Sunday, September 20, 2015

Fickle Friend

Oliver is proving to be a very fickle friend.  After his trip to the vet, he was around every day for about 10 days and then disappeared once again.  He had clearly caught a bug at the vet's and had developed an upper respiratory infection.  I was just thinking about how to get him some medicine when he disappeared.

After a week with no sign of him, I was convinced that I had managed to kill him off after all.  I didn't want this cat, but I accepted responsibility for him and I didn't want to inadvertently kill him.  Thinking that my good intentions had been the end of him had me feeling very depressed and futile.

I figured he'd gone off and died of pneumonia or been eaten by the coyotes or the Fisher Cat that I found in the woods last week (they like cats for dinner).  I had just about given up on him when I was out late at night stacking wood and heard a noise in the barn.  Sure enough, it was Oliver looking perfectly healthy and wondering why the food dish was only half full.

I gave him a lecture about crying wolf and he stuck around for a few days before taking off again.  He finally reappeared last weekend looking sick and miserable and with one eye badly damaged.  I couldn't tell if his eye was swollen because of illness or injury, but I treated it and tried to make a vet appointment for him.  Before I could get hold of the cat carrier and him stuffed into it, he disappeared again.

This is getting very tiresome.

Heading out to the barn this afternoon, more than a week later, I look up and see him lying nonchalantly on his favorite rock.

His eye is all healed and I can now see that the damage was caused by a fight not illness.  It is obvious that he has been getting into a lot of fights.

Despite having "brain surgery" over a month ago, it is clear that Oliver is still suffering from acute testosterone poisoning.  He is proving to be the living embodiment of the term "catting around".

I told him that he is welcome to stay, but he has cried wolf one too many times.  I was feeling very guilty thinking that my good intentions had gone awry, but now I know better.

The next time he disappears, I won't give it a thought.  

I know better than to throw my heart after a man who only comes around when he wants a soft bed, a full meal and somebody to lick his wounds.

No matter how charming, don't fall in love with a man who only comes around when he wants something and always has one eye on the door.

16 comments:

  1. Amen to that! Still the brain surgery will take a little while to kick in. Unlike with human males of the same type, he might settle down yet. :)

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  2. Boy, did you hit the nail on the head! So true Kris, so true. Hold onto your heart with this one -- sly little devil he! LOL ♥

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  3. Oh, Oliver, you handsome boy. You have a really nice home, now. Don't blow it.

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  4. Those orange cats are tough!! My orange boy is outgoing, opininated, and definitely let's you know when things aren't to his liking. ...and I love him! Hopefully, he'll start to realize how good he's got it and hang around more. . ;-)

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  5. Truth! It will take some time to unwind your heart with his, but it must be done.

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  6. Me again, Oliver reminds me of that song from the 70's---Brandy (You're a Fine Girl). Do you remember it?

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  7. It's an easy thing to cure, and it doesn't hurt at all, unless you get your thumbs between the bricks! Cheaper than having the vet neuter him. ( Just kidding),

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    1. He's already been fixed. I wonder if the testosterone hangs around a while like it does in donkeys?

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    2. It does take a while. It's supposed to only be a couple of weeks in cats, but I am not sure I believe that. Some mature toms never settle down after neutering, the poisoning is too deep:)

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  8. When it gets cold...he'll settle right down ;-).

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  9. Now Kipper on the other hand....beautiful, faithful, sweet, loving, dependable, reliable, trustworthy....Need I go on?

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  10. Ha, a kitty booty call. Those ginger toms rarely settle. I love how you try to take care of him though.

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  11. You've already fallen!!! But good to TRY not to worry when Oliver disappears again. Sara is right I think: Come winter, your inconstant man will settle and maybe the testosterone will have leeched out by Spring.
    In the meantime we'll all admire his handsome self.

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  12. I've heard some adult males never get over their roaming ways after neutering. We hope Oliver will not be one of them.

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  13. My tiny little Tina girl is the neighborhood bully. She doesn't back down from a fight and usually starts it. She goes missing as well but not al frequently or as long as Oliver. He's still young and sowing his oats. He'll figure out what a good deal he has there...especially when it starts getting cold. :)

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