The beginning of the Taco Chronicles:
So continuing from the last post, where I took Taco to the vet, hes outta the bag now.
That was a stressful day. It is torture for me to sit in rooms alone or even with people, with nothing to do, and be cold. I hate air conditioning (grateful for it) but when it’s cranked up in buildings in summer and you go in there in a tshirt and jeans and just shiver and rub your arms- this is torture for me. I spent hours at this vet because we were a walk-in and they had appointments and emergencies to work around. It brought back flashbacks of high school and middle school and college and the SATs that made me grit my teeth and shiver simultaneously, visions of myself curled in a ball freezing until I fell asleep with my face smashed in a pile of papers, books, and drool. Why is this my most prominent school memory? UGH. But seriously I’m almost 30 years old, and I don’t remember to bring a book with me places? I tried to do cat-research and blog, but my phone died.
So the vet kept coming in and out after various tests and treatments and updating me on Tacos progress and while I was freezing, trying to focus on my prayer list and do stretches to keep warm, I found out Taco was back there dining on fancy pork liver cat food and socializing with the employees. Y’all this cat is adorable!
Taco had several tests done for all the serious concerns for his health, he had to get a mandatory rabies shot, and he got subcutaneous fluid(I think?) put under his skin to help with his hydration. They clipped his nails that were all curling back into his feet and they gave him a flea treatment and antibiotics for worms/parasites. He didn’t have any of the serious issues I or the vet were concerned about, but in the words of the vet, “This cat is going to need A LOT of work, and you are so kind to bring him in here and care for him.” I cried. It didn’t feel like I was kind when I kept asking how much each charge was and watched my debt rise. They said he had pollyps and very dirty ears, they said he was EXTREMELY malnourished, no microchip, they gave us a sample bag of high protein kitten food, probably told me a lot of other things I forgot, and I put Taco back in the bag. The vet also mentioned the leg I noticed, one of his front legs is shaky and he holds it bent to the side and doesn’t put much weight on it. They said it was probably a healing fracture, but that we wouldn’t worry about it right now, and that the vaccines and other work could wait until later. People made comments on my way out, when they heard him meowing and saw him peek out of the bag, “Now that’s how you carry a cat!” I was not amused, as I was burning holes in my pockets and carrying a very fragile cat, with tears in my eyes for both myself and mostly Taco. But at least people are friendly, their dog was in a cast and they were still smiling. They didn’t look wealthy either. I prayed for their dog and my new lil cat.
So that was pretty much it. I have a cat now. I am so in love. They want to see Taco again in a week or so, he finished his antibiotics, which probably made him feel terrible. He has continued to stay outside at night time, I don’t think he does much but eat and use the bathroom and lay down, but I’m happy for him to have room to walk around and get fresh air. I usually brush him at night I had this extra dog brush from the dollar tree and the cat LOVES it on its side of its face and ears. When I get home from work around noon I put the cat inside in the spare bedroom so it can be inside in the cool, I feed it all the time and it has a little cat box in there we made out of an oil pan from dollar tree. We had another little container but I think it was hard to get up into, this cat doesn’t seem able to jump or climb all that well.
I feel love for this cat deep in my heart. I think about it while I’m at work, and I get excited to see it on the way home. I feel the same way for my dogs, they are my family! I love them more than I can describe. Especially Nugget who has been my BEST FRIEND on the planet for TEN YEARS. I get so excited to see him everyday! Waking up beside him, falling asleep beside him, feeding him, petting him, snuggling, talking, playing, seeing him after work- those are my favorite moments of the day! He’s my soulmate!
This cat though, I feel for him in his weakened condition. We already know where to get the most affordable cat litter and food, we have a stockpile of both from some clearance sales we found. : ) Dedication! This cat is so easy to love. You will think its strange to compare our son to a cat, but there are similarities! They have both been through SO MUCH, have a lot more to overcome, (I pray for their healing every day all day) They both are just happy to love you and be around you. They ask for nothing more than your presence and affection, and snacks. : )
And does anybody else find it an unusual coincidence that this cat and my son both had a similar issue (fractures half healed, when we met them) on the right leg? Interesting… This cat is an angel and I’m so glad we found each other. Taco opened another section in my heart for loving and caring and nurturing and nourishing. These are my favorite things to do in life, that and creating things!
Taco is eating as much as he can and I’m giving as much love as I can while keeping him separate from the dogs. He greets me in the morning on my way to work, and he greets me in the afternoon when I get home. We spend time together outside every night before bed.
Taco has already revealed some weaknesses in myself, in the husband, in our marriage, our dogs, and our home life. I am working to repair and improve these weaknesses, so we will be better prepared to care for not only Taco, but also our vulnerable son who will arrive here soon (We are praying for miracles) and for any fragile little babies, kids, and pets who will need us in the future.
I just wish we had some farm land so Taco could have his own courtyard and cat “coop”… Like a cat house, a screened in cat porch? I am doing my best to heal this cat! Pray for him y’all! This cats life does matter and he is the sweetest angel! So now if pets count as family members we are a family of 5. : ) Thank you Jesus! I guess the longer we wait for kids we will keep collecting animals?!
Every. Single. Time. he sees me, HE PURRS. I LOVE THIS CAT!!! : )
After all this cat has been through he deserves special treatment!! So tonight, I got out some catnip we bought at dollar tree,-Side note, why are the pooper scoopers at dollar tree GIANT? Jake bought a kitchen spoon with holes in it because the megascoop just wasn’t cutting it. Yeah, we are those people now.
Like I was saying, I saw catnip and figured it was worth a dollar, because this cat deserves the royal treatment! Well tonight, he was meowing for attention and I wanted to spend more time with him inside, so Jake went downstairs with Bobo, we have baby gates to keep her in one area. He is down there reading right now, Bobo is chewing a bone. I brought Taco into our room, I put some catnip in a matchless sock, tied it with a retied hairband,(you know the broke one that you retie but its either too tight or not tight enough?) and Taco is in my bed licking, biting, and rubbing face on the sock. Purring loud as can be.
Nugget is intrigued with ears up, but no growling or hunting behavior. Hes even laying down under the blanket now while the cat rolls around! He has always been the sweetest dog. Except one time he chased a rooster at my in laws and took off across the street chasing it, looking like a cheetah! We found Nugget out of breath in a pile of feathers and the rooster was gone for a few days after that. This is the only time Nugget has caused harm, okay hes bit a lot of ankles…. but its only when aggression or perceived aggression is there. And that Rooster was MEAN!!! So I was proud of Nugget at that point. Because that Rooster had been bullying all of us for days! I’m gonna be honest I was proud of a few ankle biting moments where some drunk roommates friend got bit because they walked up and spanked me or cornered Nugget when I asked them to leave him alone!! But even with the rooster or ankles I don’t think anyone was truly harmed, Nugget just knows how to send a message and a warning.
I really believe Taco is getting better and is loving life. He is in love with Jake and I both, he doesn’t seem scared of the dogs at all even when barked or growled at he just stares at them, and he doesn’t even have claws right now. He’s chill. When I let him out upstairs tonight I actually heard him run down the stairs! He has a sore leg and I heard him run! This guy is really perking up! Can’t wait to watch him blossom. Maybe this cat can be my sons little friend. I mean I wanted to start out with fish or frogs but Taco is already here. And we can still get the aquatic animals too, why not? But Nugget loves me the most, Bobo loves Jake the most, and Maybe this cat will love our son : ) Only one way to find out, we gotta get this kid on a plane!
Anybody who wants to help with that… : )
https://www.youcaring.com/jacob-stephanie-hanks-adoption-fund-505653
Okay enough rambling for now, I am going to get off of here and enjoy my sweet dog who is resting by my side and my sweet purring kitty cat who is rolling around in catnip happiness. : )
Goodnight!
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