Just her close confinement last night plus the wild weather. I can see where she is off this morning. I let her out early as soon as the power went back on, but still, especially with her health issues, it is imperative that I keep her stress level down. She is huddled on the bed, with her tail tucked around her- last night was a bit to much for her.

I take her and others into the vet in about an hour. Another stress for her. A friend is coming to take the three new ones so we can keep them apart and she can travel with me alone in my car.

Yesterday, 3:00 p.m. at the store, the wind suddenly kicked up viciously. Shopping carts (empty and some with groceries in them) were rushing all over the parking lot, poles were bending! The store’s doors flew open inward and tons of debris and even a little dog came flying in- then SNAP the power went off. I ran over to get the poodle mix who was shivering just inside the store and a little girl and her mom came rushing in to claim him. It was wild! Using a customer’s cell phone, I called my boss. Her instructions stay open- wait for the power to be restored- well at 6:00 it wasn’t- so I called it a day and left for home.

Shell, bless her heart was freezing when I got home. Cold to the touch, all things keeping her warm shut down. The house was cold-so I took a run to Wal-Mart in the next town and got some of those pocket warmers. I put her into a small carrier with the warmers all around her and draped her with soft bedding wrapped my winter coat around the entire carrier and hoped it would keep her warm. It did, and now it is 4:00 a.m. and the power was just restored. I’ve bumped up the heaters in the bedroom and opened the door of the carrier, and she is warm and toasty with the pocket warmers doing their magic. I don’t think she wants to move.

The rain was coming down in sheets on the way to Wally-world. It was just nuts. I get out my car at the parking lot, the wind is just whipping. I set up my umbrella- and BOOM out of my hands it goes, knocking my glasses off under the car parked next to mine. So here I am, drenched to the skin on my knees in great rivers of rainwater, fishing for my glasses, when they suddenly float past and I grab them. My umbrella? I guess Mary Poppins needed another one- it’s in space by this time! LOL Anyone out there spotting a purple- striped umbrella sailing past their house- that’s mine! Wow what a wild day, but Shell is safe. A bit miffed at confinement, but warm as toast and wondering why in the world, I decided to wake her up at four in the morning.

Last night Shell vomited on her bedding. This morning although there are three clean boxes to choose from, she missed the litter pan. The plus of this- the stool was solid and normal looking. This is her way of telling me that things are still rocky for her. Sometimes, I wish I could just jump into their heads and pull out what is wrong. She has no fever, she is drinking water, she is peeing in the pan, she is active this morning but not to active.

We have an appointment to see the vet tomorrow and there will another going with us. The new arrival, the white kitty isn’t looking to good. She has red drainage out of her eyes, she is hardly eating. She is a old girl and it looks like life has really beat her up. I don’t know if she is coming home or if she is going Home. Sometimes, this house is a transit station and they come here to spend their last days; to know comfort, warmth and love does exist and finally understand (I hope) that not all humans are evil, neglectful, abusive or apathetic. I don’t even have a name for her right now. I just call her sad.

Shell is back on her heated pad now. She had ducked under the bed when I first came in which isn’t like her. We had a nasty wind storm last night- lost a huge tree out in the pasture and I am hoping this might have been what unsettled her. I know it woke me up when it came down. It was right by our creek and the bank is soggy from all the rain, the roots finally gave way and it came crashing down. It went over backwards which means it didn’t hit any of the houses at the back of our property. It is just laying over our creek and back into the woods behind the creek. More rain predicted for all week so it will be awhile before I get the tree taken care of and removed. Maybe the beavers will help out in that department. You never know.

It’s Sunday- say a prayer for Shell and white kitty if you get a chance. I have to work today and won’t be home till late. My prayers will surround this house as always.

It’s set in stone now. First, she meets me at the door with her squeaky meow. Sounding more like mice squeaking, the meow is finding its way into the world, pushing past ugly white ulcers that once barred its path. She hops on to the top of the cage waiting for her butterfly-flutters- a name I came up with when she first arrived. So crazed Shell became if I didn’t pet her and when I did, her fragile skin would break open and bleed. So, I would put the bottoms of my fingers flat against her chest and move my three fingers mimicing a bug in flight. She would lean into these gentle caresses, and now, they seem to be standard fare.

Back to the bed I go to get ready for the day. With a flying leap to outrival Secret Squirrel and Atom Ant she leaps the four feet across to the bed and now wants real time with Mom.

Twenty minutes later after she has been saturated with head rubs and gentle pets (her skin is now starting to have padding beneath it) tearing is no longer an issue, she is sated and waiting for her food.

Her food consists of a mixture of vitamins and canned goodness plus a generous dose of L-Lysine. Calicivirus was confirmed yesterday from the vet. The strain is strong causing her oral issues. Her meds are coming from Texas. She will likely have more mouth treatments but for now we wait for the meds which she will be on for life.

I clean her litterboxes and she is right there helping me. As I measure out the sand, she bumps my hand. “More Mom, I need more.” Obliging her, I keep pouring. I get a piece of dust in my eye and as I am putting eye drops in, she is again “helping” me. That gentle nudge on my upraised arm almost made me go blind for a moment when the tip of the eye wash bottle touched my eyeball! But, she was just “helping.” Clumsy human that I am, she needs to take care of me.

Three more cats arrived yesterday, older, beautiful kitties. One a stunning long-hair Siamese, Ragdoll or Himalyan mixture. My education in mouth ulcers still fresh, I check mouths- yep, there they are- more ulcers to contend with although none near as severe as those of Shell’s. The dilute, short haired Tortie is having problems walking on one back leg, again a classic sign of Calicivirus either that or a collision with a car.

They are upstairs in one room and the white one, the girl is most reclusive, hiding from me so that I can’t see what those black spots are on her tip of her ears…yet…

So the morning ritual is set in stone and each day, Shell shows me she is getting stronger. I look at her chopstick thin legs and marvel how it is she is still with us. She must have inherited the heart of a lion.

Rigby

I sure didn’t, but this morning she met me at the door just purring up a storm. Her purr is a bit wet sounding right now, but she still is fighting her URI so perhaps that is why.

Her appetite is back in fine style and she devoured her food and then asked for more.

Although her tongue does show up periodically, for the most part now, it stays tucked inside her mouth where it belongs.

Her auction has started and there are already bids on some of the items. If I am understanding the organizers of this event, more items will be introduced either daily or through the coming week.

I think that is why she chose today to purr- she is thanking everyone for taking her into their heart!

I tried to sleep with Shell last night, but she wouldn’t let me sleep. She was crawling all over me, lying on my hip when I turned on my side, curling up around my neck when I was sleeping on my tummy. It was so funny- but I finally told her I had to go back out on the couch and get some sleep!

When I woke up this morning and went into her room, she bounded up the pet stairs and landed on the bed. All full of piss and vinegar she was. We had quite the love-fest and she couldn’t get enough petting and strokes. I told her she has no idea how deep she has burrowed into my heart. So deep, I don’t think she will ever emerge.

With rescue, I try to keep my distance and most times I succeed. I have seen cats who have been through horrific situations. I have cared for near-drowning victims, hit-and runs, cats who have been battered due to domestic abuse issues, and others I won’t even relate due to the horror. And I’ve managed to only get involved with a few of them. Prowler, the polydactyl who lived for a year in the rafters of our barn. Gulliver, the kitty who was known in our part of Alaska as the traveler. He loved UPS trucks. Smudge found at 3 days old frozen in the ice and yet she survived. Dunkin who was a near drowning victim at the lake near our home.

But with Shell, there is something different about her. She embodies all these cats somehow. She is an old soul in the form of a cat and has the fight of an embattled warrior. She comforts my soul.

She is alert today, eating, and has decided that the carrier is now a bad place and she will now sleep on top of the cage covered with the clothes hanging down from the closet. But her bright eyes are sharp and she doesn’t miss a thing happening in her world.

She yawned once during the love fest and her mouth is still an angry red color- but I didn’t see any large ulcers roaming over her gums in the brief time I had to look.

Here she is:

Despite all the work done to her mouth- Missy Shell is eating baby food! YAY! Gosh I love her fighting spirit. When I go to the dentist, I don’t eat for a week afterward!

Dr. Steve called the clinic in Dallas and worked with the people there over the phone. He sedated Shell and went in and lanced her ulcers (after determining they were full of salivary juice) Then he went in and injected two shots directly into each ulcer; a cortisone shot and an antibiotic shot. He also did a swab for the calicivirus at the same time.

I picked her up on the way home from the hospital and she is alert- at least her eyes are open. She isn’t moving much right now- but who can blame her? I have her all snugged down in her cage wrapped up warmly.

I can’t even describe to you gentle readers the amount of admiration and respect I have for each of you. For supporting this kitty you have never met, for opening your hearts to her story and spreading the word about her throughout the Internet. It just blows my socks off. You are all a testament to what true cat lovers are. How deeply we feel for each feline and how large that love is (and how contagious). Thank you for spreading this love on behalf of Shell, a kitty who deserves a life, and maybe, now, with a lot more effort, tons of prayer and TLC she might just have one here with us, living in our bedroom and soaking up our love for her.

I had to leave Shell with my vet. They are going to swab her to check for the calicivirus and then he is going to talk to the Dallas Clinic and do whatever is necessary for Shell to get her poor mouth healing. Dr. Steve said he will probably lance the largest ulcer in her mouth if when he aspirates it, he gets the return of salivary juices.

Poor Shell, when I left her she was tense as a board and I gave her a gentle kiss and told her I would be back later.

I have to take Mike to the doctor today, the clinic is right down the street so I can check in with them then.

Please pray for Shell that the healing can finally begin today. She is so tired today- everything is overwhelming her.

She was so dirty looking. When she eats,she gets food all over her. I went in with a little bit of cornstarch and sprinkled just a tiny bit on her body. Very carefully with a baby brush, I started brushing her fur not putting any pressure on her body at all. No wire brushes for this girl! She rolled over on her belly and just stretched her legs out- loving the attention. She looks better, she smells better and we had a grand time bonding~ I love this kitty.