Blogcutter's Impractical Cats Part 5 of 5

NOTE: This is the final instalment in our cat adoption story. If you are top-posting (or top-displaying) these entries from most recent to least recent (which is what I personally prefer and what most people seem to do and expect - though there have been some vigorous arguments about it around our place!) you may want to scroll down and catch up on any parts you may not yet have read. This is NOT the last you'll hear of these cats, but it seems fitting to be posting the last part of our adoption story on the August long weekend, two years after we found ourselves walking into a Pet Valu store and asking, "How much is that moggie in the window?"

So Albert got his heart tests done. Next day, the vet who had conducted these tests phoned to discuss the results. They were mostly positive, but did indicate that one chamber of Albert's heart was slightly enlarged. That meant a bit of extra risk with anaesthetic although the vet said if it were his cat, he would consider it a risk worth taking. And Albert had already had some sedation for the tests, and come out of it okay. The neutering operation, at least with the male of the species, is quite quick so he would not need to be under for very long. Dental work, on the other hand, would mean sedating him for significantly longer. We decided the priority for now was to get him snipped, and the dental issues could be addressed later or by some other means. But our vet was not going to be back from holidays for another week, so we decided to defer the operation until her return.

It was done on Tuesday, July 21. And he survived, intact except for his dignity and the intended physical modification. He did, however, breathe as if he were snoring, the aftermath of having had a tube down his throat for a while. He was prescribed drops to be inserted into his cheek to alleviate the pain. I was a little apprehensive about being able to successfully medicate him but fortunately it was quite easy - he had a hearty appetite right from the time we got him home and I was able to insert the dropper into his mouth while he was ravenously gobbling his food.

While we didn't want to risk the dental work at that time, we did get him microchipped and claw-trimmed while he was under, as those procedures could both be done quickly and easily.

Nowadays, when we're at home to keep an eye on them, we allow the cats to mingle quite freely except at mealtimes or when there seems to be trouble brewing. When we go out, we need to confine all the cats to one part of the house so that they can't activate the motion detectors and trigger the burglar alarm. Reigning Cat is not a problem - she comes running whenever she hears the "magic cupboard" opening - that's where the cat treats are kept. We're hoping she'll tell Victoria and Albert about it too, so that as they get more daring about exploring the house, we can round them up quickly if we need to, just by opening the cupboard door.

I think the cats still have a few issues they need to sort out with one other - and with us, too. I'm hoping one day I'll actually be able to stroke Albert when he's NOT engrossed in his food, and maybe groom him a bit as well. Victoria already seems to be losing a bit of the weight - she's more active these days but still walks with a limp and does not seem able to jump up on chairs, beds, etc.

But we're getting there.