I have two cats that prefer not to interact with our three ferrets during
"ferret play-time" in the general household.  I have two other cats who
either perch out of reach or who enjoy being chased or nuzzles, at least
for a little while.
 
One day last week, I had just let one of the two tolerant cats outside
because she seemed to be being bothered by our ferret Cocoa.  After
shutting the door, I noticed Cocoa was just sitting still in one spot
right below the chair where Alice the sharp-fingered cat had been.  I
picked him up and his eye was covered with thick blood.  I couldn't see
his eye at all.
 
Thank God it was a weekday afternoon when the ferret expert was in the
office.  I put Cocoa right into a carrier I had handy with blankets
inside, so that he wouldn't run and hide on me, and called my vet's
office.  Of course they said to bring Cocoa right in.  All the way to the
office, Cocoa would not open his eye, though at least the bleeding had
stopped.  Just when we got called back to see the Doctor, he actually
opened the eye.
 
The Dr. looked at the eye then took him back and anesthetized him to get
a good look.  The cat's claw had cut both the cornea and the eyelid.  Dr.
administered injections of an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic, and
also put dilating drops in Cocoa's eye to minimize the scar.  Lucky Cocoa
actually got care during that "Golden" first hour after an injury, so he
has a chance to keep the eye.
 
I took him back Monday, a week later.  Most of the cornea has healed but
there's a bubble that's trying to heal and patch itself.  If it bursts,
his eye collapses and he's blind.  If it heals, Mother Nature will have
done the job.  The only possible surgery would be opthalmic microsurgery
that's only offered at the Vet School for a very large amount of money.
We're relying on prayer for Cocoa and eye ointment and amoxi to keep away
infection.  He goes back again Monday.  His vet is the best.
 
Anyway, WATCH THOSE ANNOYED CATS AROUND YOUR BELOVED FUZZIES.  Maybe the
kitties need a break while the ferts roam.
 
Cindy and the kitty-adventurer: Cocoa, and friends Butter and Sugar.
[Posted in FML issue 4150]