Cat Visit: the full story (plus trip to the beach)

I have been quite ill the last few days, I am sorry that this post has been so delayed: I had probably the worst 23 hours in memory. I lost not only the best possibility of IVIG in a timely manner: not because the neurologist didn’t think I was terminal. And not because he didn’t know how to do IVIG but because he did not know anything about central autonomic failure and in 37 years had not treated it, and not with IVIG. There are NO autonomic failure specialists in this province. And even the top Neurologists of two countries telling him this is what needs to be done was not enough to stop him from saying, “It is not something I am going to put my name to.”

No treatment

No pain clinic or oversight of any medications.

No GP.

And then, after a grueling 6:30 am prep for a medical appointment and the joyful neuro visit in the afternoon, in the evening my body reacted to something, slower and longer than Cheryl’s did. And I evacuated until 5:30 am. When I finally slept, I woke 30-40 minutes later, said, “help” and Linda helped me BACK to the bathroom for round 2….well actually round 14 or so. I had been spontaneously bleeding from my nose from 4:30 a.m. on, then my body went into shock. I bled from the anus, as well. I got back to bed about 6:30 am.

The workers with an earthmover, a truck and several other heavy machinery started early, before city bylaws allow at 7:00 a.m. – 30 minutes after I got to bed – they finished at 5:30 pm.

But I have kitties. Or memories. At the shelter we got a bit confused and went into the ‘small animals’ room, which turned out to be mostly rabbits. Each rabbit had, if not another rabbit, a stuffie companion to be with. Indeed, it was nice but strange to see that the animals here were treated in a far more disability and friendly way than um, humans like me.

In the cat rooms, of which there were several: one large room which extended to a expanded play and sunning room and then an outside room. I did not want to go to the outside area as I would have had to flip up my casters and that would have scared the cats. Most of the free roaming cats like this one didn’t have a name I could find.
I quickly learned that cats really like being slowly scratched or rubbed underneath the jaw. This cat was purring in quite a contented way.I also talked in a soothing voice in case the cats needed to recognize me when I came again. Since I have little scent (I actually borrowed Linda’s gloves for this trip), I am hoping they will recognize the voice.
As you can see, visiting cats and having kitties accept me has absolutely no effect whatsoever on my happiness or well being.
There was one cat, that looked a year or just under, which didn’t want to be petted but wanted to hide under the wheelchair. So everywhere I went, the cat would follow. I guess with all the rooms they forgot one thing, something to hide under and spring out from. Anyway, if you adopt this cat, expect to find him in small spaces or under the sofa.

There was a bonded pairing of an eight month old black kitten named Betsie (ug! The name!) and Murray. Betsie was VERY outgoing, and Murray was pretty shy. Betsie liked to play, and then like to run back to Murray – a total momma’s boy…except Betsie wasn’t a boy and Murray wasn’t a mama. But more on that. Here Betsie is playing the ‘Spring from the back of the cage and chomp the finger’ game.You can see a pink bald patch of skin on Murray. When I first went to the cage Betsie didn’t know me and Betise went back and sucked the teat of Murray...except Murray is a guy. So instead Betsie has licked all the fur off of that section and licks it or suck it when she feels sad or needs comfort – the cat equivalent of sucking a thumb. Here is the older, more mature and shy Murray coming for a sniff.
There are sunning shelves all along the one wall in the next room as well as climbing and jumping platforms. As you can see with this platform, there are stairs for the older cats to walk up to the platform in order to sun themselves. A sort of cat disability adjustment. The shelter did a good job with pairing, with other ailments and with older cats to accommodate the needs and give them equal access.

Apparently, I found out later, that when cats like you or want to really know you they touch noses which is the cat equivalent of a ‘hello’ or handshake.
I have to admit that I spent a great deal of time with the kitten Betsie and the two year old Jasmine who ACTS like a kitten. First, using all FOUR legs, I am ‘officially caught’ – those pesky pink wiggle things will wiggle no more!

Then, while holding me still with the back legs, she comes in for the CHOMP!After a few chomps, Jasmine licks my finger to show it is all in play (that is my HOPE, instead of, ‘she licks my finger, hoping to lick up the blood from her beheaded prey’).
Of course, whether it is all in fun or not, that doesn’t mean she intends to give up my finger. She caught it and now it is HERS.
Jasmine also like to play the catch and chomp game upside down. Which amused her. Here she is resting and of course STILL holding the finger. I think I am supposed to rub her stomach and tell her how brilliant she is. But I am far too dense (hey there were bars in the way) so she had to make do with playing with me some more.

After the cat shelter Linda went to get some fish and chips so she dropped us off at the waterfront, atop the cliffs. It was sunny but with a good breeze to keep me cool. Cheryl and I rolled and ambled along the top of the cliff, looking out over the water to Port Angeles and also people watching.

I found, along the cliff path, this very long and very steep trail down to the beach, which meant I had to go back and forth and let the sides of the trail stop me and the wheelchair by ramming my feet and footrest into them. Fun.

It turned out it went down to a viewing platform, where we could see the driftwood of the beach and the curve of the bay. The sun was high in the sky.
The last bit down to the beach was set of stairs so even if I made it down.....no way back. So I asked someone passing by to take a picture of us. By then it was time for the hard part, to go back UP the path, inch by inch. Ouch! I stopped to take a drink every bit of shade and we met Linda and off home for some fish and chips, watching anime and then off for a nap. A not so bad afternoon.