Can't begin to describe.....
How awful I feel right now. Owen is in the hospital.
I'd noticed he was a bit skinny a few days ago, so I started feeding him separate from the other cats. He was eating just fine. Until last night, that is. Last night he started vomiting all over the basement. I didn't think too much of it since he would do so every so often, having scarfed his food so that the other cats couldn't eat it all first. This morning he was fine. After 3 pm, my mom realized he was missing. Considering we'd torn down the bathroom, I searched all over for any uncovered openings in the walls. One was exposed so I called to him over and over. Normally, when he gets stuck somewhere, he cries as soon as he hears my calls. This time I got no response. I tried coaxing him with food and uncovered every open portion of the wall. No luck. Vin helped me look as well. After an hour or so, I started looking again with my mom's help. We still couldn't find him. I took out some treats for the other cats, hoping he'd hear the rattling of the can. As I bent over to drop some treats in the bowl, I noticed some fur sticking out of an opening in the wall. Owen was in fact in the wall but had not responded to my calls. I called to him and offered him moist food and treats and he only glanced at them and turned away. I tried pulling him out but was afraid he might have been caught, so I called my mom. She pulled him out. He was very lethargic. We decided to take him to the hospital.
Mom and I are not rich. Far from it. We left there empty-handed and $950 poorer. Bloodwork showed Owen was dehydrated and his liver was not functioning properly. HE'll need to stay overnight until the specialist takes a look at him. Further testing and xrays may show that he has cancer. For the overnight stay and testing alone...$1500. Mom gave a $950 down payment.Not that she really had it, but she loves him almost as much as I do. I dont know where I'm going to come up with the rest.
Owen was supposed to be the cat I kept. He was the one I was the least allergic to. And I could not and would not part with him. Now it seems he may have to be the one I let go of for good.
I'd noticed he was a bit skinny a few days ago, so I started feeding him separate from the other cats. He was eating just fine. Until last night, that is. Last night he started vomiting all over the basement. I didn't think too much of it since he would do so every so often, having scarfed his food so that the other cats couldn't eat it all first. This morning he was fine. After 3 pm, my mom realized he was missing. Considering we'd torn down the bathroom, I searched all over for any uncovered openings in the walls. One was exposed so I called to him over and over. Normally, when he gets stuck somewhere, he cries as soon as he hears my calls. This time I got no response. I tried coaxing him with food and uncovered every open portion of the wall. No luck. Vin helped me look as well. After an hour or so, I started looking again with my mom's help. We still couldn't find him. I took out some treats for the other cats, hoping he'd hear the rattling of the can. As I bent over to drop some treats in the bowl, I noticed some fur sticking out of an opening in the wall. Owen was in fact in the wall but had not responded to my calls. I called to him and offered him moist food and treats and he only glanced at them and turned away. I tried pulling him out but was afraid he might have been caught, so I called my mom. She pulled him out. He was very lethargic. We decided to take him to the hospital.
Mom and I are not rich. Far from it. We left there empty-handed and $950 poorer. Bloodwork showed Owen was dehydrated and his liver was not functioning properly. HE'll need to stay overnight until the specialist takes a look at him. Further testing and xrays may show that he has cancer. For the overnight stay and testing alone...$1500. Mom gave a $950 down payment.Not that she really had it, but she loves him almost as much as I do. I dont know where I'm going to come up with the rest.
Owen was supposed to be the cat I kept. He was the one I was the least allergic to. And I could not and would not part with him. Now it seems he may have to be the one I let go of for good.