caiti
Well-known member
I have about 1.5" between the bottom of my door and the floor. I was sweeping off Chloe's shelves and she jumped out into my room. Ok, I'll let her have her few seconds of joy as I try to find her dust bin/catch her to coax her back. Whenever I let her out on purpose, I usually just lock the cat in my roommate's room or put books and blankets under the door.
I noticed she was heading for the door and I went to herd her away, but instead she ran towards the door; towards the cover of the laundry basket I have in front of it (for cat protection as well). She went beside the basket and all I could hear was scuffling for the second I couldn't see her. Then I saw her squirming, yelled and ran to her, grabbed the cat's paws and tried to get his claws out of her. It was horrible.
When freed she ran behind my desk. I saw no blood or loose body parts, just lots of fur but I knew he got her leg. I left the room, locked the cat in another and washed my hands. Took about 45 minutes for Chloe to come out from behind my desk then I could see her wounds better. Called e-vets and drove down there. She didn't seem to be in shock (or pain, but I don't know if I would have seen it), was barking, alert and pooing lots.
Long story short--she has 4 lacerations and some scrapes on one foot from those 3 or so seconds of contact with the cat's claws. The lacertaions went basically in a line from her chest all the way down to her inner thigh and skin was hanging off of one laceration. Amazingly, they were all superficial. Nothing else but skin was cut. She had surgery to remove the hanging skin, stitch up the bigger cuts, and glue them all. Went home with some sulfa/trim, a $460 bill receipt and a miserable looking chin wearing an e collar at 4:30am. The vet and the tech especially were actually great, even though the vet wasn't a specialist. First thing Chloe did was angrily eat hay and then pellets I offered her. I immediately went to post all this after I had her settled in, replied to a PM and thought "why am I online right now?!?" and instead stared at Chloe worryingly for the next 3 hours.
The e collar didn't last long. I realized part of it was too long and she couldn't eat, drink or walk forwards. I took it off to trim it and put it back on with medical tape I had. That medical tape was not adhesive enough and the collar popped off. Eventually, I wrapped a strip of fleece around her neck and tied it off. It seems to be working but I haven't seen her try to groom her wounds yet.
I was going to go home this weekend but I don't think I will. I was supposed to have my friend who will be watching Chloe in two weeks over to show her what to do. Hopefully, she won't have a collar on by that time and she should be off her meds. I figure it's a bad idea and I can just email her the instructions and go home next weekend. I already told her I won't be coming home and I'm skipping all my classes today (eek).
I told my roommate this morning (she slept at her boyfriend's house) and she looked so sad and worried. I told her it wasn't her fault, or the cat's either. It was mine, for not being precautious EVERY time. I didn't freak out when she escaped from her cage because I thought what are the chances? The cat is in another room, Chloe will be free for only a few moments and I can keep her away from the door...I mean an inch and a half out of the entirety of my room--the odds have got to be so small, right? Wrong. She could have died. We are so incredibly lucky that her wounds were all superficial, that really astounded me.
I do have one question: when can I give her a dust bath? After the two weeks of the collar I'm assuming? She has a large patch of shaved skin so I don't want to irritate it or of course the wounds. I wish I could take pictures to show you all but I have no working camera.
I noticed she was heading for the door and I went to herd her away, but instead she ran towards the door; towards the cover of the laundry basket I have in front of it (for cat protection as well). She went beside the basket and all I could hear was scuffling for the second I couldn't see her. Then I saw her squirming, yelled and ran to her, grabbed the cat's paws and tried to get his claws out of her. It was horrible.
When freed she ran behind my desk. I saw no blood or loose body parts, just lots of fur but I knew he got her leg. I left the room, locked the cat in another and washed my hands. Took about 45 minutes for Chloe to come out from behind my desk then I could see her wounds better. Called e-vets and drove down there. She didn't seem to be in shock (or pain, but I don't know if I would have seen it), was barking, alert and pooing lots.
Long story short--she has 4 lacerations and some scrapes on one foot from those 3 or so seconds of contact with the cat's claws. The lacertaions went basically in a line from her chest all the way down to her inner thigh and skin was hanging off of one laceration. Amazingly, they were all superficial. Nothing else but skin was cut. She had surgery to remove the hanging skin, stitch up the bigger cuts, and glue them all. Went home with some sulfa/trim, a $460 bill receipt and a miserable looking chin wearing an e collar at 4:30am. The vet and the tech especially were actually great, even though the vet wasn't a specialist. First thing Chloe did was angrily eat hay and then pellets I offered her. I immediately went to post all this after I had her settled in, replied to a PM and thought "why am I online right now?!?" and instead stared at Chloe worryingly for the next 3 hours.
The e collar didn't last long. I realized part of it was too long and she couldn't eat, drink or walk forwards. I took it off to trim it and put it back on with medical tape I had. That medical tape was not adhesive enough and the collar popped off. Eventually, I wrapped a strip of fleece around her neck and tied it off. It seems to be working but I haven't seen her try to groom her wounds yet.
I was going to go home this weekend but I don't think I will. I was supposed to have my friend who will be watching Chloe in two weeks over to show her what to do. Hopefully, she won't have a collar on by that time and she should be off her meds. I figure it's a bad idea and I can just email her the instructions and go home next weekend. I already told her I won't be coming home and I'm skipping all my classes today (eek).
I told my roommate this morning (she slept at her boyfriend's house) and she looked so sad and worried. I told her it wasn't her fault, or the cat's either. It was mine, for not being precautious EVERY time. I didn't freak out when she escaped from her cage because I thought what are the chances? The cat is in another room, Chloe will be free for only a few moments and I can keep her away from the door...I mean an inch and a half out of the entirety of my room--the odds have got to be so small, right? Wrong. She could have died. We are so incredibly lucky that her wounds were all superficial, that really astounded me.
I do have one question: when can I give her a dust bath? After the two weeks of the collar I'm assuming? She has a large patch of shaved skin so I don't want to irritate it or of course the wounds. I wish I could take pictures to show you all but I have no working camera.
