Many of you know about my newest kitty, Marbles, who after 7 months
with us, still has to be separated from our other 2 cats, Scottie and
Abbey, due to his desire to chase and torment them.  We have something
of a routine worked out where Marbles lives in 2 rooms most of the time
and comes out for 3-4 hours in the evenings and sometimes a little
longer on weekends.  At those times, Scottie and Abbey hide under the
futon in the family room.  He looks at them some but usually just
spends his time going to various windows and exploring.  He doesn't
attempt to go under the futon to get them.  Lately, Abbey has been a
little braver and if Marbles is being quiet, she will come out from
under the futon but still stay close enough to make a getaway.  He
doesn't seem to find her as interesting to chase as he does Scottie.

Well, when we go out to dinner, we often just leave Marbles out because
everyone knows the routine.  Last Wed. night, though, we were out for a
little more than an hour and when we came back, there was orange fur
(Scottie's) all over the living room and also Scottie's collar was
lying there.  I surmised that Marbles was sleeping in the living room
and being very quiet, so Scottie wrongly assumed he was back in his
rooms and he must have ventured into the living room from his safe
place in the family room.  Marbles must have ambushed him and a fight
ensued.  It looked like Marbles was the only one who got any licks in,
but...

Last night, Friday, I noticed Marbles had a sore on his ear and it also
smelled funky.  So I called the vet today, who was full and couldn't
get us in.  They did call back later and say I could drop him off and
the vet would look at him between patients but I would have to pay an
unscheduled office visit fee. I've gone there for years, spent
thousands of bucks, so I was miffed and took Marbles to a different
vet.  He had an abscess, the vet drained it, gave him a shot, and
prescribed Clavamox.  But he also said I would have to clean the wound
and get the pus out twice a day or else hospitalize him for at least 2
days for about $400.  I opted for the former, not only for the $$, but
I knew Marbles would be miserable caged.  He doesn't seem to feel sick
and he would have been stuck there over the weekend when the vets don't
even come in.  A tech would have done the cleaning of the wound.

Well, it's gross.  I just did the first cleaning.  There are 3 puncture
wounds, one on top of the ear and two inside.  I used a warm washcloth
and did get some pus out.  Yuk.  I read up on it on the internet and
this does seem to be standard procedure.  I guess I thought before that
once antibiotics are being given, that the abscess will just go away
without further treatment.  Wrong.  So, needless to say, I am dreading
the next couple of days and hoping I can do it right so he doesn't wind
up being hospitalized..

So, Scottie did get some licks in, after all.  I was hoping he would
toughen up and stand up for himself a little but I have to say, I wish
he hadn't and I certainly hope this doesn't occur ever again.  Poor
Marbles, he's a very good patient and was very brave at the vet, even
snuggling up to the vet after the guy lanced his wounds.

Candace

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection -from an
eye other
than human."  (Loren Eisely)