Jack Cat and the visit to Rhodes 1
Sorry about the no blog yesterday but, after we got back from our adventure in Rhodes we were slightly to the left of done-in. It’s not particularly funny, I’m too knackered for that, but here’s how it went…
After suffering a few days of up-chucking his lunch (but, strangely, not his other meals), we took Jack over to the vet on Rhodes for a look. His third official vet trip in 13.5 years. The boat on a Wednesday is at 5.00 in the morning and there is only one that day so we secured tickets on Tuesday, a Yialos trip that included lunch at Meraklis, as it’s still open, where we sat outside and enjoyed a couple of chops. After an early night, we were awake at 3.30 on Wednesday and, having stuffed the reluctant cat into his box, left for the harbour. The boat came in, in darkness, and there were quite a few locals on it, heading to Rhodes for various things. We sat outside at the back with the cat now grumpy in his box, but enjoying the vibrations. Luckily, he is deaf, so the strange noises don’t distress him.
There were more people than taxis at the other end and, as it was still before sunrise, we decided to walk. We headed to the Plaza Hotel where we knew we could have a breakfast – buffet style €7.00 each including coffee – and where the staff were happy for us to take the Jack-in-a-box with us, later to put him with ‘left luggage’ where he fell asleep. Neil phoned the vet as arranged at just after eight and – and you don’t find this kind of thing very often – he arranged for us to be collected and taken to his surgery at Kremasti, which is towards the airport. His father arrived dead on the appointed time and drove us there. We arrived before the vet and the surgery was still not open but mother-of-the vet was there and offered us coffee at the table and chairs outside. By this time, I had had three caffeinated coffees and was buzzing a little, so declined.
The vet arrived by which time there were two other guys there, one with a puppy and one with another cat in a box. The vet asked them if they would mind us going first as we’d come from Symi and our boat back was at five. (How long was this going to take?) They were fine with that and, poor things, had to wait nearly an hour for us to complete the first part of our/Jack’s session with the cheery, humorous, perfectly English spoken vet. We found out later that neither of the waiting animals was in urgent need, so that was okay.
By this time, Jack was a bit fed up with all the movement but he came out of his box nosing with interest. The vet gave him a full check-up and we talked about his recent symptoms and his ears. The ears, apparently, are not bad enough yet to warrant being taken off, but we will struggle and put cream on them, when he will allow. The stomach thing, which had settled down since Tuesday morning, was a bit of a mystery; possibly a worm that a recent tablet got rid of, maybe a few other things, and so the vet took blood.
Jack was amazingly calm about all this now. He watched with interest as his leg was shaved and a needle inserted (local anaesthetic) and then, while we waited for the results, he wandered about the table and finally took himself back to his box. The vet ran the tests there and then and, while they were doing, gave Jack an X-ray. Somehow Neil ended up being the one to hold him while wearing the special vest, and again he was amazingly quiet and didn’t struggle. This saved us €40.00 as we only had to have one X-ray taken. Back in his box we waited outside and let the other animals be seen to.
A little while later, after some more ‘Coffee?’ ‘No, thank you, honestly’ and a sit outside where it was warm, we took Jack back in to get his results. All clear on all front, internal organs fine apart from his heart which, due to age, now has fluid around it. This was a bit of a worry in that the vet wanted to clean his teeth (the cat’s teeth I mean) but there is a risk to him if he goes under anaesthetic (still talking about the cat), which he would need as the vet wants to keep his fingers. So, best to leave that for the moment, and the ears, and treat him with… And this is where it gets interesting…
But that will have to wait for tomorrow, this (unchecked) post is long enough already. Stay tuned.
