Petunia on the way to be Spayed
This morning Marisa and I delivered Petunia to the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon to be spayed.
Everything worked out as well as can be expected. It was not easy getting Petunia. However, we closed off all the 2nd story rooms to prevent her going to hiding places. She did find hiding places under the leather chair and by the heat vent in the kitchen. She left the hiding place in the kitchen and that was when I was able to grab her.
She was really complaining about it and her ears were flat against her head. Marisa helped getting her into the plastic cat carrier and got a bad scratch. I was fine because I prepared by wearing my thick coat and gloves.
Once she was locked inside the carrier she made a lot of sounds which I interpret as being upset at her self for having been caught. She banged around in there for a minute and from there on she was completely silent, which was unexpected.
I had allowed for an extended effort to get her into the carrier, for traffic and for me getting lost--all possibilities in our drive to their off-the-beaten path location. I did miss the suggested route but easily found the alternate route to Corbett from I-5, then found parking easily on the east side of S.W. Water Avenue.
We were a half-hour early. So we sat there for 20 or so minutes.
I went in to the clinic once they actuated the door sensor, gave the receptionist the paperwork and went back to get Marisa who brought in Petunia.
We go back at three to get her and pay the bill.
Only two cats at home were not scared enough to hide: Venom and Goose. So we fed them (they and the other cats had no food to eat since 11 p.m. yesterday: we had to remove all food to prevent Petunia from eating before the surgery). Eddie reluctantly came out of hiding from under the Birmingham chair but was very nervous and didn't want me to get close to him. Will and Hannibal are hiding somewhere: it was particularly traumatic for Will as she was with Petunia for most of the chase.
All in all: well-executed. I am still nervous and bothered by the whole thing, and concerned about how long it will take for the family to be comfortable together again. Yet, this was the only way to keep the family together. I have to believe that the cats will become hungry, they will be fed by us, and eventually they will forget.
Everything worked out as well as can be expected. It was not easy getting Petunia. However, we closed off all the 2nd story rooms to prevent her going to hiding places. She did find hiding places under the leather chair and by the heat vent in the kitchen. She left the hiding place in the kitchen and that was when I was able to grab her.
She was really complaining about it and her ears were flat against her head. Marisa helped getting her into the plastic cat carrier and got a bad scratch. I was fine because I prepared by wearing my thick coat and gloves.
Once she was locked inside the carrier she made a lot of sounds which I interpret as being upset at her self for having been caught. She banged around in there for a minute and from there on she was completely silent, which was unexpected.
I had allowed for an extended effort to get her into the carrier, for traffic and for me getting lost--all possibilities in our drive to their off-the-beaten path location. I did miss the suggested route but easily found the alternate route to Corbett from I-5, then found parking easily on the east side of S.W. Water Avenue.
We were a half-hour early. So we sat there for 20 or so minutes.
I went in to the clinic once they actuated the door sensor, gave the receptionist the paperwork and went back to get Marisa who brought in Petunia.
We go back at three to get her and pay the bill.
Only two cats at home were not scared enough to hide: Venom and Goose. So we fed them (they and the other cats had no food to eat since 11 p.m. yesterday: we had to remove all food to prevent Petunia from eating before the surgery). Eddie reluctantly came out of hiding from under the Birmingham chair but was very nervous and didn't want me to get close to him. Will and Hannibal are hiding somewhere: it was particularly traumatic for Will as she was with Petunia for most of the chase.
All in all: well-executed. I am still nervous and bothered by the whole thing, and concerned about how long it will take for the family to be comfortable together again. Yet, this was the only way to keep the family together. I have to believe that the cats will become hungry, they will be fed by us, and eventually they will forget.