Little Lion King

[Tumbleweed]

First a bit of history regarding my new cat, Lion King. (Some of you already know the history of Lion King.)

This last winter when we had piles and piles of snow and it was soooo cold my heart just broke for this little stray cat. He was so skinny and could barely walk. I just couldn't turn my back on him one more time so decided if I'm going to feed him and give him a warm place to sleep I had to follow through and get him medical attention.

So during the winter I providing him boxes with cozy beds to sleep in and fed him well.

About the time I planned to take him to the vet my older cat got very sick and I spent a small fortune trying to save her to no avail, so lttle stray kitty had to wait until my fanancial situation got a bit better.

Finally about 3 weeks ago I got him into the vet. His ears were raw and bleeding from constant scratching due to ear mites and whether I could afford to or not, I had to get him looked at. It turned out this cat had horrible ear mites, tape worm (yuk) and fleas. Worst of all, he was dx'd with FIV which isn't fatal or anything but still a virus that is concerning. He was treated for the fleas, mites and worms, got starter shots, plus he got fixed at the same time. I brought him home and confined him to the basement until I decided what I wanted to do and got the all clear from the vet that he was creepy-critter-free.

I'm trying to make this story short but it doesn't seem to be working. lol After much talking with the vet, getting advice from my internet friends and totally understanding the virus by searching the internet, I decided I'd try to bring him upstairs to have free roam of the house with the hopes my other cat, a young male, and he would get along, fully aware there is the risk my cat could get FIV if they really got in a biting fight.

Anyway, back to the story. Shortly after I brought him home, from the vet, I noticed a bare spot (no fur)on the upper inside of his leg. I just assumed the vet had to shave him to put needles, etc. for his surgery. But as days went on, the bare spot was getting bigger. Again, I assumed maybe that spot got irratated from the shaving and he was just licking it too much. It got worse yet so I decided to schecule his follow-up visit.

Today we had the follow-up visit with the vet. The loss of fur is allergy based (unknown cause) but the vet said they have a nick-name for the allergy and it is called "mouse bite" or something like that....sorry, I got lost in her story as I was contemplating things. Anyay, he had to have a steriod shot, which should relieve the itching within 24 hours but the vet said she normally doesn't like to give a steriod to a cat that already has his immune system compromised but she had no choice.

He had a totally precautionary additional treatment for the mites even though they said there are no indications of any ear mites anymore. The vet just said, since he had such a bad case she just felt better giving him the extra treatment (free of charge). He also had his ears clean out, again. The vet said the gunk from the mites just keeps working it's way out but this last cleaning shoud be enough. He got his booster shots so now he can become a "legal" cat. Technically, he got the all clear. No fleas, no mites and no worms and the vet said there is no reason we can't start introducing him to other parts of the house.

So after I let him relax for an hour or so after we got home from the vet, I opened the basement door. He came upstairs into the kitchen after much encouragement. My male cat, Scamper, was there and all the sudden he freaked and ran up to the stairs to the 2nd floor but returned only moments later. They looked at each other for a while and then Lion King freaked and ran back down into the basement. I went ahead and closed the "makeshift" screen door I put up to confine him there and will leave him there for the night. He had a hard day so tomorrow we'll try again and see how things go.

I shall snap some new pictures of Lion King, when I get a chance, and post them but here he is before I took him to the vet:

Clicky For Bigger Pic


So the end of the story is...I beleive I have a new cat.

[aRMY83]

Well good for you and I must give Lion King a BIG pet and let him know that he is in good hands. (more photo's when you have time)

[Tumbleweed]

He'd love your pets. He is such a sweet cat and just eats up all the pets he can get. In fact, he is so happy he drools all over. (It's getting better, the drooling, the more we pet him.

It makes me sad to think of the many, many strays that have such a hard life. They can't get relief from fleas, mites and other ailments. They just have to suffer. Especially in the winter it is so hard for them.

I just don't get why some people don't want to get their cats fixed. I've met those type people plenty of times and it isn't as if they can't afford it. They just have it in their minds that the cats should be allowed to have "fun", if you know what I mean. So frustrating and I'd just like to smack them to knock some sense in them.

Little Lion King had free rein of most of the house for several hours. There was a squabble between my cat and LK but I think it was more noise than actually fighting. I was trying to stick close to them so I could interfer if I really had to but LK chased my cat up the stairs and I wasn't fast enough to see what happened. I'm trying to just let them work thing out between them but I don't want an all out fight either.

When I finally put LK back in the basement he broke out. I came into the kitchen and there he was sitting. Seems the wire I had holding the screen door I put up had been bent too many times and it just broke in half. I got a new wire so it is secure now. He started meowing and making a bunch of noise trying to open the door again so I went down and clapped my hand and said NO! really loud. He stopped. A few minutes later I snuck down to peek at him and he was on the bed with his back turned and his ears were back. He was mad. So I went in and gave him some pets. He forgave me.

I let him out again later and he was a good boy, not chasing my cat. He just followed me around and my Scamper cat was just a few feet away at all times. Scamper is so curious, but afraid. They were about 1 foot apart at one point and Scamper hissed at him. LK just meowed at him...not sure what that meant. I don't speak cat language.

I sure hope the do end up getting along. We'll see how it goes tomorrow.

[barb]

He's a beautiful cat Tumbleweed.

[Tumbleweed]

I think so too, thanks Barb.

Well, what I feared has come to pass. He is bound and determined to beat up my little cowardly cat. Plus LK sprayed the guest bedroom door and carpet and wow, I forget how strong some males urine can smell. I wonder if it is because he was fixed so late in life that it smells so strong. I'm treating the spot with a product that is "supposed" to be the best. My Scamper's urine doesn't smell anything like that, he was fixed at the exact right time. Scamp has never marked anything and never once pee'd or pooped anywhere other than the litter box. Now I'm afraid he'll be interested in marking things.

What is odd is that LK's litter box doesn't smell that strong when I clean it. When they mark, do they have the ability to produce a "stronger dose"? LOL By the way, he started using the litter box day one so I was so happy about that but now this.

Oh woe is me, what am I going to do? I can't live in a house that smells like cat pee and STRONG cat pee at that. Guess I'll do some searching on the internet to see what I can find, call the vet to see if she has any advice.

By the way, my ad to give LK away didn't produce one single bite. I thought maybe since he has all his shots it would help and the ad didn't mention the FIV so even a healthy fairly young cat (as far as they knew reading the ad-I would have told them if they were interested) with shots isn't wanted.

Maybe I'll have to rip the carpet out if he does it again. I never wanted a male cat just because of the marking territory thing yet here I am with two males. Oh gosh, I'm afraid the worst is yet to come.....

[Tumbleweed]

A close up of the now healthy Lion King. He is a beautiful cat and really has fluffed up and is now all sparkly clean.



Playing with a string toy and a little tangled in it.


Playing with a bear. He loves to kick the heck out it. Wonderful to see him play. The first time I tried to use the string toy with him he looked at me like I was crazy. He had no idea what "play" was. Now he does. lol


All tuckered out after playing. Look at that fuzzy belly. What a far cry from a tail and belly covered in oil and dirt after having to hunker under cars to keep from getting covered in snow and somewhat dry. It breaks my heart what he went through and what so many other strays have to endure.

Lion King still doesn't get along with my Scamper. LK had Scamper pinned down a couple times and the fur was flying so I'm still keeping them separated. I do have them now eating across from each other with that basement screen door between them. They seem to be fine with each other there so I'm hoping they will find a truce somehow and I can have them together. It really isn't fair to either of them when one has to be shut up while the other has the roam of the house. On the other hand, they are both rescues from my back yard, so they most certainly have it better than they would have. Still, I feel bad for both of them.