Wednesday, October 7, 2020

a near miss tragedy and a finished drawing


I damn near killed the cat last Friday.

She likes to lay on the concrete apron in front of the garage where we park the car and the truck, next to the car or right in the big middle of where the car would be when it's parked there. Used to be she would get up and move when we started the car or pulled in to park but for the past several months she has just stubbornly laid there. So when I'm ready to leave I have to pick her up and move her into the garage and when I return I have to stop and move her before I can pull into the space where we park the car. When I left last Friday, I picked her up and moved her and when I returned from my errand, I didn't see her laying on the apron because she was over by the truck laying in the accumulated leaves. I swung the car into the space, felt the front passenger side tire thump over something and heard Emma howl.

OMG, I ran over the cat! I jumped out and she was trying to make it into the garage and I scooped her up, grabbed my phone and called the vet in a panic, grabbed the cat carrier, and took her straight over there. By this time she wasn't crying but you could hear a crackly sound when she breathed. So they x-rayed her and it's a miracle there were no broken bones but it looked like her lungs were bruised and some fluid was developing in them. They gave her a steroid shot to reduce the inflammation and a lasik shot for the fluid build-up and sent her home with the instruction to keep an eye on her and if she starts open mouth panting to call the emergency number. So Friday night was very scary, she was totally lethargic. I usurped the dog bed for her and put it and the litter box next to my bed and when I woke up sometime during the night she was gone and I found her in the closet where she likes to sleep at night.

Saturday morning all lung sounds were gone and when I opened the back door she got up and very unsteadily, limping heavily on one side, went out and laid down where she spent the day 


but she wasn't eating or drinking so I got an old needle-less syringe I use out in the shop Saturday and started forcing water into her mouth four or five times a day. Sunday same, moving a little easier but still not eating or drinking on her own. Monday she didn't seem to be limping and she started drinking water on her own but didn't start eating a little bit until Tuesday morning. She's still not back to her usual demanding vocal self but she is twitching her tail in annoyance now but I'm confident there is no lasting damage. And maybe she's learned her lesson. Probably not. She is a cat after all.


I finished the drawing of the morning glory Sunday.


Still don't know what I'm going to do with these little botanical illustrations, very different from Linda Sue's little book of blank pages she's filling with delightful and insightful watercolors. You'll have to scroll through her posts to see them all. I'm more of an illustrator than a spontaneous artist. I really should practice that more. I should do a watercolor before I forget everything I learned in the class I took. I've got the supplies right here so we'll see.



14 comments:

  1. Oh, how terrifying. I can only imagine how upsetting that was for you. I'm so glad she has improved. It might be a good idea to try to get her to stop using the driveway as her lounging area. The hose could come in handy for that.

    Beautiful morning glory!

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  2. Oh dear, like you need more heart thumping stress. Terrible nightmare event!What Hilary said about HOSE, yes!
    Your morning glory is ethereal! Absolutely beautiful , better than the real deal!

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  3. Oh, Ellen! You must have been horrified but all's well that ends well and cats are remarkably resilient. I'm sure you're right- she probably sees no need to change her habits because of course you're the one who needs to change. Not her.
    I love your morning glory.

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  4. Ach, the horror and the guilt of thst accident. I'm glad she's recovering, and I hope you are, too.

    Nice rendering of the morning glory.

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  5. How scary! Thank goodness she seems to be OK. I wish animals were better at knowing what's good for them. Like, not to lie in the driveway.

    The morning glory looks amazing!

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  6. Yikes! That was scary! I'm glad she seems to be doing ok, but you're right that she probably didn't really learn her lesson (and in fact, she is also thinking, "I hope she learned her lesson!" about you).

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  7. Well then, you have illustrated that morning glory gloriously.
    When that cat is quite recovered, look her dead in the eye and ask which life that was you just resuscitated with real money. She probably knows.

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  8. Oh how frightening. I’m glad your cat is going to be okay. I love your art.

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  9. The little stinker!!! Gads... Hope she continues to improve and she stays out of the driveway! That morning glory is beautiful. Wonder if there's some way to transfer the image to cloth and use it in a block for a garden quilt. Would be beautiful with blue sashing.

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  10. Your cat is a thoughtful-looking beauty. What a relief that she is recovering. I'm in awe of your morning glory drawing.

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  11. What a frightening and heartbreaking experience. I am so glad that she is okay and recovering, and that you are as well. Take care there.

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  12. The leaves must have protected her a bit so she wasn't hurt worse! What a scare for both of you! Glad she is better. You will always have to double check from now on I bet.

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  13. I felt some of your panic while I was reading this. Since Dixie Rose was only an indoor cat, the worst I did was step on her, but believe me -- that was bad enough. I'm so, so glad that she is recovering. I hope you are, too!

    By the way -- about that bagworm. Believe it or not, that log cabin appearance seems to be because different species build different looking homes. The species I found (are you ready for this?) is Abbott's bagworm moth: Oiketicus abbotii. It's named after a North American entomologist named John Abbot ((1751-1840).

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  14. I too panicked. Soo glad she is better. Nice dainty flower. How about as a stopper for a perfume bottle?

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.