Rehoming Tam Lin: Starring Ms. Brigit
Blood was spilled this day (mine), but there were also cheers of hopeful joy. What a day! Let me tell you all about it, my flisties.
This is Brigit from last April, the week after I found her after tracking her for over 3 months after she ran away from the stables.
Oh this little kitty! It's a quality establishment I run, and she's been eating well, and mostly lying in her cat bagel, but she's not the happiest camper, despite the accommodations. She's been hissing at any cat that comes within her vision. And though she will make content blinky eyes with me, she hisses at me if I reach in too near her, whether it's to bring food or touch her. Last evening, as I was tending to her, I looked over and saw all 3 of my home crew huddled together in the bedroom doorway conferring about this state of affairs. I wish I had my camera to show you. But Brigit's crate being positioned where she can watch me and Saki sleep has not been effective at relaxing her. Imprisonment by a giant ape is imprisonment, no matter what treats the kindly giant ape provides.
Thursday night, I talked with A., the rescue worker who I trapped them with 2 Novembers ago, finally putting my anger at her lack of vetting the stables behind me, and got a lead from her on a cat sanctuary in Gettysburg, PA. I made a vet appointment to get Brigit an exam, a distemper shot, and FIV test for this morning. I was a little worried about her not having had a b.m. since I took her in Wed. night, but she had a little one during the night Friday, so I was less worried about her this morning.
However, I remained very worried about the ensuing cat wrestling I would be engaging in order to get this littlle hellion into the small carrier to bring her to the vet this morning. And it proved to be epic. I armored up in leather jacket and leather gloves, and like Janet, I held onto my little Tam Lin no matter what beast she transformed into, and calmly unhooked her claws stuck in my cheek as I held tight with the other arm, because my greatest fear was her getting loose and getting under the bed. And a little pain was easier to endure than the prospect of dismantling my large bed. But get her into the carrier I did. And then I went to clean up, and wondered at the amount of blood in the sink because the facial punctures were not that bad, until I noticed she had managed to puncture the tip of a finger through my leather gloves. It was not at all painful, but it was just flowing more because I was having my first period in 4 months--good timing, body. Her claws are pretty clean due to her being inside the last couple of days and doing plenty of grooming, so no worries there.
I warned the vet techs, but they apparently had fun chasing her around the exam room after getting her out of the carrier. But Brigit needed the exercise, so that worked out. And it served them right because I asked to be there when they took her out of the carrier, not because it would comfort her--it wouldn't--but because I wanted some technique tips. They claimed they did not understand me, but I suspect that claim and think it was more likely the usual control gesture veterinary and medical personnel tend to engage in alike. But after complaining, I got to be present for the rest of the exam, and did pick up some tips. And I liked this vet--a practice A recommended, and the only one I could get a Saturday appointment with--he was lovely to her. I may start bringing my crew to him. He also treated her for ear mites and some flea residue, which meant I needed to bring home more of the Revolution treatment for my crew, which I applied this evening with no issues, because they are that easy. Yes, my 3, I truly appreciate that!
When we got home, I tried calling the cat sanctuary again and finally got a hold of the woman who runs it. And OMG, she said she could take Brigit! So I don't have to put her out on her own in Warwick again! I do think having gotten her shots and tested negative for FIV, and her already being spayed helped us get the immediate "yes," and I couldn't have afforded to do all that without the help
baranduin and hanarobi sent for her, so we did it, you guys! Thank you! (-: This woman has been doing this for years, and has a lot of volunteers and donations, and sounds like she knows what's she's doing, but I'm going to go up there tomorrow and check it out before I bring Brigit up there. So wish us luck that this is the real deal.
What she says she does is keep the cats for a couple of years until she knows their personalities and needs and then adopts them out to farms that need barn cats and whose situations match up with the cats' needs. But my hope is that, if this is a good place for Brigit, that she'll keep her on, because Brigit is probably 6-8 years old already, and she's had enough moving around for one cat lifetime. The woman also lets the cat's sponsors know when she finds a place and invites them to come along to check it out, which is what I want. I'll try to get more of an idea of her vetting techniques tomorrow.
My only regret is that A. didn't try to get Brigit and Ostra into this place a little over a year ago, instead of choosing for them that unvetted stables in Warwick; Brigit's sister might still be alive today. A. had the contacts and I lacked the experience to know better. But at least Brigit has a chance for a safer and longer life for the both of them now. I feel like I'm going to check out my little girl's future college dormitory tomorrow, and hopefully send her on her way.
But tonight she's not feeling so good, as can happen after they've had a distemper shot, plus all the battling for her life against several giant apes today. I found her laying her head in the litter box, and when I stroked her head she didn't make a move or protest, she was so wiped. I gently lifted her head out and finally got a little half hearted hiss, as I got her more comfortable, poor baby. Hopefully, she'll be up to eating again and full of hisses before I leave tomorrow. Maybe we've turned a corner, but I did stop by the Dollar Tree tonight to get a pair of work googles for our next carrier transfer, just in case. I really don't want to get my steel SCA helm from my fighting days out of the storage closet.
I hope I will have a good report on the cat sanctuary to tell ya'll about next. Cross your fingers for us! <3
Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/130590.html with
comments
This is Brigit from last April, the week after I found her after tracking her for over 3 months after she ran away from the stables.
Oh this little kitty! It's a quality establishment I run, and she's been eating well, and mostly lying in her cat bagel, but she's not the happiest camper, despite the accommodations. She's been hissing at any cat that comes within her vision. And though she will make content blinky eyes with me, she hisses at me if I reach in too near her, whether it's to bring food or touch her. Last evening, as I was tending to her, I looked over and saw all 3 of my home crew huddled together in the bedroom doorway conferring about this state of affairs. I wish I had my camera to show you. But Brigit's crate being positioned where she can watch me and Saki sleep has not been effective at relaxing her. Imprisonment by a giant ape is imprisonment, no matter what treats the kindly giant ape provides.
Thursday night, I talked with A., the rescue worker who I trapped them with 2 Novembers ago, finally putting my anger at her lack of vetting the stables behind me, and got a lead from her on a cat sanctuary in Gettysburg, PA. I made a vet appointment to get Brigit an exam, a distemper shot, and FIV test for this morning. I was a little worried about her not having had a b.m. since I took her in Wed. night, but she had a little one during the night Friday, so I was less worried about her this morning.
However, I remained very worried about the ensuing cat wrestling I would be engaging in order to get this littlle hellion into the small carrier to bring her to the vet this morning. And it proved to be epic. I armored up in leather jacket and leather gloves, and like Janet, I held onto my little Tam Lin no matter what beast she transformed into, and calmly unhooked her claws stuck in my cheek as I held tight with the other arm, because my greatest fear was her getting loose and getting under the bed. And a little pain was easier to endure than the prospect of dismantling my large bed. But get her into the carrier I did. And then I went to clean up, and wondered at the amount of blood in the sink because the facial punctures were not that bad, until I noticed she had managed to puncture the tip of a finger through my leather gloves. It was not at all painful, but it was just flowing more because I was having my first period in 4 months--good timing, body. Her claws are pretty clean due to her being inside the last couple of days and doing plenty of grooming, so no worries there.
I warned the vet techs, but they apparently had fun chasing her around the exam room after getting her out of the carrier. But Brigit needed the exercise, so that worked out. And it served them right because I asked to be there when they took her out of the carrier, not because it would comfort her--it wouldn't--but because I wanted some technique tips. They claimed they did not understand me, but I suspect that claim and think it was more likely the usual control gesture veterinary and medical personnel tend to engage in alike. But after complaining, I got to be present for the rest of the exam, and did pick up some tips. And I liked this vet--a practice A recommended, and the only one I could get a Saturday appointment with--he was lovely to her. I may start bringing my crew to him. He also treated her for ear mites and some flea residue, which meant I needed to bring home more of the Revolution treatment for my crew, which I applied this evening with no issues, because they are that easy. Yes, my 3, I truly appreciate that!
When we got home, I tried calling the cat sanctuary again and finally got a hold of the woman who runs it. And OMG, she said she could take Brigit! So I don't have to put her out on her own in Warwick again! I do think having gotten her shots and tested negative for FIV, and her already being spayed helped us get the immediate "yes," and I couldn't have afforded to do all that without the help
baranduin and hanarobi sent for her, so we did it, you guys! Thank you! (-: This woman has been doing this for years, and has a lot of volunteers and donations, and sounds like she knows what's she's doing, but I'm going to go up there tomorrow and check it out before I bring Brigit up there. So wish us luck that this is the real deal.
What she says she does is keep the cats for a couple of years until she knows their personalities and needs and then adopts them out to farms that need barn cats and whose situations match up with the cats' needs. But my hope is that, if this is a good place for Brigit, that she'll keep her on, because Brigit is probably 6-8 years old already, and she's had enough moving around for one cat lifetime. The woman also lets the cat's sponsors know when she finds a place and invites them to come along to check it out, which is what I want. I'll try to get more of an idea of her vetting techniques tomorrow.
My only regret is that A. didn't try to get Brigit and Ostra into this place a little over a year ago, instead of choosing for them that unvetted stables in Warwick; Brigit's sister might still be alive today. A. had the contacts and I lacked the experience to know better. But at least Brigit has a chance for a safer and longer life for the both of them now. I feel like I'm going to check out my little girl's future college dormitory tomorrow, and hopefully send her on her way.
But tonight she's not feeling so good, as can happen after they've had a distemper shot, plus all the battling for her life against several giant apes today. I found her laying her head in the litter box, and when I stroked her head she didn't make a move or protest, she was so wiped. I gently lifted her head out and finally got a little half hearted hiss, as I got her more comfortable, poor baby. Hopefully, she'll be up to eating again and full of hisses before I leave tomorrow. Maybe we've turned a corner, but I did stop by the Dollar Tree tonight to get a pair of work googles for our next carrier transfer, just in case. I really don't want to get my steel SCA helm from my fighting days out of the storage closet.
I hope I will have a good report on the cat sanctuary to tell ya'll about next. Cross your fingers for us! <3
Also posted at http://lavendertook.dreamwidth.org/130590.html with
comments