Our now three-legged cat came home just before Noon yesterday. We have her in a downstairs room. After several times when she hid behind bookcases where we could not reach her, I emptied the bookcases enough to be able to move them flat against the wall so she could not get behind them. She could in theory be under the bed such that one person could not get her, but with both of us we can get her when we need to medicate her.
There is a cabinet in the bathroom where we have put towels and that is her hiding place.
After almost 36 hours since she came home, it is clear that she is NOT trying to lick the incision, so we have largely taken off the Elizabethan collar because when it is on it is difficult for her to eat or drink.
She rests a lot. She has begun to eat and drink some. We still medicate her several times a day. She is getting back to normal - the indication of that is that she hisses at me - although she does not scratch me when I pick her up. She will cuddle with both of us, and with our oldest cat LionEl Tiger.
The financial strain has turned out to be less than expected. The bills came in almost $1100 less than expected, and we have a refund coming. Further, the first two payments were made before we realized that since I as her co-owner am a senior citizen, we should have been receiving a 10% discount, and that will add several hundred dollars to the refund.
While things are still somewhat tight, we now expect to get through this period without major financial stress, although we were willing to bear it if necessary.
While we appreciate all the suggestions about various forms of fundraising, we have assets that could be used, albeit it at a penalty. We feel that such methods of fundraising are better aimed at those who do not have such assets.
We would have been embarrassed to be receiving even small contributions from generous people whose financial condition is more tenuous than is our own.
It is not that we are unwilling to accept generosity from others, please do not misunderstand.
And I appreciate the suggestion that anything we might have received in excess of what we needed to pay these bills could have gone to set up funding for people with no other alternative than perhaps to put down their animals.
We appreciate the love and generosity that was offered. That is sufficient for us now.
Now I have to refocus myself towards obtaining a teaching job for next year. I will interview for a possibly fantastic opportunity at 10 AM on Friday. Wish me well.
Peace.