Sunday, June 21, 2009

Ooops, we did it again

Getting sleepy at the vet's office as the anesthesia kicks in.

We were on our way to the movies on a lazy, go-to-the-mall kind of weekend, when we stopped to look at a litter of kittens across the street. Just as we were leaving, an adult cat limped past with an open wound on an obviously broken leg.

"Poor cat," said the woman on the corner who runs a bottled-water store. "He got hit by a car. I feel so bad for him."

We did too, but I confess we didn't stop and do anything right then. The cat slunk away to a hiding place and we walked off with heavy hearts. We got dinner and saw a movie. But we couldn't get the image out of our heads. By bedtime, we knew we had to do something.

We got up the next morning ready for battle, figuring this was a streetwise cat who wouldn't take kindly to being shoved in a basket. But when we went down to the Posko (security post) on the corner, where the cat hangs out, we found him asleep and utterly pliable. The bottled-water seller picked him up and put him right in Susu's cat carrier, where he settled down and started munching treats.

After a traumatic, howling taxi ride (sorry, mr. Express taxi driver!), I got him to the vet's. She put him on the table and gave him a shot of anesthesia, and it quickly became clear that this was a former housecat. For one thing, he was sweet as pie. He kept rubbing against my hand and purring even after the evil vet jabbed him with needles and poked around in his wounds. For another, he's fat -- 4 kilograms, or about 9 pounds, which is enormous for a Jakarta cat!

As the shot took effect, the cat got wobbly and his eyelids started to droop. Then he threw up all his kitty treats, poor guy, as well as some fried rice he'd stolen that morning and a long, wiggly, very-much-alive worm. Our agenda promptly expanded to include de-worming. The vet also checked out a wound on his side, which I figured was associated with the car accident. Not so, she said -- it was a burn, probably caused by somebody tossing boiling water on him.

As the vet bandaged him up, my treat-and-release plan dissolved in front of my eyes. The cat needs to stay clean and out of danger for another couple of weeks. He really can't be limping around in traffic and dumpster-diving for his meals. So, inevitably, I brought him home.

And that's where he is now, gradually coming out of the anesthesia. I got him a cage to protect him from Susu and keep him out of trouble when we're not around. He's going to live in our home office while he's recuperating.

We're taking care of him till he's better but we're NOT keeping him forever. I know you don't believe me -- I can see you shaking your head with a knowing smirk -- but we're not. We are going to find him a home.

So ... one sweet, cuddly, box-trained, down-on-his-luck Jakarta kitty is looking for an angel. Could it be you?

6 comments:

InALittleMinute said...

From a pet lover: Thank you for taking the cat in and getting it the treatment it needed. You are a superstar!

As far as you being adamant that your not keeping the cat once its healed... good luck.. I know I couldn't give the cat away to another home, Im too much of a pushover for those cat eyes!

Thanks for the warm & fuzzy story.
http://inalittleminute.blogspot.com

alw said...

damn it trish. you make st. francis seem like a slacker.

your new pet (or non-pet) sounds totally bad ass, and i wish i could trade Theo for him (i know, i'm a jerk, but what can i say? we're growing apart. people change. cats change.)

give this cat's head a good solid scratching for me.

alw said...

holy cow -- i just realized how old this post is. is the cat still under your purview? (note i did NOT make a "purr-view" joke here. let's keep it that way.)

WiLSoN said...

Just now saw this post! What became of said kitty?
2 cats are better than one. Take it from me, WiLSoN.
Any form of update welcome (email, facebook, blog post on MY blog, etc.)
*

Anonymous said...

update pretty please. :D

Trish said...

The short version: Ronaldo, as he is now called, was adopted by my good friend Pinta. He's now living with her mom on the south end of town in a nice house on a quiet street. Ron sounds well-fed, spoiled and very happy, and his leg is all better! Details and photos soon!