RESILIENT FELINES

Buddy Cat Update — He’s a Real Champ and is Mending Well After an Asshole Shot Him Last Week

It was one week ago today that a “neighbor” shattered his leg with an air rifle

This bad boy is some kind of resilient dude. It was just seven days ago when a neighbor in the cove behind our house shot Buddy with an air rifle, shattering his back leg. We still don’t have a positive ID.

So many of you reached out with healing wishes, great advice, and understandable outrage. You asked me to provide an update on Buddy, and here’s what I’ve got to date.

His first day home was rough. He spent the night at the clinic and when we picked him up he was groggy from the drugs but was aware enough to grasp he was somehow a different cat.

The blue cast over the splint frightened him. He hissed at it — growled a low fierce rumble, and even swatted at it in an attempt to make it go away.

We felt so bad for him because Buddy — unlike our other two totally domestic house cats — he’s always lived a life of freedom. He’s the first cat we’ve ever adopted in 25 years that is — or was — an indoor/outdoor kitty.

His assertive attitude is unlike any we’ve seen. He looks at you unblinkingly. When he wants something he goes straight for it. If he can’t get it or reach it, he’ll come to us and meow his demand so clearly it’s almost like he’s talking.

I won’t reiterate what happened. If you’ve not already read this story and would like to, here it is.

On his second day Buddy was alert but was still uncomprehending. He spent the entire day on a soft blue cushiony pallet we made for him. He didn’t stir much at all.

Michael physically aided him in the litter box and they spent a great deal of guy-to-guy time together.

By days three and four he was trying to walk. He clunked around clumsily and occasionally made it past the guest bedroom door — an area we’ve designated to his care.

There’s food, water, treats, the litter box and a radio playing classical music and jazz on Michael’s favorite NPR station.

By Tuesday he was eating so well he became constipated. Michael stirred up some MiraLAX into his food and even his water. It’s tasteless and has no smell, and worked like a charm.

The last thing we needed was a stopped up Buddy.

By the fifth and sixth day he was ready to walk around the house a bit. We know he’s sore because he winces a bit as he maneuvers. But, he made it not only to the front hallway where he rested on the cool marble floor, but to the back door in the sun room. We were surprised — and a bit saddened — as he clawed the door demanding to be let outside.

No way, Buddy. No way.

Yesterday, in a spirit of male camaraderie, Michael took him out for a short supervised visit. His wobble reminded us of Chester on the vintage TV series Gunsmoke. I almost expected him to say… “Mister Dillon…Mister Dillon?”

Today he attempted to get up on the lowest level of the inside cat tree. We didn’t want to move him up there because he might fall off. But we are heartened by his resilience and his strength.

We are sure he’s gonna make it.

But, not to get overly confident, we’re going back to see our vet tomorrow and let him assess how Buddy’s doing. It will be five weeks or so before we’ll know whether the splint has worked.

If it hasn’t he’ll become a tripod cat. Not the worst thing in the world, but we are hoping to avoid it if we can.

More than a few of you told me about your tripods and how well they’ve done. I really appreciate that input. I really do.

I have no information I can share at this time about the perpetrator. Fear not, we are still all over it. When and if we can pinpoint who did this with 100% accuracy, I will let you know.

You will be The First.

Below are some pics chronicling Buddy’s progress. This bad (good) boy is going to make it, and maybe soon I can start sleeping again.

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