Our Anti-Social Cat

This actually happened last week, but I wanted to make sure that I could tell the end of the story and waited to post.  For once, we were so excited.  We were going to have made it a month without going to the vet.  THAT NEVER HAPPENS.  With Harper's EPI, we joke that we should buy stock in our vet's practice.  Harper's not entirely healthy because of the stress of the baby, but she's hanging in there.  We could handle a little blood, digestive issues, and the like.  I know, how crazy is it to think of that as a GOOD month?

Alas, a break from the budget line item "Animals - Medical" was not to be.  Monster's goal in life is to get outside.  To be fair, I adopted him when he was 2, and he had lived outside previously.  He does not understand why he can't go outside now.  It might not be a big deal, other than 1) We've been trying to keep him inside during pregnancy, because being an outdoor cat increases his risk of picking up toxoplasmosis, and 2) Our neighbor "has" 4 cats.  They are somewhat feral and he never brings them inside.  He just feeds them.  There is a gigantic black cat that is NASTY and will pick fights with any other animal in the neighborhood.  This is not an exaggeration.  He apparently even sits outside another neighbor's door and yells at their Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  He's a bully.

This bully caught up with Monster when he got out last week.  Monster is NOT a small cat.  And he usually can stick up for himself quite well.  He's 13 pounds of muscle and claws.  That wasn't enough to stand up to the bully.  He is COVERED in bite wounds and came back limping, barely putting any weight on his front right paw.  One of the bites had landed right in his shoulder joint and was starting to form an abcess. 

I took him over to the vet, where they shaved select spots where the bites were bad, shot him full of antibiotics, and were amazed that they got to see me again before the baby was born.  I'm not joking that these women know me too well.  They gave us Christmas presents, have invited us to private parties, and probably know more details of my life than even I do.  So, they were happy to see me doing well, but they do feel bad that we single-handedly keep the vet practice afloat. 

He still isn't walking perfectly.  It's been about a week, but he's definitely improved.  So, I think we managed to avoid any further need to have bites drained.  Thank goodness!  We love our animals, but they seriously are going to bankrupt us.  Again, not an exaggeration. 

And, of course, this has added to Harper's stress.  She is NOT supposed to be on the bed, but this was the scene when I got out of the shower one day last week.  Her protecting her "Bubba".  It's sweet, but the cat certainly doesn't see it that way.  Drives him nuts.  And I think he's very relieved that within the past couple of days he's finally felt well enough to take swipes at her, and to run away.

Now, this is an order....BOTH OF YOU STAY HEALTHY UNTIL AFTER THE LION'S BORN.  At least.  Please?!?!