we managed to find homes for three and still have two of them. Minnie, the female is a great socialite! She loves meeting new cats and people and is wonderful at creating friendships even with the most grumpy of cats! She is also the best hunter I have ever come across and the tiniest of cats!!!! Mice, voles,birds, rats-any size! Whilst I hate it I am amazed at her abilities...she can even catch a bird in flight..we have seen her do it!! A leap of some several feet from standing...
Well one day we came home and she was in the run with Tomas...'Oh! heck' I shouted to Jeff is she alright...imaging that Tomas will have attacked her....but no...he was quite happy and she was laid out on one of the platforms sleeping.
well...after a few attempts at trying to pach up areas we thought she was accessing his run...it never stopped her and eventually we gave up. Some weeks of this and Tomas seemed to welcome her attentions and visits. They even played together him on one side of the run fencing and her the other, laying on their backs tapping paws underneath the gaps.
Then the time came when Tomas got out, using her route presumbably!
We came home and he was out! On checking all the cats...nothing was amiss?? Weird? SO we thought maybe just maybe her magic had worked? We tried a few times after that letting him out when we came home...he was excited at being in the house and bounded about the place...everyone else was on edge and ready for an attack...but it never came?
That was it...we didnt look back...the sunroom chalet is now used as a dosshouse by all....and Tomas was finally esconced as a family cat.
He is a very happy cat!! When I call him he will run at speed from wherever he is..and bounds like a cat thats happy..not just a simple run ...
He adores sitting on my lap and throws himself against me leaning his head on my chest and looking up waiting for me to hug him at which his purr begins with a huge sighing breath of mmmmm! this is heavenly!
During the time he was in the run area he developed a small abrasion on his nose and at first I thought it was a scab but it never finally healed. Then I knew something wasnt right. He loved sunbathing and no matter how much we tried to cover the roof area of the sun room he would find a way to get near the suns warmth.
I did ask the island vet after a few months what was it and could anything be done...to which you've guessed it...no!
Since he left the run he spends time outside and often would be sunbathing somewhere...so I have applied sun cream to this ears and face to try and help. He hates it!!!!! This is a cat that will NOT have these things done to him!
Months have gone by and indeed a nearly two years...by now I have already started taking him to the vet on the mainland and they eventually took all his teeth out. We had had most out before this but he continued to get soreness and so this vet took the remaining ones. He still has his cortisone injections to help but he was a lot happier for it...same too for little Mister I mentioned earlier but he's another story....
..anyhow back to this....I had been keeping an eye on this scab which was getting bigger...now I knew this was not good and likely to be cancer. I then asked the new vet could anything be done and was told no. That was a few months ago...until a few weeks ago when I decided I as going to ask again and this time ask for referral to Glasgow University Small Animal Hospital. No problem they said...I was somewhat taken aback...the other person would have said no or argued etc and I had been apprehensive about this beforehand...
They would ring me she said. Well I waited a few days and no call so rang them again...and then that day I got a call..could I take Tomas over next week. That was two weeks ago.
They gave him a full and thorough check, from ultrasounds, blood tests, Xrays etc...so we now also know his current state of health too! Yes they can do something and it would involve surgery...radiation maybe later for the small spot at the end of his nose but that would be down South where there is new work involving radiation via a small wand so they can do very small areas. WOw!!
The Vet I saw was so lovely and friendly and they explained everything that would happen. Indeed the whole place is wonderful.
They loved Tomas and said how well behaved he was throughout the whole testing...a full house cat they had in that same day was totally unmanageable and had to be sedated throughout...not my little Tomas...manners and patience all the way! Providing they gave him cuddles which apparently he managed to get most of his short stay...I had had to stay overnight in a hotel for this.
Anyhow we took him over on Thrusday for his op...and they said to collect him on Saturday. He was so good...and we checked on him that afternoon and Friday. I got such a shock when we picked him up Saturday! They hadnt told me they would shave his head!!
He went mad when he saw us and threw himself about it the cat basket and started bleeding....so they got another backet with smoother sides and we put him in there...he just wanted out!! So I sat at the back of the car with him and he wouldnt calm down...thowing himself around.......his collar came off!!! So Jeff stopped the car and out he came..immediately he calmed down and purred for he was in my arms and his eyes closed contentedly. After a short while I put him back...he was ok for a while and then started again....the journey was like this all the way till we got to the ferry point and I got him out and he sat with me for an hour...after that when I put him back he was calm...so maybe thats all he wanted all along was that sense of reassurance...silly me!
We got fish and chips and he woofed down some fish...I put some cat food in his basket and yet again conned him into going in there!!
He is now home and sleeping presently....he has eaten like a horse! and is just so happy to be here and falls asleep on me when I cuddle him. Meds?? we still fight!!! but I am winning!!
So heres some before and after pictures...
Awaiting final biopsy report...but they said it was basal cell which would be removed fully with the surgery and with his ears where there was pre cancerous sores...so he should have a much improved quality of life and a longer one than previously thought and would have been but for this surgery.
Thanks for reading and listening!
:)
ps I did check my typing but can still some errors!!! hope you can read through them!! :)
:)
[edit: only 33, think I got them all:lol!: Jeff]
As you know we have quite a few cats here and Tomas joined us some years ago...here is his story.
A white cat was patrolling the perimeter. When Jeff once saw him in the lane he asked him his name...he ran off!
A regular visitor he wouldnt come too near and would watch. This might be the reaon for some of the cats coming home looking bedraggled - presumbably following fisticuffs with Tomas, he didnt have a name then.
We asked the local CP if they could help and we were given some help towards neutering but told it would be difficult to find him a home. So we agreed to look out for him and feed him.
Winter was approaching and I was worrying about this little creature being out there...so Jeff said he would put up the cat chalet we already had from when we lived in Machester. we had bought this for a little cat called Mister who had joined me in cartmel and I was nervous about him being in a city. He never went in it and was absolutely fine being a very street wise little man! We did use it for a cat called Monty...who I will tell you about another time.
So I set the trap for this little white cat and very soon he was caught...his appetite has always been extra good!! :)
Oh! what a shock....his head was full of gashes and cuts and he was in a state! Down to the island vet.... Back we came with meds for him and although he was very friendly towards me immediately he was not going to have anything to do with meds!!! NO!! was his final answer...so using his voracious appetite I put the meds on there....
'yum! yum! like my breakfast! Very tasty what do you make it with?'
'Oh! a little receipe of my own..hope you enjoy?'...
'Yes very much!'
:)
Unfortunately we couldnt let him out of this cat chalet since as soon as any cat came near he was on their backs and fighting.
He was in there for a while as we thought we would find him a home...winter came and I asked Jeff if he could move the chalet indoors to the sun room ..that way he would see us and the cats frequently and that might help his socialisation...added to which it would be wamer...and we could make the run area bigger.
He loved that...areas high up....platforms to lay on and watch the world go by whilst he lavished in comfort warmth and food...oh! yes he had a bed heater and an overhead heater..he was as warm as toast! (Whilst our electric bill went up!)
The we took on some kittens who needed homes - we managed to find homes for three and still have two of them. Minnie, the female is a great socialite! She loves meeting new cats and people and is wonderful at creating friendships even with the most grumpy of cats! She is also the best hunter I have ever come across and the tiniest of cats!!!! Mice, voles,birds, rats-any size! Whilst I hate it I am amazed at her abilities...she can even catch a bird in flight..we have seen her do it!! A leap of some several feet from standing...
Well one day we came home and she was in the run with Tomas...'Oh! heck' I shouted to Jeff is she alright...imaging that Tomas will have attacked her....but no...he was quite happy and she was laid out on one of the platforms sleeping.
well...after a few attempts at trying to pach up areas we thought she was accessing his run...it never stopped her and eventually we gave up. Some weeks of this and Tomas seemed to welcome her attentions and visits. They even played together him on one side of the run fencing and her the other, laying on their backs tapping paws underneath the gaps.
Then the time came when Tomas got out, using her route presumbably!
We came home and he was out! On checking all the cats...nothing was amiss?? Weird? SO we thought maybe just maybe her magic had worked? We tried a few times after that letting him out when we came home...he was excited at being in the house and bounded about the place...everyone else was on edge and ready for an attack...but it never came?
That was it...we didnt look back...the sunroom chalet is now used as a dosshouse by all....and Tomas was finally esconced as a family cat.
He is a very happy cat!! When I call him he will run at speed from wherever he is..and bounds like a cat thats happy..not just a simple run ...
He adores sitting on my lap and throws himself against me leaning his head on my chest and looking up waiting for me to hug him at which his purr begins with a huge sighing breath of mmmmm! this is heavenly!
During the time he was in the run area he developed a small abrasion on his nose and at first I thought it was a scab but it never finally healed. Then I knew something wasnt right. He loved sunbathing and no matter how much we tried to cover the roof area of the sun room he would find a way to get near the suns warmth.
I did ask the island vet after a few months what was it and could anything be done...to which you've guessed it...no!
Since he left the run he spends time outside and often would be sunbathing somewhere...so I have applied sun cream to this ears and face to try and help. He hates it!!!!! This is a cat that will NOT have these things done to him!
Months have gone by and indeed a nearly two years...by now I have already started taking him to the vet on the mainland and they eventually took all his teeth out. We had had most out before this but he continued to get soreness and so this vet took the remaining ones. He still has his cortisone injections to help but he was a lot happier for it...same too for little Mister I mentioned earlier but he's another story....
..anyhow back to this....I had been keeping an eye on this scab which was getting bigger...now I knew this was not good and likely to be cancer. I then asked the new vet could anything be done and was told no. That was a few months ago...until a few weeks ago when I decided I as going to ask again and this time ask for referral to Glasgow University Small Animal Hospital. No problem they said...I was somewhat taken aback...the other person would have said no or argued etc and I had been apprehensive about this beforehand...
They would ring me she said. Well I waited a few days and no call so rang them again...and then that day I got a call..could I take Tomas over next week. That was two weeks ago.
They gave him a full and thorough check, from ultrasounds, blood tests, Xrays etc...so we now also know his current state of health too! Yes they can do something and it would involve surgery...radiation maybe later for the small spot at the end of his nose but that would be down South where there is new work involving radiation via a small wand so they can do very small areas. WOw!!
The Vet I saw was so lovely and friendly and they explained everything that would happen. Indeed the whole place is wonderful.
They loved Tomas and said how well behaved he was throughout the whole testing...a full house cat they had in that same day was totally unmanageable and had to be sedated throughout...not my little Tomas...manners and patience all the way! Providing they gave him cuddles which apparently he managed to get most of his short stay...I had had to stay overnight in a hotel for this.
Anyhow we took him over on Thrusday for his op...and they said to collect him on Saturday. He was so good...and we checked on him that afternoon and Friday. I got such a shock when we picked him up Saturday! They hadnt told me they would shave his head!!
He went mad when he saw us and threw himself about it the cat basket and started bleeding....so they got another backet with smoother sides and we put him in there...he just wanted out!! So I sat at the back of the car with him and he wouldnt calm down...thowing himself around.......his collar came off!!! So Jeff stopped the car and out he came..immediately he calmed down and purred for he was in my arms and his eyes closed contentedly. After a short while I put him back...he was ok for a while and then started again....the journey was like this all the way till we got to the ferry point and I got him out and he sat with me for an hour...after that when I put him back he was calm...so maybe thats all he wanted all along was that sense of reassurance...silly me!
We got fish and chips and he woofed down some fish...I put some cat food in his basket and yet again conned him into going in there!!
He is now home and sleeping presently....he has eaten like a horse! and is just so happy to be here and falls asleep on me when I cuddle him. Meds?? we still fight!!! but I am winning!!
So heres some before and after pictures...
Awaiting final biopsy report...but they said it was basal cell which would be removed fully with the surgery and with his ears where there was pre cancerous sores...so he should have a much improved quality of life and a longer one than previously thought and would have been but for this surgery.
Thanks for reading and listening!
:)
ps I did check my typing but can still some errors!!! hope you can read through them!! :)
:)
[edit: only 33, think I got them all:lol!: Jeff]