To discover a hurting cat, Cleo. She welcomed me warmly (has never held a grudge) and followed me around for scratches and cuddles. But except for the dosed canned food she ate very little. MOST unlike her. Also, I found her hiding in a new spot- in the 4" space under the couch. When not with me this was her new hangout. Not a good sign. In addition, her poor uptake of the dosed food we offer had resulted in compulsive scratching which had been going on before we left.
Here was my calculation:
Gone 8 days, with 4 cat care visits which she seemed to handle well - (decreased interest in food/water + explosive snot expelling sneezing fits + hiding) = a miserably itchy unwell cat.
Yesterday I tried for an vet appointment listing my concerns but the next available regular slot would be next month. I was then offered an "emergency" slot. John, still under the weather with a cold was not available to help with the two person herding, grabbing, and boxing of Cleo. So I prepared to do it solo. I was given a 12:45 "appt." and was told that due to her possible contagion we would wait in the car for likely 1-4 hours for the emergency slot to become available. So I gathered lunch, extra blankets, cleaning supplies, my tablet and girded my loins for solo Cleo boxing.
I enticed Cleo out from hiding by playing some music and sitting on the couch next to her two pillow stack soft blanket covered place next to me. When I sit there with TV or music she ALWAYS joins me to cuddle and nap. And thankfully she did. I have never been able to grab sufficient scruff with an adequate grip to pick her up (which John has used enough times that she now fights very little recognizing the futility). So I just stood up and before she could jump down I scooped her up, walked 13 steps to the carry crate and she walked in. Then the unholy yowling and howling began.
I put her in the foot well of the passenger side and covered her crate with her couch blanket. After the standard protest during transport she settled down. Until my battery was too low I used my seat warmer (!) and some cabin heat toward my feet and her box. That worked about 2 hours. We were called in after a 4 hour wait. An assistant took vitals and got her history and were told the Vet would be coming.
Nothing for another hour, so (needing a bathroom) I ventured from solitary and asked about what to expect. I was again informed that I was 3rd in line to be seen, with no estimate for how long the wait might be. I got my tablet, so I could distract myself, and returned to find Cleo under the Formica bench facing the corner of the room.
And we waited: Cleo making no sound, pretending to be invisible, and me trying to find a comfortable negotiation with the awful (but very easily sanitized bench) in the very cool room. Up side here: MUCH better for me than a very warm room!
Someone poked a head in to say that we had not been forgotten. I asked when they closed and was told they would be working until all the appointed and emergency clients were seen. Apparently one time that took until 11 pm. If not yet seen, they would send us home to try again tomorrow. I was not heartened. (I assume it will take more than one night for Cleo to let me put a hand on her again.)
Apparently this is not an actual emergency vet, which I had tried several years ago. I got a very large bill and inadequate intervention which pushed me to find this vet. This was their best stab at offering a "now" service.
At about 7 the vet arrived and made a quick but complete check with a focus on how long she had been off food. That plus the "explosive snot - and excellent name for a rock band" indicated infection. Which needed to be addressed first so she would resume eating. (I was told I MIGHT need to force feed her, which I assume would be followed by brushing her teeth.)
She took Cleo to administer an antibiotic shot, hydration, and take a blood panel to rule out other possible serious concerns for this 11 yo cat. She got a decent grade on the blood work.
We were discharged around 8 pm and had just gotten home when John arrived to see what had happened. I had been remiss in keeping him posted on the nothing that kept on happening and when I finally got home it was in recoup mode when he arrived.
We sat on the couch and much to our amazement Cleo came and cuddled next to me and let us gently love her up. She is difficult to care for, but upsides include never holding a grudge and being so generous with her sweet, soft, purring presence. I remain a cat person to the core.