The Best Laid Plans

Posted on by Sarah A. Hoyt

That picture above is Helena-kitten sleeping on my shoulder and effectively pinning my left arm down.

I’m hoping very much that’s not my last picture with her alive.

We were always going to board the older cats. They need meds, and we couldn’t leave them in the house alone. And we’re gong on a grand tour halfway across the country for a solid two weeks, before coming back home. But we were going to leave the two younger kittens in the house alone for three days with a ton of food (everyone will be gone for three days, including our local friends) and then have people feed them the rest of the time.

As time drew near, though, both Dan and I started getting…. feelings. And the feeling was: Board the littles too. So, Friday I called and booked them in.

Tuesday we gook all the cats in just before noon. And went back home to pack without “help” and clean before leaving early on Wednesday.

…. I was woken at seven thirty by a very shaken vet. I thought Havelock, because he’s old and overweight, and keeps getting into the kitten food.

No. It was Helena. When they came in at 7:30 am, Helena kitten was collapsed in her cage. They suspected cardiac issues.

We said “Do everything to the limit of the possible, no expense spared.” Yeah, I know we’re idiots, but …. she’s so tiny and pretty and affectionate. I’ll just have to work MUCH harder this year.

She’s been in kitty ICU for 2 full days now — yes, that one is going to hurt badly monetarilly, don’t care – and she’s stable. They have her on IV feed and an antibiotic JUST in case.

She might be improving, but it’s fractional. Yesterday, she raised her head. And she seems slightly more awake.

While they’re waiting on a cardiac panel, at this point they don’t expect it to be her heart. They think she got into something, probably weird, at our house. I’ll be honest, we’re pretty good at kitten proofing, but the two disasters have learned how to open the closet in the craft room, and I don’t even KNOW all that’s in there.

They think it’s poisoning and since it didn’t kill her outright and she’s improving, they think it will a waiting game.

I pray they’re correct. I didn’t sleep very well, and kept having nightmares.

If I act distracted at Liberty con, you will know why. It’s not you. It’s that I’m worried about my tiny-pretty. And if you see me crying ugly…. Well, let’s hope you don’t see me crying ugly.

Please, if you’re the praying kind, pray. I don’t want to be grieving for the cutest and sweetest cat I’ve ever known. She and Indy-Pol pulled me out of deep depression. If she goes it …. I don’t know.

If you’re not the praying kind, pray anyway. The novelty of it might surprise Himself enough to move Him. PARTICULARLY if you don’t believe he exists. I know what authors are like. An unexpected character poking Him will get his attention.

I’ll be at Liberty Con. Nothing I could do anyway, since she’s in ICU. And honestly, the only reason to go back would be to say goodbye.

We stopped on the way to say goodbye, just in case. I don’t want that to be our last time with her.

Anyway, if I’ve seemed a bit out of touch, it was that, more than the trip. It was worry.
I’ll try to be human at LC anyway. And hope for the best.

99 thoughts on “The Best Laid Plans”

  3. Take care Sarah.

    Best wishes for the little terror. (What? Aren’t all cats terrors?)

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  4. Sending all good thoughts and prayers for Helena’s full recovery and for Clan Hoyt. I’ll see you tomorrow.

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  5. Prayers for full recovery and return to your loving pretty kitty! <3 My heart goes out to you and yours.

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  8. Some people believe animals have no souls. I don’t know. I do believe that they take on aspects of our own lives; so why not a part of our souls?
    I’ll certainly be praying for you and yours, and yours includes all the dependents of all species.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. @ Doug > “Some people believe animals have no souls. I don’t know.”

      Latter-day Saints’ doctrine comes down on the affirmative side.
      https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2012/03/to-the-point/do-animals-have-spirits-what-happens-to-them-after-they-die?lang=eng
      “…although we don’t have a complete understanding of what happens to animals after they die, we believe that they will enjoy some kind of salvation and immortality.”

      I personally believe that promise includes the restoration of relationships with their human families, in some way, but the preference in this case would be for a temporal reunification after complete recovery.

      Wyldkat has it right > “Perhaps that feeling y’all were getting was a message.”

      Sounds like Helena is in good hands at the vet.
      Prayers for her health and healing, and your own welfare and peace of mind.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Well, damn. I hope she recovers completely, and that you figure out what caused it so it can be avoided in the future. When you get back, give her some pats for me.

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  11. Thoughts and prayers.

    (There’s a part of me saying, “Yeah, that’s trite. Nothing better you can say than that?” However, there’s also another part saying, “Is prayer really such a trite thing? Petitioning the Creator of the Universe is trivial?” I’ll listen to the second part.)

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  16. Massive hugs to you, Great Aunt. Just…Mom passed recently, Dad’s stepbrother is on his last legs, and it’s all happening at the same time as I’m trying to get my life out of the ditch…

    Just…massive hugs. Will have a round for her-and you-tonight since I can’t be at LibertyCon.

    This kind of Barbara Streisand puts me in the mind of religion. And I hate being in the mind of religion-in general and in specific.

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  19. Wow. I hope the little critter gets better, AND they find out what caused it so you can make sure it never happens again.

    She sure looks contented in that picture. Good kitty.

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  20. Perhaps that feeling y’all were getting was a message. If you or Dan found her you’d have to run her in, delaying treatment. She was found by someone who could take action quickly.

    Just a thought that crossed my mind.

    Prayers for a quick recovery.

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  21. Hugs. Positive energy sent for kitty.

    This seems to be the week for Bad Stuff Happening. A family member is temporarily couch surfing after a fire at his apartment building. At least he’s able to salvage enough of his stuff to make it worth renting a U-Haul to remove it. From the pictures I saw, the people in the two apartments in the front may well have lost everything but the clothes on their backs and whatever pocket items they may have been able to grab on the way out.

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  22. Praying for little Helen. They are so fragile at that age, and she is especially small, so more vulnerable. Virtual Hugs.

    On the kitty front here, Bits’ lump did not go past the skin. The bandage is off and so far she is leaving it alone. Won’t know the full picture until pathology report gets back to the veterinarian clinic.

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  26. May the veterinarians have more than sufficient skill, grace, patience, and willpower. May the family have the strength to bear up under this burden. And may the little fuzz be well, healed, healthy and back to her old shenanigans soonest.

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  30. “the two disasters have learned how to open the closet in the craft room”

    Sarah, hopefully the vet has checked for this, but a craft room has yarn and other thready material, that cats and dogs love to get into and occasionally eat. It goes down easier than it comes up, and can get to complications quick.

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    2. True. We had a cat who took to eating a foam earplug I had worn and got an intestinal blockage. Fortunately vet found and cleared it. The silly git repeated the trick a month later. The vet gave us a frequent flyer discount and kitty was good for many more years.

      Prayers up

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  31. So sorry about your kitty, had a scare with my 15 yo last week and totally feel your worry. Post when you need help with sharing the vet bills…

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      1. Ready to write a check for fundraiser w/Kitty-aid.

        Had a scare with Kat-the-dog. She got a bad case of the runs Sunday night, and the usual treatment (doggie doses of Immodium AD) wasn’t helping. Cut her food to minimum until things cleared. Seems to be OK now. (Adding Helena to the critter prayer list.) A vet trip wasn’t necessary, good because it would have been tough to set up.

        We think it was stress from the workers banging on the house, plus overly rich treats. Can’t do much about the former, but she’s on a limited diet until they’re done. Border collies, noise, and Strange Peoples don’t go together, and it seems to present as GI issues. Sigh. At least not as bad with Kat as for her late predecessor.

        She hasn’t figured out how to open the cabinets. Yet.

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        1. With Pepper’s surgery she’s a bit incontinent. Does not have the runs, thank you! Not as bad as the veterinarian feared. Still happens. The anal glands are attached to the sphincter muscle. She had to cut more into the muscle than she wanted to on the side that burst. That Pepper has any control from the first 24 hours is really good news. She should regain full control. Stitches out next Wednesday.

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  34. She’s been in kitty ICU for 2 full days now — yes, that one is going to hurt badly monetarilly, don’t care – and she’s stable. They have her on IV feed and an antibiotic JUST in case.

    Thank you for the update. We’ve been praying.

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  36. Prayers and something that might be dragon hugs, but is probably secretary bird hugs.

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  40. This agnostic is praying through his tears. Please, Dear Lord, give this tiny fluff ball all the time she deserves, to live, to love, to play, to cuddle.

    And where is the tip jar now? I have money laying around now that was going to go to ebooks that would feel better going to Helena.

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  41. So sorry that you are having to go through this. Prayer said for both the kitty and for your family.

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  42. Praying for Helena twice daily at least. I have two huge dogs and nine kitties, and I know how important our furry family members are. All the best, j

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  45. People claim a dog is man’s best friend; but I never cried over a lost dog. After I lost my 5th cat (through about 50 years of life), I realized I couldn’t take losing a 6th. Then I married a lady allergic to them, so it’s up to the rest of you to do your duty.

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  46. Is there some way to contribute to Sarah’s Save the Kitty fund?

    Here’s hoping your kitty stays with you a long time.

    From the guy who took in a stray cat that my little girl brought home 20 years ago. The little girl has grown up and left, but the cat is still here.

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      1. Also, Sarah’s supposed to have an annual blog fundraiser in early July. If she needs extra money for the vet bill then at least the timing is fortuitous.

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          1. I was goung to suggest another fundraiser for the vet bills; others beat me to it. Prayers and best wishes!

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  48. Your yearly fundraiser is coming up in a couple of weeks, isn’t it?

    I don’t pray – it would feel hypocritical coming from me – but I can chip in towards the medical bills.

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  52. I talk to The Big Guy regularly (and by “Big Guy” I don’t mean Joey SpongeBrainShitsPants). Even though sid Big Guy doesn’t talk back, I’ll put in a good word.

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  54. All my hopes for Helena. She’s catching me right in the foof-ball-shaped soft spot in my heart.

    Sorry I won’t get to see you this weekend. I would say “Next year in Chattanooga” … only I said that last year, didn’t I?

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    1. I’m sure that Sarah will do an update, but– she’s out of kitty ICU.

      Not fully recovered, but… she’s getting better.

      (My girls totally cried over this information, they got to cuddle her a bit on a visit and are smitten.)

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      1. I hope this isn’t premature, but….

        Alleluia! Praise the Lord and the veterinarians!

        I’ll keep up the prayers until we learn that Helena is fully healthy and curled up on Sarah’s lap.

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      3. Thank you, I stopped in looking for some kind of update.

        Thank you, Father for protecting this small soul. May she continue to heal.

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      4. Incremental positive progress is still progress. Wee little beasties like that are tougher than they look.

        And prayers, let us not forget, are never wasted. Himself is oft to use human hands to get the job done though, so thanks be for the crew that look after the littlest and fuzziest of four footed family. They done good.

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