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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Visiting hours at the D.I.C.U.

Most of you come over here to see what the animals of the 7MSN are up to every day. I try to keep it a drama-free zone, which is pretty easy because nothing much dramatic happens in our lives and we really like it that way. But there was a little drama this week. I thought about keeping it under wraps, but the cat would be out of the bag the minute you saw a picture of Deets workin' his part-poodle haircut.



Several weeks ago while Deets was sunbathing in front of the barn, Lyle came over to investigate and pawed at Deets. I only saw the end of the encounter and don't know who started what. Deets ran off to the hay barn and I ran off after him. He was frightened but moving just fine. I checked him all over and all I could see was a cut on the inside of his back leg. He stayed in the hay barn for a few days, then emerged as his typical self, though definitely more cautious around all the boys. Perhaps he's finally figured out he's smaller than them, I hoped.

This past Monday, I watched Deets walk by and thought something didn't look right. I picked him up and felt a great big lump under his flank. Off to the vet we went. The vet suspected the lump was a trauma-caused hernia; she said it was not uncommon but would require surgery to remove. So Deets had his operation on Tuesday and he's doing great. Really! You can stop worrying.

Not surprisingly, the vet and all the staff at the clinic fell madly in love with Deets during his stay. He was an excellent patient.

Here he is on the way home...



He has a 7" incision that runs almost the whole length of his belly. I'm supposed to restrict his activity for the next two weeks until the stitches are removed - no running, no jumping, no playing. So I've turned the feed room into the Deets I.C.U. How much trouble can he get into in 72 square feet?



There isn't much for Deets to do in the feed room unless a mouse shows up, so I go out to visit every few hours. Smooch loaned Deets her crate, which I've lined with blankets and pillows. I can close him inside when I'm busy feeding the boys so that he doesn't escape.



Visiting hours are from 2 to 4, and he's had a steady stream of friends stopping by to wish him a speedy recovery.







Deets is lapping up all the extra attention and doesn't seem to mind being confined...yet. He's smart enough to know his body needs a chance to heal. In nine more days, he'll go back to hunting and mousing and hanging out with his pals. I can only hope he's learned his lesson about taking on those who outweigh him by 1,000 pounds.

41 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh, poor Deets, but as your story goes on I calmed down and it looks like life is still good for our favorite barn cat. I love the pictures of all his visitors!

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  2. Whew. So happy he's healing. The visitor photos are fanatastic. Deets just might get used to all this luxury and may never want to leave the feed room.

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  3. Best wishes to Deets for a speedy and complete recovery!

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  4. It's hard to keep a good cat down. I'm so glad Deets is on the mend. There is a cat where I ride and he stands upstairs in the viewing area when I ride and barks at me for treats. He always shows up. I guess Bart has been kicked a few times so he doesn't get underfoot anymore. He just knows how to find ways to ask for treats.
    Cats rule!
    Best always, Sandra

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  5. Phew! I am glad Deets is ok! it's a good thing he did his elf training earlier! Will he be ready for the big night?
    Yeah, I definately don't live in the middle of nowhere because i need thrive on drama...

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  6. Wishing Deets a speedy recovery. Wishing his Personal Nurse all the best too. It is always a bit unsettling when our furry kids get hurt or sick - it takes alot out our days. How quickly they adjust to a more pampered lifestyle! Take Care!

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  7. I am glad to see it worked out okay and that you were on top of it in time to get it fixed. He does look like he's relishing attention from you. His life would be safer if he was a house cat but I suppose he wouldn't like that much. I have several cats that were adopted as strays and I tell them the price they pay for being privileged cats is loss of some freedom. Currently the one who came from the desert is relishing some time back out there but the bobcat and coyotes still frequent this place; so his time is limited in comparison to his freer roaming days (he eats better though and has warm bed partners at night when he so chooses).

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  8. Tell Deets he isn't alone in his recovery. Our barn dog "Onyx" took a tumble Thurs. night in the barn. Fri. a.m. found him unable to use is back legs. Hairline fracture of the 6th lumbar vertibrea. He's in the house now, crated, with an orthopedic bed,walks w/towel supporting his rear wheel drive. I have to cath him as he can't urinate on his own. Progress this a.m. as when I tickled his paw pads, his feet both pulled back. Onyx has no clue that he's broken right now, patient in good spirits. The youngest of our dogs lays crateside keeping him company most of the day. We'll include Mr. Deets in our prayers.

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  9. awwww, poor Deets! He did have a bunch of lovely visitors though!

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  10. Sending healing thoughts for Deets! Love the visiting hour photos - they all seem quite concerned about their cowboy!

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  11. Oh Deets! Poor boy! There goes another of the 9 lives. Such a nice feed room you have for him to live in! Love the peeking burros.

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  12. He doesn't look happy in that cone - glad he isn't wearing it mostly now! Like all the visitors he's getting!

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  13. Eventually there's always a drama or two for us animal owners. A seven-inch incision on that cat belly must be quite dramatic in itself!
    I'm glad it was an easy fix and that Deets is enjoying his recovery. I don't even think that qualifies as a loss of one of his nine lives.

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  14. Oh noes! Silly Deets. Give him some extra treats for me.
    I have had a few really friendly kitties get stepped on or bitten by Indigo. Like squeaky, the barn cat that could not meow. I was holding him one day, she pinned her ears and made an attempt at his life with her teeth. I hollered at her and make her know it was not allowed to bite the little ones. Yet she loooooooves dogs. Her best buddy at her old owners was a collie that slept in her stall with her at night.

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  15. Horse-1 Cat--10. Poor kitty. It is a good thing you checked him. Sure would hate to have to send flowers for a kitty funeral. Those donks are just soooo funny--their noses are longer than their ears!!!

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  16. I hope he has more sense than my little rat dog Martha, who gets in the face of anyone who dares usurp her position as mama's one and only baby.

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  17. Oh no! I always worry about Deets. He is my favorite, and I constantly worry about him if I don't see him pictured for a while! I am so glad that he is OK! I hope he isn't in too much pain or too bored during his recovery!

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  18. All the best to Deets! My favourite cat will be back in business in no time, I'm sure. And the curious faces in the feed room doorway... so funny!

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  19. But Wait! There's one visitor notably absent! Could it be that Lyle is too ashamed to show his face, after bringing such high drama to the 7MSN? Could it be that he is truly contrite and was busy catching mice for Deets?
    Best wishes for a speedy recovery, for both patient and caretaker!

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  20. So glad Deets is doing well! Santa will need to bring his little elf some special treats for being such a good patient!

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  21. Poor Deets! Glad it was nothing worse. He'll learn now (I hope). Wishing him a speed Christmas recovery!

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  22. Okay, am I the only wuss that teared up (cried) when I read this?

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  23. That is a great story! Deets is one funny cat. ICU for 9 days is going to be hard for this adventurous fellow.

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  24. Oh Poor Deets! I wish him a quick recovery, and hope that Santa brings him a special treat.

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  25. Poor Deets--so glad you you zoomed him over to the vet before it got worse.
    I once rode at a barn where one of the horses went around attacking the cats. He hated 'em for some reason. They had to keep them apart. It was a pain but everyone managed.

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  26. Poor baby! I hope he's doing better soon.

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  27. Glad Deets is okay. May I suggest you shave his other leg so he has a matched pair? I imagine shaving a cat would be tons of fun. I notice Lyle wasn't one of his well wishers. Is he ashamed?

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  28. Aw, speedy recovery to ya, Deets!!

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  29. Yikes. Poor Deets. I, too understand what can happen when you let your guard down around the equine creatures.
    Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Give him a can of tuna to lift his spirits :)


    ~Lisa

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  30. Goodness, I hope he's being a good patient. I'm glad it didn't turn out worse, and I'm sure he is too.

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  31. Mechelle, everyone does truly hurt for Deets. It's so wrenching when an innocent animal has to be subjected to such traumatic stress. We're glad he's better. Peace on Earth.

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  32. Aww poor Deets! Wishing him a speedy recovery fro all of us on Spruce Hill

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  33. Miss Kitty wore me down, and we took her in as a house cat. She had been abandoned from the looks of things and did not fare that well in the wild. She absolutely loved the security of her carrier and would go sit in it when she wanted to be planted outside in the open air.

    Sometimes I would forget about her and jump up saying Oh @#!$, Miss Kitty is still outside. Deets doesn't mind the confinement during his recovery. And the poodle cut is quite fetching.

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  34. A good catch on you part, Carson, the little black dude could have hid that for a long time. He --and all the rest-- should be glad you pay that much attention.

    Thanks for the shots of the visitors, the burrito brothers look especially concerned.

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  35. Nothing more macho than a little scarring, right Deets?

    Yesh. Way to give us all a heart attack.

    Hopefully he's got his timing a bit more refined. Afterall, hooves beat claws every time (lions notwithstanding...).

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  36. Uhmmm....a 7 inch incision for a hernia repair? Really? Did they do a few other surgeries while they were in there...just for good measure? Wow, I'm so glad he hung around long enough for you to find out he was not up to par. Lucky, lucky Deets. Now, really, no jumping and pulling apart those inside sutures...or yer back to square one.

    Be a good, quiet cat now.

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  37. Whew! I was feeling some anxiety coming on at the title of that post! I'm SO glad that Deets is OK, and is healing up well. Something about those black cats....they're heartbreakers and they're little stinkers too.

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  38. I am glad to hear that Deets is healing and well! Great!

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  39. Glad to know Deets is doing well.

    My dog still has evidence of his poodle wrists from IVs he needed in early September!

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  40. Poor Deets I hope he makes a speedy recovery, I am sure he will under your expert care and with so much love around him :)

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  41. I just can't seem to get around to all my favorite blogs...yours including!

    So, a very Belated Merry Christmas the the 7MSN! I've got to try the roasted Brussels sprouts and the spinach mashed potatoes...yummy!

    Poor Deets...glad he's on the mend and back outside. Lil' Tat the Cat was kicked by one of the horses in the night about 10-11 years ago and it knocked his rear leg right out of the socket. You could see the hoof print in his hip (thank goodness the hoof was not shod!) After vet repair and a couple of weeks in the house with his leg in a sling, he was a good as new!

    Once again...my best to you in 2010!

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