Thelma, my cat

November 2011

Thelma is my dear, sweet cat who is by my side wherever I go, at least within the house.  It all started when I saw her cute, little, kitten face from behind the bars at the humane society 14 ½ years ago.   Even then she had a regal air about her, but still plenty of mischievousness.  She and her “sister” were named Thelma and Louise, which were fitting names for both. 

Thelma is very communicative and makes all sorts of meows, squeaks, purrs, and howls.  She has taught me to talk with her regularly.  In fact, she’s trained me quite well.  I keep to her exact feeding schedule requirements and have learned she likes her water very cold and fresh, but her food must be warm and varied.

I now understand there must be an assortment of blankets, towels, and beds in various places all around the house, fluffed just perfectly for lounging and sunning.  No place is too good or off-limits when it comes to getting her regal nap.

One of our favorite activities is when I fetch her toys.  She taught me that ribbon is much preferred over rope, and there’s a “right” way and a “wrong” way to drag it.  She may pounce or she may not.  One thing for sure is that I will continue to drag, dangle, coax, and swing the ribbon whenever she wants.

Ah, but she truly is “king of the Jungle”.  Thelma will walk all around the inside perimeter of the house a couple times a day, without fail, as she checks for intruders. She still catches mice in the basement and enjoys bringing them upstairs, still alive, for us all to be amazed with her masterful hunting skills.  She will let the mouse go only to show us she can catch it again.

About a year ago, my dear, sweet Thelma started losing weight and I noticed changes in the litter box.  She was clearly not eating and drinking normally, but why not?  I didn’t immediately realize how serious it was because she hid it so well, so by the time we took her in to the vet she was doing quite poorly.  Well, the wonderful people at Kentwood Cat Clinic diagnosed her with high blood pressure (it was extremely high) and kidney disease.

She was put on an IV to hydrate her and help flush her kidneys, which meant she had to stay for two nights at the clinic.  After that I took her home, poor thing, to nurse her back to health.  She had lost over 20% of her weight, probably was having blinding headaches, and didn’t have an appetite.

It took about six months, but she has bounced back almost as good as new.  Of course, she still has a blood pressure issue which we keep completely under control with medicine, and she gets SQ fluids every day.  All her weight is back and she acts as if nothing happened.

Unbelievably, even though I poke her with a needle every day, she still comes when I call, sleeps next to my head every night, and has to be near me all the time.  Could it be she loves me as much as I love her?