Yesterday Foster Cat Smokey Joe went to a second veterinarian's office for a consultation about the scab on his back.
The vet shaved a half-dollar sized patch around the area so she could get a better look at the scab, but even after consulting with others in the office she diidn't have a definite answer as to what it could be. One possibility was that even through Smokey Joe never goes outside at our house, he might be having an extreme delayed reaction to past flea bites. Whatever the cause, she didn't see the need for him to visit an animal dermatologist, an option that had been thrown out by his normal vet.
We came home with prescription ear drops, a medicated powder, and Revolution flea and tick preventative (which we will apply monthly). It was also recommend that Smokey Joe wear a recovery shirt to keep him from licking his affected area. After dinner Hubby Tony and I drove to the shelter to borrow one.
Back at home we introduced the shirt to Smokey Joe. It looked almost like a baby onesie that opened completely down the back/closed with Velcro, with a large hole in the rear so he could use his litter box. Once Tony put it on him the cat had trouble walking with the fabric pooled around his legs. However, he made it across the room and jumped on the cedar chest, where he gave us the stink eye. |
| Nope. Not happy at all. |
At bedtime Smokey Joe did not jump up and take his place in between Tony and me, but he was there in the middle of the night. This morning Tony woke up first, and I could hear him rooting around on his side of the bed. I asked what was going on, and he said that somehow Smokey Joe had completely ditched the shirt. When Tony found it, the Velcro closures were still completely intact.
If Smokey Joe ever has a need for a walk-up song this would be the perfect one for him.
What a clever kitty. Are you going to dress him up again? He knows how to wiggle out of it now.
ReplyDeleteWe will wait and see if he leaves the area alone or tries to lick at it.
DeleteFunny
ReplyDeleteSmokey Joe is clearly a cat of many hidden talents!
ReplyDeleteYes he is, and we keep discovering them.
DeleteHa, the stink-eye! No doubt. Great song choice.
ReplyDeleteCan you cut off the dangling material? Bet he'd get out of a cone too. You've been so good to him, in spite of himself. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteAs we borrowed the shirt there is no option to modify it.
DeleteSo you didn't even wake when I snuck and helped him take it off.
ReplyDeleteI knew I had a solid sleep, but had no idea just how solid it was :-)
DeleteCats are adept at escaping 'clothing' they don't like. They are so supple.
ReplyDeleteI am learning just how adept he is.
DeleteI've never had a cat keep a cone on very long either. Cats are water.
ReplyDeleteYour second sentence is SO true!
DeleteToo funny, he looks annoyed and probably thinks you clothed him as a sick joke. When we had our miss spayed, she constantly got out of the cone and elastic pants the vet fitted her with. Cats are master escape artists!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have any luck with a cone with the first foster cat, and now we've failed with a surgery suit.
DeleteThat is so funny! He looks awfully cute though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Smokey Joe has a bad side.
Deletepoor Smokey Joe.. How blessed he is to have such adoptive parents like you and Tony .. I hope they get this figured out
ReplyDeleteBased on the results of the prescriptions I think they've found the solution to his health issues.
DeleteIt doesn't seem like there is any hope that Smokey Joe will wear that recovery shirt. He seems to be a darn good escape artist, Hope he will heal without wearing it.
ReplyDeleteLast night he started licking the affected area right before bed, so the shirt went back on. This morning shirtless' Smokey Joe presented himself for breakfast.
DeleteWe had a cat who could get out of her collar in less than a minute. The kids timed her. You may have to go to a plastic dish if the spot is getting worse. I am wondering about a tick - luckily there are meds for them. For dogs and cats and not for people. Snarl.
ReplyDeleteI would love to catch the cat mid-disrobing, but we've decided that as long as he's not licking the spot during the day he doesn't need to wear his shirt. However, when we put it on at bedtime he's three for three at having it off in the morning.
DeleteOH my goodness! An escape artist lives in your home, in your bed! He does look cute in the shirt though.
ReplyDelete