She’s back!!!
After 1 year, 9 months and 27 days lost in space my lovely cat Dora was found and taken into the local vets’ surgery. There they scanned her, found her microchip and so were able to contact me. After having received two previous contacts from people who responded to newspaper “Lost” adverts where I built my hopes up only to find that it was not her, I could have been guarded about being happy…but microchips can’t be wrong can they? So I allowed myself to be deliriously happy…and I was not wrong to do so!
A few hours later when we got to the Seadown Veterinary Hospital in Hythe the staff still cautioned me that it may not be her but after a long wait we were called in to the consulting room and she was brought in. Of course it was her; technology is wonderful – although geo-positioning built into microchips would be a great advantage for tracing lost pets. Although I wasn’t (too) worried that it may not be her, I was concerned that she may have forgotten me because cats are reckoned to have a very short memory, but when she was on the table being examined she came towards me and pushed her head into me. That was it, I knew then that she hadn’t forgotten me.
Her coat was a little rough but she looked well enough for living wild all that time however the vet told us that she had an air gun pellet embedded in her back. She showed me and said that it hadn’t moved, was close to the surface and would be relatively easy to remove, which will be done in a few weeks time when she has got her injections up to date. We are very lucky that the pellet didn’t hit her spine – or the microchip! It’s obvious that she was running away when shot and as the skin is healed over with fur completely covering it I think that it’s likely that being shot at is the reason she lost her bearings and couldn’t find her way home.
Why do these stupid people use air guns on defenceless animals? I really do not understand why these weapons, because that is what they are for they can kill or seriously maim victims, are not licensed. In the 1970′s when I was in charge of a branch library such a gun was used to shoot pellets through the library windows from a nearby building. At the time the library was full of people, including children and it was pure luck that no-one was harmed by this attack. The police did work fast to catch the person responsible – they did such things then – and they were charged. I don’t recall the outcome, but I suspect it was only a fine for damage to the building and a warning. I knew that sometime soon there would be a bad accident with air guns:
Toddler shot in head with airgun
An 18-month-old boy is critically ill in hospital after being shot in the head with an airgun in what appears to be a “tragic accident”, police said.
He was playing with other young children in the garden of his home in Washwood Heath, Birmingham, on Sunday.It is thought some children aged under five managed to access the air weapon and accidentally caused it to go off, West Midlands Police said.
Now Dora is safe back home and I am tempted to ground her for life but that would not be fair on her. For now she has established the spare room as her safe space, with occasional forays downstairs for food and to test the waters with the other two grumpy cats. We have a long way to go before we have an harmonious cat household.
Denise Breslin responds:
Posted: July 29th, 2008 at 6:15 am →
Dear Dora and Carol,
I am so so happy to read the details of this wonderful, wonderful story.
Dora — You have a great Mom and I hope you don’t give her any more “adventures.” AND
I hope the “grumpy cats” can understand that three really isn’t a crowd. At least maybe detente?
Thanks Carol for the details I was dying to know. I will keep this as a warm spot in my heart for a long long time. Will probably be doing the CAP — thanks for encouragement.
I’ll say big prayers for all of you. You know there is that kid’s TV program here in the states “Dora the Explorer.” Hmmm, maybe, it’s the name??
xxxx
denise and her boss cat chloe
Sue Harris responds:
Posted: August 11th, 2008 at 11:33 pm →
Carol, that is very encouraging and shows you should never give up on a lost cat. You could post it to Cat Chat (http://www.catchat.org) pour encourager les autres.
I shall put it in my Cats Protection Branch newsletter too.
You are right about airguns. My Jaz, sadly passed on, developed fluid on the chest and when they Xrayed him they found an old airgun pellet lodged there. It had happened before we had him and it delayed the treatment of what turned out to be a terminal heart condition because the vet thought it was recent and the cause of the fluid build up.
Who does these things and why?
I am sure the grumpy cats will come round given time, patience and careful introductions.
Headbutts and purrs
Sue H, Mindy & Honey
JeanneRoz responds:
Posted: March 17th, 2009 at 7:00 pm →
Hi, Carol… what a happy, happy story! I know this was quite some time ago, but I was going through my bookmarked "Blog" links and ran across yours, which led to me reading your blog and this story.
.
I am a "cat mom" as well, I have 2 and they are my children and I can only imagine how you felt when Dora disappeared. I’m so happy Dora was found
Jeanne
Asbocat responds:
Posted: March 17th, 2009 at 11:39 pm →
Thanks Denise, Sue and Jeanne, we cat people span the globe don’t we? As for Dora the pellet was removed and she recovered quickly but it took ages to get the old fur out of her coat. She hadn’t spent a lot of time grooming after her moults. She is now a glossy, healthy scamp who runs around the house at a gallop, startling the other two! She does go outside again now but doesn’t stray far from the decking although by accident she was left out all night a few days ago, but she was waiting at the door next morning. Now we have a roll call each night before bed, just in case
))
Denise Breslin responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2009 at 4:06 am →
Dear Carol,
I’m desolate — my beloved Chloe is gone. She had developed diabetes in October of ’08 and that was going well, but CRF (Chronic Kidney Failure) set in and by 7/28/09 I knew she needed to be released. I am beyond heartbroken, in so much pain. This has been the worst loss of my life. Chloe was my soul mate, my baby, my mentor, everything. I am now alone with no other heartbeat in the house. Due to financial restrictions (huge vet bills that must be repaid), it will be a long long time til I can responsibly adopt again. I’m on Social Security Disability which doesn’t provide a lot each month, so saving will take some time. My heart is broken, but I know my Chloe is with me. Sorry for this sad post, but wanted you to know. Say a few prayers for me and give Dora a big big hug. Dora – the miracle cat. Wonderful. xxxxx
Asbocat responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2009 at 12:18 pm →
I am so sorry Denise, cats do leave paw prints on your heart don’t they? Two of the cats that I’ve had died from kidney disease and the hardest part was knowing when was their time to go and making the decision to go to the vet. However after time you realise that you did the kindest, hardest thing for the little love and that’s what responsible cat people do. It’s never easy though.
I was talking to me friend from college days last night about Dora and the odd thing is that she too is called Denise, has rescued cats and also a couple of rescued horses. She tells me that her vets bills for the horses are much lower than those for the cats despite the horse vet travelling from 60 miles away to see them. Her theory is that the difference is because the horse vet deals mostly with farmers who are notoriously tight.
I know that you have to grieve for Chloe and it’s right that you do; she was a much loved cat who had a wonderful life with you and eventually you will be left with fond memories of your life together.