Poor little Cleo

Yeah, she's having health issues again, and it appears to be the struvite crystals, as before. It was treatable, but costly, and it took a considerable amount of care and watchfulness...special diet, pushing fluid, giving meds. It was all worth it - she is a dear cat - and we were all relieved to be able to treat her and not have to put her down. But...

That was back about three years ago, when I was employed and that sort of thing wasn't a problem or a concern. Knowing that costs have gone up, and the diagnosis and treatment will be the same (even though I will take her to the same vet), I am slightly hesitant to put out the cash. But I will do it, simply because she is a member of the family, and I can't handle the thought of losing her. Brian knows that the alternative to taking care of her might be an agonizing decline, so he is mentally set to have to put her down, but I know it will rip a hole in his heart.

It's funny, we have three cats, and each one of them corresponds to one of us - either in temperament, personality, physical maladies, what-have-you.

I seem to belong to Hobbes. She is vocal and the "mom-cat", watchful, busy, fussy, but mostly vocal (and a little spastic). She is the first to volunteer in the kitchen, always wanting to eat, make sure others have eaten... She is gregarious and social and afraid of no one.

Flop, now she belongs to Karl. Or, rather, he belongs to the fuzzy one. She was his choice when I told the boys they could choose one kitten from the litter to bring with us to the new house in Clarkston. Someone to keep Hobbes company - and oh how they disagreed on which one (which is how we ended up with three cats; a long story I will tell you some day).

Flop is stand-offish and timid. Quick to lash out and yearning for attention, affection and contact, but unsure and clumsy in obtaining it. A bulldozer of a critter, but adorable and cuddly; so very much like Karl. She amuses herself much of the time, and from our locations in the house more often than not we can hear her having fun...but never really see it happening. It takes her a long time to come out of hiding, but once she adopts someone into her inner circle, she allows them to see her and get close from time to time.

Cleo and Brian are strange soul mates. They also have similar qualities...Brian had kidney stones a year ago, which oddly enough is just too similar to Cleo's issue. They are both open and friendly, sweet, playful, good natured, rough and tumble. Ready to have fun and be active, but most times would rather just hang and enjoy some quiet time and cuddling.

So, it turns out we have to get Cleo to the vet once more, so it was a good thing I spent some time babysitting great Gram - the capital made will help to pay for this unexpected cost.

Think good thoughts for the little fuzzyhead, and I will keep you posted.