BLOBBY'S BLOG

I'M IN LOVE
(not another Keith Obermann post)

I always thought there were some weirdly trained cats in any commercial selling food or litter. How these cats jump up and touch noses with their 'owners' just didn't' seem normal to me. Our cats have never done that. Hell, our cats won't/don't sit on laps and barely can stand to be held. Colour me surprised that the new kitten loves to jump up on us and walks right up the chest to go nose-to-nose. I love and have loved our other cats - but she is the most affectionate cat I think I've come across.

Sophie (oh, that is the name we decided on) is doing pretty well. She likes her space and seemingly loves us as much as we do her. As feared though, she became a little ill after bringing her home from the shelter. So many cats there had an upper respiratory infection. I don't know she has that, but she developed some light sneezing Sunday evening - and a little more on Monday morning. I called the vet immediately.

The vet was great in getting us in right away. Driving through a heavy snow (yes! in late mid-October!!), we were embarrassed when they asked her name and we didn't have one. As we sat in the waiting room, I also noticed one eye was runny. Damn - now I knew she was sick.

We sat back in the exam room waiting for the doctor and had time to kill, so we continued our on-going discussion on names. Names were narrowed down, but it became clear that due to pop culture, almost every one had icky connotations...and that boy names would have been easier to choose! So we decided on 'Sophie' as her name. It just seems to fit her. By the time the vet came in with her chart, she could fill in the first name slot.

Sophie was a good girl at the vet. Everyone loved her markings and she just behaved herself oh so well (except for that whole rectal thermometer thing). The poor wee thing only weighs 2.09 lbs.

IF she is indeed 4 mos old, she is extremely slight - though she doesn't look undernurished. She had a temp of 103 - which is only 1-2 degrees above normal for a cat. Now she is on ointment for the eye for the next seven days and an antibiotic to prevent any other infections for the next 10 days (well, now it's down to five and eight respectively). She's taking the fussing over like a trooper.

She remains quarantined from Tovah until she is no longer infectious - probably another 3-5 days. They are aware of each other, though Tovah avoids the 'forbidden room!'. I'm hoping she sneaks up there and sniffs when we're not watching. Sophie is not fazed - but she just came from a room that had 40-50 cats.

We eagerly await acclimating her to the rest of the house and to become a full-fledged member of the family.