Come Back, Cory!
Cory's run away. And left a Cory-shaped hole in the universe, to borrow from Arundhati Roy. He got spooked by the car ride and visit to the vet yesterday and whilst being transferred from car to apartment, somehow managed to kicked open the cat carrier door (not properly latched? expired warranty?) and make an escape. Gravitas tried to grab hold of him and got bitten and scratched for his troubles.
Is Cory still a feral cat at heart?
Despite jumping onto our laps for cuddles?
Despite snuggling with us and falling asleep on my lap?
We thought we'd tamed him. The first day we had him, we were scratched when we tried to adminster his medicine. By the end of last week, he allowed me to single-handedly feed him his antibiotics. Goes to show how much we know.
And he hadn't completed his course of medication either. Because of the weight he'd gained in the past two weeks, from 1.8 to 3.2 kgs, the meds to body weight ratio wasn't sufficient midway through the weight gain. We didn't realise he'd gained so much weight since he still felt and look skinny to us. So he's been prescribed stronger antibiotics for the next two weeks. Antibiotics that is sitting on our kitchen shelf.
And because he was tamer already yesterday, the vet was able to inspect him more closely and he was diagnosed with the triple whammy of feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus (FCV) and Chlamydia. He allowed the vet to peek inside his mouth and she saw that his tongue was ulcerated. Apparently FCV causes ulcers to develop in a cat's mouth, affecting even the gums and causing teeth to fall out. Perhaps that then, is the reason for Cory's missing teeth.
We tried to follow Cory, but he ran away from Gravitas. When I called his name, he paused to look at me, but continued his escape. Aided by our apartment's friendly security guard, I pursued him to some of the houses opposite our apartment. I rang doorbells and asked to be let into people's gardens. In pursuit, I went into a house being renovated and saw a colony of cats there (nominally owned by the people livig there? But more on that later) but each time Cory eluded me. By twilight, shattered and mosquito-bitten, I conceded defeat.
That evening, we left food out for him at the old spot. When we went by later to check on it, the food was untouched. When we checked on it again this morning, it was gone. There was no telling who ate it. So we left out some more food, but no Cory. Only a Cory-shaped hole in our universe, a Cory-sized hole in our hearts.
A little later, I looked out on our balcony and saw him crossing the road. We went downstairs and saw that he was walking towards the spot where we left the food. I called out his name, and he answered with a meow. I notice that his olive green Safe Cat(R) collar (RM16 a pop) was missing. I came nearer and he started walking away. I walked behind him but he did not run away and slowed down. I called his name again and again, he meowed in reply. I climbed down into the drain he was in, and he sat down. Calling his name, I reached out to touch him. He allowed me to stroke him, and then take him into my arms. But when I carried him out of the drain, he struggled, scratched me and ran away again. Drat. I guess he's just not used to being carried around.
The whole of today, we've been looking out our balcony, looking for Cory. We've caught occasional glimpses of him. We're waiting for the Usual Time to leave food for his evening meal. Perhaps he'll follow us home again. Hopefully. Maybe. Please, God, let it be.
Is Cory still a feral cat at heart?
Despite jumping onto our laps for cuddles?
Despite snuggling with us and falling asleep on my lap?
We thought we'd tamed him. The first day we had him, we were scratched when we tried to adminster his medicine. By the end of last week, he allowed me to single-handedly feed him his antibiotics. Goes to show how much we know.
And he hadn't completed his course of medication either. Because of the weight he'd gained in the past two weeks, from 1.8 to 3.2 kgs, the meds to body weight ratio wasn't sufficient midway through the weight gain. We didn't realise he'd gained so much weight since he still felt and look skinny to us. So he's been prescribed stronger antibiotics for the next two weeks. Antibiotics that is sitting on our kitchen shelf.
And because he was tamer already yesterday, the vet was able to inspect him more closely and he was diagnosed with the triple whammy of feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus (FCV) and Chlamydia. He allowed the vet to peek inside his mouth and she saw that his tongue was ulcerated. Apparently FCV causes ulcers to develop in a cat's mouth, affecting even the gums and causing teeth to fall out. Perhaps that then, is the reason for Cory's missing teeth.
We tried to follow Cory, but he ran away from Gravitas. When I called his name, he paused to look at me, but continued his escape. Aided by our apartment's friendly security guard, I pursued him to some of the houses opposite our apartment. I rang doorbells and asked to be let into people's gardens. In pursuit, I went into a house being renovated and saw a colony of cats there (nominally owned by the people livig there? But more on that later) but each time Cory eluded me. By twilight, shattered and mosquito-bitten, I conceded defeat.
That evening, we left food out for him at the old spot. When we went by later to check on it, the food was untouched. When we checked on it again this morning, it was gone. There was no telling who ate it. So we left out some more food, but no Cory. Only a Cory-shaped hole in our universe, a Cory-sized hole in our hearts.
A little later, I looked out on our balcony and saw him crossing the road. We went downstairs and saw that he was walking towards the spot where we left the food. I called out his name, and he answered with a meow. I notice that his olive green Safe Cat(R) collar (RM16 a pop) was missing. I came nearer and he started walking away. I walked behind him but he did not run away and slowed down. I called his name again and again, he meowed in reply. I climbed down into the drain he was in, and he sat down. Calling his name, I reached out to touch him. He allowed me to stroke him, and then take him into my arms. But when I carried him out of the drain, he struggled, scratched me and ran away again. Drat. I guess he's just not used to being carried around.
The whole of today, we've been looking out our balcony, looking for Cory. We've caught occasional glimpses of him. We're waiting for the Usual Time to leave food for his evening meal. Perhaps he'll follow us home again. Hopefully. Maybe. Please, God, let it be.
Comments