Monday, January 21, 2008
Back at home
Elusive is back home (school), back to her favourite Uncle Zain (security guard uncle who has been feeding her for the past 3 years).
She was clearly stressed out when she first came back. Her hind legs seemed to have little strength and she could not walk properly without dragging. Not sure if it is due to the lack of exercise in the tiny space constraints during the hospitalized period or due to her illness or due to the effects of the drugs. Hope some sunshine and more exercise will improve her condition.
Elusive is suspected of having bone cancer. She was brought home today as there was nothing that could be done further for her. I would like to believe that she would have wanted to be home, in her familiar surroundings, if it meant her last moments.
We will do what we can to make her final journey one much filled with love.
She was clearly stressed out when she first came back. Her hind legs seemed to have little strength and she could not walk properly without dragging. Not sure if it is due to the lack of exercise in the tiny space constraints during the hospitalized period or due to her illness or due to the effects of the drugs. Hope some sunshine and more exercise will improve her condition.
Elusive is suspected of having bone cancer. She was brought home today as there was nothing that could be done further for her. I would like to believe that she would have wanted to be home, in her familiar surroundings, if it meant her last moments.
We will do what we can to make her final journey one much filled with love.
The story
Elusive is a stray cat who resides in my school near the main gate. She has lived there for many years, way before I came in. As her name suggests, she has skilfully eluded capture by the pest controllers hired by the school management on many occasions. Her best friend was not so lucky. A manja and trusting one, Elusive's best friend, playmate, was captured and she's been alone ever since.
Elusive trusts only the malay security guard uncle who has been her guardian, giving her food and water for the past 3 years. He has been the only one who is able to go closer to her and even carry her. When I first approached Elusive last July, she would scoot off before I can even say meow.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that Elusive has been walking with a painful limp. On closer examination, her left paw was horrendously swollen, almost 4 times the size of her right paw. Her right elbow also looked awkward and swollen. She is suspected of having abscess, pus-filled wound likely brought about after cat fights. I took her to James Tan Veterinary Centre last Saturday, 12/01/08. They found no pus in her and deduced that it was more of a tissue infection that has eaten into her bone. They did an X-ray and found some deformity in the bone where the huge swelling was. They tried adminstering antibiotics and it was to no avail. Her swelling has not gone down but became worse. They have also found more lumps on her back and they were growing at an alarming rate. They could not do anymore for Elusive. They advised that if I wanted to pursue it further I should get her a biopsy at ARC to confirm the cause. They suspect bone cancer. It may cost another several hundreds to get the test done. Whether or not she can eventually recover is also unknown. The total vet fees of todate is approximately $500+.
Ideally, Elusive will definitely be better off in a home where she could be given proper care but it will not be easy to find her a home as she is FIV positive. I do not wish to bring her to a already over-crowded shelter where she may be stressed out or possibly infect other cats. The best I can do for her at this point, is palliative care, to bring her back 'home', that is the school, back to her favourite uncle who is missing her, back to her favourite haunts.
*Elusive at James Tan*
Elusive trusts only the malay security guard uncle who has been her guardian, giving her food and water for the past 3 years. He has been the only one who is able to go closer to her and even carry her. When I first approached Elusive last July, she would scoot off before I can even say meow.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that Elusive has been walking with a painful limp. On closer examination, her left paw was horrendously swollen, almost 4 times the size of her right paw. Her right elbow also looked awkward and swollen. She is suspected of having abscess, pus-filled wound likely brought about after cat fights. I took her to James Tan Veterinary Centre last Saturday, 12/01/08. They found no pus in her and deduced that it was more of a tissue infection that has eaten into her bone. They did an X-ray and found some deformity in the bone where the huge swelling was. They tried adminstering antibiotics and it was to no avail. Her swelling has not gone down but became worse. They have also found more lumps on her back and they were growing at an alarming rate. They could not do anymore for Elusive. They advised that if I wanted to pursue it further I should get her a biopsy at ARC to confirm the cause. They suspect bone cancer. It may cost another several hundreds to get the test done. Whether or not she can eventually recover is also unknown. The total vet fees of todate is approximately $500+.
Ideally, Elusive will definitely be better off in a home where she could be given proper care but it will not be easy to find her a home as she is FIV positive. I do not wish to bring her to a already over-crowded shelter where she may be stressed out or possibly infect other cats. The best I can do for her at this point, is palliative care, to bring her back 'home', that is the school, back to her favourite uncle who is missing her, back to her favourite haunts.
*Elusive at James Tan*
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