Oliver's accident

I'm happy to be writing this post...well...let me rephrase that, I'm not exactly happy to be writing it, but happy that the outcome is such that writing it is just to inform of the incident and not a sad outcome.

On Wednesday night I fed horses (as I usually do) and did a head count of my cats.  Oliver was missing.  Initially this does not cause me concern.  He is a hunter and often goes to the furthest corners of our 22 acres to find his prey.  But when I still couldn't find him over an hour later I was worried.  I searched high and low with Leroy and Frolic close on my heels.  It was as if they too were worried for their little buddy.

I decided to get canned food and fill the dishes on the porch.  You see, no matter where Oliver is on the farm, he can hear me bang a spoon on a dish.  It's like magic.  He will come running.  But, not this time.  He did not come running.  I was feeling sick.  Not wanting to think of what could have happened.  It was then that Leroy meowed at me, walked over to one of their sleeping boxes and peeked in.  I was certain that Oliver was not there.  I was wrong.

I lifted the towel and was horrified at what I found.  My most sweetest, amazing little barn cat was covered in blood...from nose, to chest to front legs.  He was also wheezing.  A quick call to Mark and the Vet and I was on my way.  I tried not to speed.  I like to think I did pretty well.  The entire time worried that my little guy had internal injuries (the wheezing and all the blood).  We use a mobile vet for our regular care, but we use Mt. Carmel Vet for our emergencies.  They are terrific.

They took Oliver back right away to examine him.  30 minutes later we received great news...no internal injuries, no broken bones, but instead just some bad scrapes and trauma to his face.  The Vet did not think he had been hit by a car, but instead wondered if he had fallen.  Not surprising as I've seen this cat do amazing acrobatics to catch prey.  They gave Oliver IV fluids, antibiotics, pain meds and cleaned him up.  Once they were sure he was stabilized, they let us take him home with a prescription of antibiotics for 7 days and pain meds.

Oliver slept inside...so did Leroy.  I did not sleep at all.  I kept checking on him. Worried he would have problems breathing etc.  He did fine.  He is fine.  I am grateful.  Grateful that he had the smarts to hole up in a place where I could find him and he could stay warm, grateful that Leroy "told" me where he was and grateful that I have such an amazing Vet close by.  I'm also grateful that I am married to a man that understands how important my animals are to me and doesn't even bat an eye when the vet bill arrives.  

So...wondering how a mostly feral cat does being kept indoors?  Huh.  Just fine.  :)

You can sort of see his wounds here.  He's lost all of his whiskers for the most part on the right side.  Hoping they grow back.

You can see it better here.  The blood I was seeing was from these wounds and from his nose.  Sort of gave himself a bloody nose.  That has cleared up nicely.

And, I owe a lot of his amazing recovery to his pal Leroy.  Always nearby.  Often can be found grooming Oliver...taking care of him.  Warms my heart.