Smokey....

Smokey isn't having a very good month!!! She wasn't around very much all day yesturday, but then last night she wandered home, Bradley said she was walking very cautiously, we called her to our bedroom window (her door) and she didn't jump up, so Bradley went outside to get her... When he brought her into our room, she kept walking wierd, I thought she was just worried she was going to see a kitten... Then at bedtime, she was still walking wierd, and not laying normally... then she slept on our bed all night long, right up against me, and when she'd move, she'd cry... so I had to give in and call the Vet on a Sunday morning, I told her how she was acting and so Dr. Nykamp in Hamilton, said to meet her at the clinic in 1/2 an hour.... I was there.... After a complete exam, and having her temp taking, and checking for dehydration... she was on her way for x-rays... Smokey, broke her back... down near her tail... just one spot, and not too bad.... There are a couple of ways to fix it... #1 Surgery, this runs $700-$900 .. #2 Pain medication and keeping her down for a month... cost... just the pain meds... Dr. Nykamp suggested #2 she said Cat's heal fairly quickly and it is the most cost effective... Smokey is now living in a large dog cage, with her litter box and her food and water dishes and a comfy place to lay... She is so uncomfortable... I gave her the pain meds around 6:30 this evening after her shot wore off and right now, she is resting well. This is going to be tough for an in and outdoor cat... who doesn't generally use a litter box... or stay inside, let alone in a cage... She will also have no choice except to get used to the kittens... Dr. Nykamp said she's probably going to feel like she's being punished because of the kittens... Poor Smokey!!! I really do hope she and the kittens learn to get along during this ordeal... She'll be stuck in here until October 3rd at least.... Nothing like having a big huge dog cage in our bedroom... Let's hope for a speedy recovery!!! and no surgery ( because Doug would NEVER let me spend that on a cat , besides, that's our down payment for Bradley's braces....)