This is a you have to laugh or else you'd cry situation: last Saturday I took this picture, thinking "cute little eye of Sauron" and learned the hard way that the eye of Sauron is not to be laughed at
Batman's appetite had been a little iffy the past few days and on Sunday afternoon he started vomiting. I gave an anti-nausea tablet and he promptly threw that up too. Great. I was woken in the wee hours by the sound of vomiting and in the morning, he was nowhere to be found. Eventually he appeared 5 minutes before I had to leave for work, looking awful. I gave him subcutaneous fluids to prevent dehydration and left for work hoping for the best and started looking for a nearby 24h clinic. When I got home, there were puddles of vomit everywhere he looked worse and I ransacked the house for all cash and bank cards and rushed to the vet. She took one look at him and said that he needed to be put on a drip to correct his dehydration. I emptied my pockets and bank account and left him there.
The next day he was a little better but refusing all food so I went over to try and feed him but Nope. The shaved patch on his neck is from drawing blood: he was tested to find out if he has FIV because he's been vaccinated for Panleukopenia but the FIV test was negative. His leg is bandaged to prevent him from pulling out the IV needle.
He still wouldn't eat but the emergency vet discharged him on Wednesday because both vets said further testing might be needed but I couldn't pay any more upfront and my regular vet was prepared to extend credit. The emergency vet suggested that I keep him at home for a day and see if he would eat once he was home because Batman doesn't like strangers and spent all his time hissing at her and her staff. She sent him home with antibiotics and said that she thought he had gastroenteritis, even if he wasn't vomiting or pooping.
Once home, Batman started eating a little and within a few hours
he released a tsunami of diarrhoea. By the next day, it was pouring out like a tap. Off to the vet I went and I was given Panacur paste, which works on intestinal protozoans and parasites and started washing towels and pet bedding. By late that night, it seemed like shitmageddon was being beaten and the next morning there was mercifully none. Phew!
He's skin and bone but getting better and eating more. In this picture, I guess he's wondering how to beat Simba in the very expensive cat department. Forty percent of what Simba cost me so far. Hmmm, have to do better....
Talking of Simba, the stitches are out and cone off and he's very bored. I had to upgrade his cage to maximum security jail because he managed to get out by pulling on the cords I used to tie the gate shut and trying to squeeze through every space. It's going to be a long four weeks.
A guardian angel friend sent me some money and I had a large sale on my website and that money was finally deposited into my account yesterday so we'll get by. I'm really happy to have my little purring machine sleeping on my chest again but damn... I have told the others to please not get sick too because my crypto is the last thing left.