Can you ask for prayers for a Cat?

[auntie]

Many of you know about our one eyed wonder Ojo. Pronouced "o-ho"...it's Spanish for eye. My daughter found him two years ago under her car, he was dragged from his litter by some animal..and his eye was injured. She said he hurt his poor little "ojo" and the name stuck. Vet figured him to be about four weeks old at the time.
I digress.
Ojo was mauled yesterday by a couple of grey hounds while cutting through their yard. They are rescue dogs..and frankly they are good dogs..but they do kill every rabbit, or opposum that crosses their path. Poor little Ojo, who doesn't have a healthy fear of dogs..because he thinks ours is his mother crossed paths with them.
He's in bad shape.
It's a nightmare of a story and I've tried to type it out twice..and frankly..bottom line is this. I'm spending money I really don't have to fix this pet, because I can't kill the cat a week before Christmas and three weeks after losing my dad. I know one has nothing to do with the other..but emotionally speaking..I'm a wreck. I really just can't take much more. Christmas is in a week, and I know I don't have babies..but I can't look at those kids on Christmas morning knowing that on top of everything else that's happend this year..now the cat is dead. Can't do it..nope. Bob said we need to do it..we've lost too much already. I know he's just a cat..and lord knows for the money we could have had one with TWO eyes..but our hearts just can't take another heartbreak.
So...my older son.. thank God..offered to split the cost of the cats care. Which is off the charts. Most will say I'm nuts. Yet..I just can't loose this freakin' little one eye pet of mine. He's a freak of nature..but he's our freak of nature. He must have put up one hell of a fight to get away from them..and if he's got it in him..I've got to give him that chance.
So..if you don't mind..a prayer or two for Ojo...would be appreciated. He's having surgery this afternoon.

(jeeze, you people must think I'm so pathetic.. )

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Consider it done, Phyllis.

 

[ntsammy5]

Ditto, Phyllis

 

[Born 2 Fish]

DITTO that Ditto, Phyllis

 

[ktlm]

I don't even like cats, but of course little Ojo will have my prayers today! I hope his surgery goes well and that he makes a full and complete recovery. I completely understand spending whatever it takes to try to save him. He's a family member. I don't think I could have gotten through losing my Dad without my dog. I will send several prayers for Ojo's recovery and for your family today.

 

[2goofycampers]

Prayers for Ojo from me.


And for you and the family.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

One for Ojo....One for Phyllis.

 

[BRDof3]

We're right here with you Phyllis.

 

[Just Beachy]

I figure it can't hurt to answer on this board, too. Prayers for little Ojo!!! I'm thinking of you and sending lots of also!

 

[RvUsa]

Phyllis, I wish I could just drive up there and give you a great big hug, but your husband might not like that! But dang girl, you need it!!! I will toss up a prayer for the little guy too, and by the way, I don't think you are crazy, pets are part of the family.

 

[auntie]

Update on Ojo:

He made it through his surgery. They did find damage to his intestines..but they were not perforated, so I guess they were put back where they need to be. Vet said at this point he's on heavy duty antibiotics. Watching for any tissue damage. He said he had some massive injuries. This guy isn't the type to do needless surgery though. He didn't rush into anything..because he wanted to observe the cat most of the day and make sure he was stable. If he didn't think the cat stood a chance he's a straight shooter and would tell us. Of course he doesn't guarantee that because he survived the surgery he won't have complications. We pretty much have to wait and see what the next few days bring. We've been using this vet for 20 plus years. While his usual vet didn't do the surgery...the "head vet" so to speak did it. He's not much for chatting it up..but he said he's cautiously optimistic. I don't want to get my hopes up to much..but that's good news coming from him. He's pretty guarded usually. He did say that it must have been a BIG dog that got him. Poor Ojo..I cringe when I think about how he was fighting for his life. They were tossing him around like a rag doll. He has fractured ribs and lacerations all over him.
As for the mauling..we are 90% sure it's our neighbors dogs..but in all honesty, we didn't actually witness the mauling. I happen to know that they took their dog to the vet because it had gotten "into it" with a cat. Now...what are the chances that it was a different cat than ours? True.. the cat went through their yard. But it's ridiculous the neighbors next to them have to be very careful with their small dog..because the greyhounds have tried to eat him as well. I tell ya..I gotta get out of this town. I'll deal with the neighbors tomorrow. If they want to donate to the Ojo bill..I wouldn't refuse it..but I don't hold out much hope in that regard.
We will be able to visit him tomorrow and at this point they anticipate he will be there through to next week. They even have someone watching him tonight.

 

[disney92]

Praying for a speedy recovery for your Ojo!!

Sending hugs to you and wishes for a better 2010!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Prayers for Ojo, and you...hang in there.

 

[disney4dan]

Sending belated prayers your way Phyllis and for poor little Ojo. As busy as this time of year can be, and as stressful as it can be, stopping to ask for prayers is a lot more important than asking Santa for a gift under the tree.

 

[des1954]

Phyllis - Pets ARE a part of our family, and they deserve love, care, and prayer just as much as a human part of the family.

I'm glad Ojo came through the surgery and am praying he recovers quickly.

It's time to turn this baby into an "indoor cat" - for his own protection.

 

[auntie]

Oh Deb..believe you me, we wanted to keep him as an indoor pet. We tried very hard, but unsuccessfully. He was a ferrel cat..born to a ferrel cat, and it's hard to take that out of them. Three doors in the house. Five people living here. He was constantly trying to sneak out...and he was good at it. I can't tell you how many times we have almost fallen down stairs, or banged ourselves in the entry trying to grab that cat as he came out of no where and darted out. THEN...he started to spray our home. Yep..male cat scent. OMG! Having had a female cat for 17 years, we were not familiar with that lovely habit. Yes...we had him altered...but he was STILL able to do that. Vet said it's very rare, but some male cats are still able to mark their territory so to speak, after being altered. Lucky us.
Anyway, as soon as we "let" him go out...he stopped spraying the house. It was either that or get rid of him.
I fully intend to keep him an indoor pet when he comes home. I doubt he will be in any kind of shape to be going anywhere for a while.
Vet said he made it throug the night and was stable today. Hopefully I'll get to visit him late this afternoon, if not one of my kids will be there. I just have to see what today brings. Very sad to watch our dog..he keeps looking for the cat. He's looking in his favorite hiding spots, and outside on the deck..he looks left then right..looking and sniffing for the cat. Poor Toby, misses his little buddy Ojo. Pets..they really are something.

 

[We4mickey]

Prayers and to you and Ojo.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

 

[Judy in Texas]

He was constantly trying to sneak out...and he was good at it. I can't tell you how many times we have almost fallen down stairs, or banged ourselves in the entry trying to grab that cat as he came out of no where and darted out.

Sam Kitty used to be an escape artist of the highest order and wasn't opposed to biting the hand that fed him. I took him is as a young adult cat from some people who just had a baby. I started researching how to handle him and came across several homeopathic options. A recurring ingredient was belledonna which I had in my Nyland box. The Nyland pills are very small and dissolve instantly in just a few drops of water. I put 4-5 in the bottom of his food bowl with the water and then add the canned food. In just a few weeks he was a new cat and I discontinued the medicine. I have given it to him several additional times for a few days. He hasn't needed any in months. While some may not agree with this approach, I take in a pet for life. I couldn't give him away again and didn't want to put him down.

http://www.hylands.com/products/remedychest.php

 

[BradyBz12]

So glad to hear Ojo is stable. Hopefully today brings more good news.

While some may not agree with this approach, I take in a pet for life. I couldn't give him away again and didn't want to put him down.

I'm not a big pill person at all, but I do believe that even animals need some extra help sometimes.

Our border collie Brady was a whacked out dog from the get go - puppy mill>pet store>family #1>family #2>rescue... all by the tender age of 6 mos.

When we unexpectedly lost our first BC Maggie 3 years ago - who'd been his security blanket from the day he walked into our home - he was totally lost. All his issues and anxieties went through the roof and he could barely function. We used to joke he walked around thinking the sky was falling, but it really wasn't much of a joke anymore as he preferred to just lay under the coffee table all the time and was reactive to everything.

We started him on some homeopathic anti-anxiety pills hoping to just take the edge off the poor thing. There were some other changes as well, including adding a new puppy and getting on board with an awesome trainer, but I truly believe the meds helped a ton.

Now 3 years later he is a 100% completely different dog! From distant, stressed and anxious to cuddly, bouncy, happy-go-lucky dog that LOVES to play with toys, travel and meet people. He's more of a puppy now than he ever was at 6-7 mos. old.

He still gets the pills once per day as maintenance. If we know he's going to be stressed out about something, I might give him an extra dose, but otherwise he takes the world in stride most of the time, and is a happy, relaxed dog.