Kitties In The Courtyard

[lilystcyr]

Back on June 7th, I had an appointment up at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital for my TN. When Matt and I pulled into the parking lot, I saw a kitty running toward the courtyard that we walk through to get to the hospital. When we got to the courtyard we found the kitty laying on a bench, meowing at us. It was very easy to tell he was a stray. I sat on the bench with the kitty, then one of the nurses that was headed toward the hospital walked over to me and Matt. Matt asked her if the kitty belonged to anyone, and she said, he kind of belonged to the hospital, but he really needed a home. She also said there were actually two of them that looked very much alike, but the other was bigger and that they had been around for about three weeks. Also, there was another nurse who tried to take care of them, and that she may have taken the other kitty to the vet because he was looking sick and he wasn't anywhere in the courtyard. Then she pulled a box of cat food out of her bag and dumped some food on the ground for the kitty. I thought that was so nice. I had to hurry off and get to my appointment, but since we were told that the kitty basically lived in the courtyard we were sure he would still be there when we were done. I'll skip the part where interns are astounded by the damage to my mouth. After my appointment, Matt and I found the kitty again in the courtyard. Matt picked him up and two other women who worked at the hospital that were outside were really happy when we told them that he was going home with us. Of course he had to go to the vet before being exposed to my other kitties. Good thing too, because he had fleas, worms, and an eye infection that could have led to an upper respiratory infection, which was contagious. So, we got the fleas and worms taken care of there, we were also given eye medication and anti-viral medication that was to be administered twice a day for a week. Then we took him home and gave him a bath, because he was one dirty little boy. I haven't mentioned yet what he looks like! Basically, he is black across the top of his head and body and white across the bottom of his head and body. He definitely looks quite a bit like my first little boy Azreal, who is deceased. It wasn't until he had his bath and dried off that we realized he wasn't full grown! I had forgotten to ask the vet for his approximate age, so I called and she told me he is only 8 months old. He had to be quarantined in the bathroom for 5 days, but he was really good about it. As for naming him, I wanted a name that had to do with the hospital and/or my disease (Trigeminal Neuralgia) that I go to the hospital for. One of the surgeries that I may need to have is called "Gamma-Knife Surgery", so Matt suggested "Gamma". So, we now have a little monster named Gamma and geezus does he love to talk and sing.

I am concerned though about the other kitty that may have been at the vet the day we found Gamma. I'm afraid that maybe the nurse got him treated and then put him back in the courtyard. She may not be able to keep him for some reason. I have another appointment there this Friday. I'm so afraid that the kitty will be there, still without a home. I can't take anymore kitties in, but I wouldn't be able to just leave him there.

QUESTION, PLEASE READ: Does anyone know of any NO-KILL shelters that will take in stray cats?