Thursday, January 22, 2015

Mittens the Maleficent Kitten

Oh my dear Mittens-the-kitten.  She's going to be something else. I can already feel it.


Mittens' mug shot
Just two days ago, I told the tale of how I found and adopted my tiny Mittens.  I shared with you how the name tag on that cage at the shelter generously and hopefully described her as "spirited".  Frankly, I had many other ways of describing her to friends and family, some of those ways were not G-rated.  Even so, I was counting down the days and the hours until I could bring my baby home from the shelter today. 

I had changed my schedule and prepared to drive that 40-45 minutes out of the way. As I was shutting down the computer at work and shrugging on my jacket, my cell phone rang.

"We have bad news" the shelter employee began.

Oh gosh.  I sat down expecting to hear that something had gone horribly wrong with the surgery.  

No, it wasn't that type of bad news, the woman assured me. In fact, Mittens-the-Spirited hadn't even had her surgery.  She had scratched the veterinarian prior to the surgery. And is now on a 10 day hold; in part to rule out rabies.  I scheduled the time to pick her up in 10 days.

Oh, whew, is that all? That was my initial reaction.  Then I started to think about it.  Rabies?  She had scratched me and drawn blood when I visited her.  And if she already had her rabies shot, and had been at the shelter 9 days at least, wouldn't they already know?  Do cats really give spread rabies through scratches? The questions spun in my head and something didn't seem right.

So I drove down to the shelter anyway.  Why not?  After all, I had already gotten to work an hour early today to cover the time I was leaving early. I might as well.

It turns out to be a legal thing, when an animal (I can't decipher whether this covers only shelter animals or all pets) causes injury, it must be held for 10 days for observation.  Yes, if my Mittens has rabies, she would have been showing signs by now.  Yes, she could have still had rabies even though she was recently vaccinated. But no, she's not showing symptoms. It is possible but unlikely to get rabies via a scratch. However, Cat Scratch Fever is more than just a Ted Nugent song, it is a disease and I should have had my scratch checked by a doctor. 

No, they don't think she was a feral cat.  She just "doesn't like to be held".  Those shelter workers sure know how to give generous descriptions.

I will still bring my Mittens the Maleficent home, in 10 days, provided she doesn't have rabies.  She still has to be spayed. And I wasn't quick enough to think to ask, what if she injures the vet during the next surgery attempt? Do the 10 days start over?  I sure hope not. Otherwise, she'll never get out of there.


TRIXIE Pet Cat Tree
I don't feel the need to have a lap cat. So I'm not concerned that she doesn't like to be held. I am a smidge concerned she gets agitated easily and I am concerned that she will not be happy in a home with Willy, my active dog.  I am already shopping around for a cat tree or house to help her have her own space.

So please, cross your fingers and hope that my spirited Mittens will behave and will be able to come home in 10 days.  


Disclaimer: In affiliation with Amazon.com, Dawn Rae is a content writer who may earn compensation from the sale of Amazon products

21 comments:

  1. I am so sorry, about you not getting to bring Mittens home today, and about laughing so much through my reading of this cat tale! I do believe she is going to keep Willy on his toes, and you too!

    I must say I'm glad I'm not the only one who brings a 'juvie' critter home from the shelter, ha! But I've no doubt your Mittens will be as awesome as my Valentino after some TLC from you.

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    1. She hasn't scared me off yet. Delinquent animals are usually the ones I like (remember the story of packing the stray Malamute into the back of my mom's car? haha). But she sure is false advertising! She looks sweet and adorable. Realtiy - not so much. I can't wait to get her home.

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  2. Ah, such a shame that her "release" had to be delayed. I am sure she would calm down considerably once she is in your home and adjusts to having a place to belong, to be loved. As you know, my daughter takes in the stray cats. She has been through this several times herself and it is amazing to see what appears to be a crazy cat, turn into a sweet, loving kitty. They are just afraid and used to having to fend for themselves. Who knows what awful things have happened to these precious creatures before someone kind adopts them. I look forward to hearing all about the sweetheart when she finally gets to settle into a loving environment.

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    1. I'm hoping this is the case. She did have the desire to have her head rubbed...she just didn't tolerate it for long. So I'm hoping that life with a Gramma and a dog will let her relax. Cross your fingers for me.

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  3. You have quite an adventure ahead of you, getting 'Mittens' acclimated to your home and to Willy. I have a feeling it will all work out to everyone's benefit. Keep us posted! :)

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    1. I will definitely keep you all posted. I have missed having a cat, very much.

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  4. lol at 'Mittens the Spirited' and 'Mittens the Maleficent' - hahaha - had to laugh - I know you're concerned about your kitty blending in the home, and I can understand that, but I have to say, I love your soon to be new family member already! I have visions of Mittens taking over the place as soon as she enters - Am curious to see what the first day home brings?

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    1. Haha. I love her already too. I loved her from the moment the shelter worker put her on my lap and she (the kitten) swatted me and hissed. She will get spayed the day she comes home (I don't know why they schedule it like that) so I will make sure she is very, very quiet. I'll probably set up the extra dog crate to be her nest at first. I'm not sure how long it'll take her incision to heal, but I'll try to keep her very quiet until she heals.

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    2. But after she heals... I'm expecting a good bit of action around here! haha. I almost feel sorry for Willy already.

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  5. well now that is odd. but if that is their protocol, then that is their protocol..

    You should get your kitty a cat tree that Mittens can get up on to that is out of the reach of the dog. You should also contact the shelter and make sure they intend to trim those claws while Mittens is sedated.

    Thank you for taking a non-snuggly cat. It gives me hope.. I foster kitties for a local shelter and those non suggly cats that I foster make me worry..

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    1. Thank you for the visit and the comment. I sure didn't think to ask them to trim her nails. Great suggestion. She will definitely have "alone" places, including a cat tree. I worry about the non-snuggly cats too. Thank you for fostering kitties.

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  6. I'd be scratching too, if they were doing something to my junk! Spirited indeed!

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  7. I'm betting she'll take some time to settle in and then be just fine. Great idea to have trees and shelves ready for her to be up high. She sounds like my kind of cat!

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    1. I am learning that more people than I had imagined like a "spirited" type of cat. Haha. I am hoping she settles in and is comfortable.

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  8. I hope it all works out. I'm sorry you have to wait so long to get her.She's very pretty.

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  9. Hang in there. I hope the 10 days pass quickly and the vet takes precautions eliminating the chance of getting scratched again. Can't wait to hear when you get to bring your Mittens home.

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  10. I applaud you for not giving up on this kitty! If she scratches the vet again, or even bites her, the 10 days won't start over; she either has rabies or she doesn't. It's pretty rare in cats & dogs these days. I adopted my cat at 9 weeks old; they told me she wasn't the cuddly type and that she'd "never be a lap cat" One month into living w/ me and for the next 18+ years I couldn't get her OFF my lap! She was the most cuddly cat ever! Shelter pets often change when they go to a home. Teach your dog the Leave It command to help keep him from chasing Mittens. All the best with your newest furbaby!!
    Love & Biscuits,
    Cathy, Isis & Phoebe
    www.dogsluvusandweluvthem.blogspot.com

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  11. Ohh... I hope these next 10 days fly by and Mittens can come home! I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for an update!

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  12. I have met lots of cats at the vet hospital who are very spirited, but that translates into "personality" at home. Rooney for example is a pain in the butt at the vet hospital, but he makes me laugh at home :)

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  13. Sorry to hear that she has to stay for 10 more day!

    I'm sure she'll be much happier once you can bring her home.

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