Coated With Fur: A Blind Cat's Love

by Kristen Nelson

  “Oh, yes, do whatever she needs, Dr. Nelson,” Barbara said. She hugged Polly, kissed her on the forehead and backed away. I scooped the dog into my arms, trying to keep her head away from my face. The smell of vomitus mixed with lack of sleep made me queasy. “Oh, Dr. Nelson, one last thing,” Barbara called to me from the doorway. “Can you put in the catheter without shaving? It looks so bad when they have a bald spot on their leg.”

  “Sorry, Barbara. We need to sterilize the skin before inserting the catheter. If we don’t shave, there’s a greater chance for infection.”

  Barbara frowned and turned to go.

  “But I’ll tell the techs to keep it to a minimum. Hopefully, you’ll be able to comb her long feathers over it.”

  I carried Polly into the treatment room, Kim trailing behind me. “Sorry, Dr. Nelson, but it sounded like she couldn’t wait until this afternoon,” she said.

  “You made the right call, Kim. I think she’s got HGE,” I replied.

  Kim opened the door of one of the larger, bottom cages.

  “There’s a slide for rectal cytology on her record. Draw blood for the courier right away and then place a catheter,” I instructed while placing Polly in her spotless stainless abode. “Give her 150 mls of LRS stat, then drop it down to 50 mls an hour.”

  Kim nodded while collecting supplies.

  “I’ll make up the rest of her orders while you work on this.” I turned to leave and almost ran into Allie rounding the corner of the bank of cages.

  “Kris,” she said.

  I tried to focus on her. Allie rarely called me by my first name.

  “I made a cup of tea for you. Go eat something,” she ordered. “I think your blood sugar needs a boost. I’ll get you when the cats are ready.” I went to my office without a sound. A steaming cup of tea waited on my desk next to a bagel covered with blueberry jam. I was glad Allie didn’t use raspberry. I ate half of it before falling asleep at the desk.

  “Dr. Nelson,” Kim called. I remained slumped over. “Dr. Nelson,” she repeated. Allie appeared in the doorway next to her. They looked at each other and giggled.

  Allie walked over and shook my shoulder.

  “Wake up,” she ordered. “It’s time for surgery.”

  I followed them into the treatment room and began to scrub my hands. Neutering cats is the first surgery I learned in school. Although my first one took about 20 minutes, five minutes of actual surgery and 15 minutes of making sure everything was correct, I could do the procedure much faster now. I put on a pair of sterile gloves and neutered Jerry in less than two minutes.

  “Next,” I said. While I scrubbed again, the technicians prepared the second cat. Ten minutes later, Tom the tomcat slept peacefully in his bed, unaware of what I had done. I ripped off my surgical gloves, rolled them into a ball and tossed them in the garbage. I sat down on a stool and rubbed my head.

  “What’s wrong, Kris?” Allie asked. “You look white, and you’re shaking.”

  “I’ve got a screaming headache, Allie, and I’m freezing.”

  “Are you getting sick?” Kim asked.

  “No,” Allie answered for me. “She gets cold when she’s tired. I remember her walking around the emergency clinic wearing her winter coat.”

  “Our next appointment isn’t until 3:30. Why don’t you go home and take a nap?”

  “Oh, that’s a great idea,” I replied. “But I think I’ll crash on the gurney instead.” Kim shot Allie a quizzical look. She was one of the fortunate ones who had never worked emergency.

  We kept the gurney in the back part of the lobby, past the door to the dog exam room. From this position, we could wheel it straight out the front door, over the sidewalk and down the handicap access ramp. Gurneys designed for animals are much shorter than those used in human medicine. So, instead of purchasing an animal gurney, I traded services with a local hospital liquidator for a human one. The extra length gave us a place for equipment next to the animal. The gurney came with a flip-up IV stand and a thick pad.

  I unsnapped the pad and placed it on the office floor. Allie rummaged through the closet, emerging with a sleeping bag in one hand and a pillow in the other. I unrolled the sleeping bag on the pad. Allie fluffed the pillow. Dust filled the air with each punch. By the time she finished, the pillow looked like a marshmallow. She placed it on top of the sleeping bag.

  “When do you want me to wake you up?” she asked as she headed out of the office.

  “3:25.” I crawled onto the makeshift bed and pulled the sleeping bag over me. “That will give me five minutes to get rid of the cobwebs.” All day long, I fought to stay awake by focusing on the task at hand. Now as I rested on the soft cushion, I gave into the waves of exhaustion. I fell asleep within seconds.

  Chapter 10

  Emergency

  “Do you want reception or treatment?” Allie asked as she entered the treatment room. Kim stood at the sink, putting surgical instruments into the ultrasonic cleaner. A pile of clean surgical gowns and towels lay on the treatment table.

  Kim shrugged before tackling the soiled drapes in the sink.

  “Either one is fine,” she eventually answered.

  Allie opened the door to Jerry’s cage to check on him after the neuter. The large gray tabby slept peacefully under a towel. She peeked at his rear end to check for bleeding, but the area was dry. Next she checked on his littermate, Tom, in the cage next to him. Without name cards, it would be hard to tell these brothers apart. They both had bands of black and gray that swirled into an ‘M’ on their foreheads. Tom’s tail twitched back and forth while his paws moved under the towel. Hopefully, the dreams were good ones.

  “If you don’t care, I’ll head up and tackle the front desk,” Allie informed Kim. “There are records all over.”

  Kim nodded. “I’ll get these surgical gowns and towels into the autoclave and then take care of Snowflake’s next treatment.” She looked at the incubator. “I think he’s doing better.”

  Allie walked over to the incubator and stared at the sleeping cat.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “He hasn’t drooled at all after the feedings,” Kim said with a smile. “And he’s starting to move his legs more.”

  Allie continued to stare at Snowflake, looking for something to confirm Kim’s opinion. His skin, especially around his eyes and the tips of his ears, was still yellow. He looked like he was wearing yellow eyeliner. But what really bothered Allie was his weakness — three days of care and he still couldn’t turn over by himself. “Hope you’re right,” she replied cheerfully to hide her concern.

  At 3 p.m., Margaret and Scott walked into the clinic. Allie closed the record she was writing in and dropped the pen on the counter. “Let me take you back to see Snowflake.” Just then, the phone rang. “Minnesota Veterinary Center, Allie speaking. Could you hold, please?” She pushed a button on the phone while holding the receiver by her neck. “No sense making you wait,” she smiled at the couple. “Why don’t you head back while I take care of this call?”

  Scott and Margaret took the shortcut through the cat examination room. The angelfish charged the glass when he saw them, but the couple didn’t even notice. When they arrived in the treatment room, Kim stood with her back to them at the treatment table. Snowflake’s incubator was empty. Margaret and Scott froze in fear.

  “Where’s Snowflake?” Scott asked.

  Kim jumped at the sound of his voice. When she turned around, they spotted Snowflake on the treatment table.

  “Sorry to scare you,” Scott apologized. They walked over to their cat.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Kim said. “I couldn’t hear you with the autoclave running.” She continued to move Snowflake’s front leg through its entire range of motion.

  “What are you doing?” Margaret asked.

  “PT,” she answered. “Twice a day, I give Snowflake a massage. After his muscles are warm, I move his legs to keep him limber.” She looked down at Snowflake and smiled.
His eyes were closed and lips turned slightly upward while he purred. “He really likes it.”

  Scott laughed. “Yes, he most certainly does.” He placed his hand on Snowflake’s head and rubbed his chin. Snowflake stretched his front and back legs and opened his eyes. He looked up at Scott.

  “Meow, meow,” the cat cried, then looked at Margaret. “Meow, meow.”

  “I think he’s happy you’re here,” Kim said. “It’s time for another meal. Would you like to feed him?”

  “Feed him,” Margaret repeated while staring at Kim. She started to bite her lower lip.

  “Yes, feed him. That way you’ll know how to do it when he goes home.”

  “Home,” Margaret muttered. “Do you really think he’ll go home?”

  “Not today,” Kim replied. “But yes, I do think he will go home.”

  “What does Dr. Nelson think?” Scott asked. “We didn’t see her when we came in.”

  “That’s because she’s asleep in her office.” Kim pointed at the wall behind the bank of cages.

  Margaret and Scott looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

  “Now, let me show you how to feed him,” Kim said.

  She uncorked the opening to the feeding tube sutured to his head. She attached a syringe filled with warm water and slowly injected it. Snowflake acted like nothing happened. Kim handed another syringe to Margaret. With shaking hands, Margaret attached a large syringe labeled “Snowflake” to the feeding tube and slowly fed him his dinner. Snowflake licked his lips as the brown gruel went down the tube. Margaret disconnected the syringe, holding her breath. Kim handed her another syringe containing water. Margaret flushed the feeding tube, set the syringe on the table and exhaled loudly.

  “You’re a natural, Margaret,” Kim said.

  Margaret nodded but remained silent.

  Kim collected the supplies from the table and threw them in the sink. “Would you like some chairs?”

  Scott looked at his watch before answering. “No thanks. We’re hosting a dinner tonight in Wayzata, so we have to get going.” He took Margaret’s hand and started pulling her toward the door. She stroked Snowflake one more time, then turned to follow her husband.

  “Thank you so much for taking care of my baby,” she said to Kim.

  “My pleasure,” she replied. “He’s a great cat.” Kim tucked Snowflake back in the incubator after the visit. He snuggled into the warm towels, kneading for a few seconds before falling asleep.

  Allie marched into the treatment room with a stack of files in her hand. “The 3:30 cancelled because they couldn’t catch the cat,” she announced.

  “Let me guess; they brought out the carrier before catching him,” Kim mused. “Rookie mistake!”

  Allie nodded. “The 4 o’clock is Sapphire for a wing and nail trim. If you don’t mind staying a little later, I thought we could do it and let Dr. Nelson sleep longer.”

  “That’s fine by me. I don’t have any plans tonight besides groceries.”

  Allie returned to the front desk. At 3:50 p.m., Isaac Wood walked into the clinic with Sapphire, a blue and gold macaw sitting on his hand. The bird’s magnificent tail feathers extended to his knees. Sapphire’s long nails dug into his skin, leaving red marks. Isaac was told that Sapphire was a girl, hence the name. Our DNA test proved otherwise, leading to a new nickname for Sapphire. It actually fit his personality much better because “Phire” had a knack for getting into trouble. In the past year, he chewed up a remote control, the back of a leather recliner and three books signed by the author.

  Allie wrapped Phire in a towel and held while Kim trimmed his feathers. The beak of a macaw is incredibly strong, capable of cracking a Brazil nut. Because Kim was new to birds, Allie held Phire to prevent any accidents. Kim would need to learn on smaller birds, like Windsor. Although his bite would hurt, he couldn’t break her finger like this bird could.

  Phire hated having his wings trimmed. He squawked and gave Allie the evil eye as Kim trimmed the three primary feathers on each wing. The squawking stopped the minute the Dremel tool hit his first toenail. He closed his eyes and made a grinding sound by rubbing his upper beak against the lower one. It sounded like sandpaper. Allie always teased Isaac about his girly bird, who loved having his nails done. She threatened to paint his nails when Isaac wasn’t around.

  Kim moved quickly between toes, finishing the job in less than five minutes. Phire left the clinic the same way he entered, on Isaac’s arm. But this time, Isaac was pain-free — no red marks.

  Stephanie Fleming held the front door open for the pair to leave. “You never know what you’re going to see at this place,” she said, emphasizing “this”. She watched Isaac put Phire on a perch in the backseat of his car. The homemade PVC tube perch rested on the middle of the seat, giving Phire an unobstructed view between the two front seats. Isaac used the seat belt to fasten it in place. Even though I recommended a carrier to prevent escape as well as injury, Isaac continued to transport the large parrot in this manner.

  “Hi, Stephanie,” Allie said. “I’ve got Bianca’s medicine ready for you.” Stephanie placed her purse on the counter and took out her wallet. “How’s she doing?”

  “Great, but I have a question for Dr. Nelson,” Stephanie replied.

  “Can I help you?” Allie replied.

  “No, I need to speak with Dr. Nelson.”

  “She’s been up the last three nights taking care of a sick patient. She’s taking a nap in her office right now,” Allie replied. “If I can’t answer the question, I’ll have her call you later.”

  “Why didn’t she go home to sleep?” Stephanie asked.

  “Because she didn’t think she could make it. We used to do the same thing at the emergency clinic to make sure we didn’t fall asleep at the wheel. Now, how can I help you?”

  “Sorry, but I really need to speak with Dr. Nelson,” Stephanie insisted. “It’s important.” She put Bianca’s medicine in her purse but would not leave.

  “Dr. Nelson will be up in less than an hour,” Allie said. She set a pen and paper on the counter in front of Stephanie. “I’ll make sure she gets your message.”

  Stephanie pushed the paper away, knocking the pen on the floor. She glared at Allie and tapped her fingers on the counter.

  “No, I need to speak with her now,” Stephanie insisted. “It’s urgent.”

  Reluctantly, Allie complied.

  “Dr. Nelson. Dr. Nelson!” Allie called through the door. She slowly opened it. Light flooded the room, forming a spotlight on Genny and me. Genny blinked several times and yawned. I placed my arm over my face to shield my eyes. “Oh, I see you have a helper cat.”

  “Yes, she crawled in with me after you left the room. Is it 3:25 already?” I asked. My head pounded.

  “No, it is actually 4:20. Our 3:30 had to reschedule, and Kim and I took care of Phire so you could sleep. Your next appointment isn’t until 5 p.m.”

  “Then why are you waking me up?” I complained.

  “Stephanie Fleming is here, insisting to see you. I tried to talk her out of it, but she refused to leave a message with me. She says it’s urgent.”

  “Stephanie Fleming,” I repeated, trying to think. “Have I seen her pet?”

  “Yes, Bianca. The dog with the fractured pelvis, remember?”

  Instantly, an image of a little white fur ball with a bow in her hair entered my mind.

  “Is Bianca with her?” I asked.

  “No.” Allie frowned. “I’m not even sure this is about Bianca. She wouldn’t tell me anything.”

  “Fine, I’ll be there in a minute,” I said. “Please put her in the dog room.”

  Allie left the door open and walked back up to the reception area.

  I sat up and rubbed my eyes with both hands. Genny looked up at me and purred. She climbed into my lap and rubbed against me.

  “Sorry, Gens, I need to go back to work. Nap time is over.” I pulled on my lab coat, hung the stethoscope around my neck and headed fo
r the restroom. Although we had repainted the orange walls white, the rest of the bathroom screamed 1970’s with a dark cabinet and dated countertop. In the mirror, I noticed a red pillow mark across my cheek and smudged mascara around my eyes. I splashed some water in my face, wiped the black marks away and pinched my cheeks to get a little color. I still looked like I just woke up.

  In the dog room, Stephanie sat in the chair, legs crossed and a designer purse on her lap. Her eyes widened when she saw me. “You really were sleeping.”

  “Yes, I’ve been up several nights in a row with a sick cat.” I forced a smile. I leaned against the table for support because I still felt a little unsteady. “What’s this urgent matter?”

  “Yes,” Stephanie stated emphatically. “Bianca needs to be groomed, but the groomer wouldn’t do it without a note from you.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly.

  “Groomed?” I was stunned.

  Stephanie was inexplicably expressionless.

  “The urgent matter is grooming?” I asked again, trying to comprehend.

  Stephanie uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. “I took Bianca in for grooming today, but the idiot groomer wouldn’t do it because of the accident. When I threatened to take my business elsewhere, she agreed to do it with a note from you.” She leaned back in the chair and smiled at me. “I’m here for the note.”

  I covered my open mouth with my hand, trying to conceal my shock and contain the words I so deeply wished to utter. “Stephanie, the groomer was right. It’s too soon for Bianca to go in for grooming,” I said as calmly as I could muster. “We will X-ray her hips again in six weeks. If the bones are healing well, she might be able to go in for a light grooming then.”

  “Six weeks! That’s ridiculous. I’m not going to wait…”

  “Stephanie,” I interrupted her. “If Bianca slips in the bathtub, it could separate the fractured ends of her bones. She would be in a lot of pain and might require surgery.” I studied Stephanie’s face to see if she was hearing anything I was saying. “I know you don’t want to do anything that would put Bianca in jeopardy.”