Let’s hear it for online vets
I mentioned, the other day the trouble the Alarm Cat Jack is having with black ‘grit’ on his back and tail, and other unreachable parts – by him at least. I’d already discussed the problem with Symi Animal Welfare and a friend who is a bit of a cat specialist and pharmacist, but out of interest last night I went online and contacted a vet through http://www.justanswer.com (Cats). I spoke to a vet in Florida called Terri (a bit strange as anyone who knows Miss DJ will appreciate), who promptly replied with the cause and treatment. It’s ‘flea dirt’ apparently and she gave me some remedies. Most of these I can manage (simple brushing, feeding him tinned food to get rid of dandruff etc.) but the “bathing the cat in warm water and mild soap” option sounds far too dangerous for my liking. I can just imagine six kilos of angry, wet, white fur with several teeth, many claws and that loud meow zealously coming at me across the bathroom, one blue eye blazing, one green eye blazing… I’ve still got a scar from once before. Of course, if all else fails I will bath him; I will borrow a welding helmet from Paul, a diving suit from Pan, complete with air pump, and will buy some aptly named, and recommended, ‘Dawn Dish Soap’ from Dawn and hope for the best.
(Not the alarm cat)
But the point is: I’ve not contacted such an organisation before and I found them prompt, professional, and helpful, and my vet, Terri, replied in a friendly way: “…bless you for keeping a special needs kitty.” Obviously (and the site says this), if you have an emergency you go to a vet; Jack’s clearly wasn’t an emergency and Terri has saved him from being shut in a box for several hours while we get to Rhodes, see ‘Harry’ and then get back again. So, I am feeling very pleased with http://www.justanswer.com
Neil wasn’t so pleased, but understood, to find that his dance class didn’t happen last night after walking there in the rain. Never mind, there is always next week.
(Still not the alarm cat)
Try brushing the “gritty” bits with a warm soapy Symi sponge, not dripping wet but damp enough to moisten and loosen them.