I got up yesterday morning and medicated and eye-ointment’d Sam, Hoyt, Bill, and Lafayette. As I put the ointment in their eyes, I cast a worried look (as usual) at all the eyes, and they seemed to be doing okay. I spent some time playing with them, and then I got out the vacuum cleaner and vacuumed their room.
It’s funny, I always assume kittens are going to be terrified of the vacuum cleaner, but it’s not always so. The majority of the True Bloods aren’t terribly scared of the vacuum cleaner, and a couple of them – Sam and Terry – actually act very interested in it and what it’s doing. I wouldn’t be surprised one of these days if Terry tries to jump on and go for a ride.
I put the vacuum cleaner away, and then I picked up Bill to look closer at one of his eyes, which seemed from a distance to be kind of goopy. I decided there was a little eye goo, but nothing to be worried about, walked into the kitten room and sat down. Bill followed me in and sat next to me. I snapped his picture, and then I looked at him.
His right eyelip was bloody.
I’m only surprised that I didn’t scream and faint or start running around in circles. He didn’t seem to be in pain, he let me gently wipe the blood away, but more blood came to fill the spot I’d cleaned. I immediately called the vet and asked if I could bring him in. It being the day after a holiday weekend they were pretty busy, but told me to bring him in and leave him, and they’d figure a way to work him in.
As I put Bill into the carrier, I looked down at Hoyt, and decided on a whim to bring him along for the ride. He had a little spot on one of his eyelips that seemed a little raw to me, but mostly I didn’t want Bill to be alone, so I thought Hoyt could keep him company.
I dropped them off at the vet, told the receptionist what was going on, and left my number for them to call when the vet had checked them over.
They called at 3 and said I could come get them, so off I went. I talked to the vet briefly, but basically she just said that both Bill’s eyes and Hoyt’s looked good. Perhaps Bill bumped his eyelip on something, which caused the bleeding.
And actually, she theorized that the fact that it was bleeding was likely a good sign – that it meant that the graft is taking, that there are blood pathways forming between the graft and where the graft is attached. She told me to keep going with the antibiotic and ointment, but to her they look good.
What a relief!
Maybe Bill just thought I didn’t have enough to worry about?
I’ll be leaving in a little bit to drop Terry off at the vet. I won’t lie, I’m going to worry about my little guy. His eyes are far and away (in my opinion, I’m no medical professional) the worst of the bunch. I’ll be glad to see him with his new eyelips, though, so that he won’t have hair rubbing against his eyeball. It hurts just to see that!
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Previously
2009, part 2: Ike (there were two posts on 9/9/09; this is the link to the other one)
2008: Your het does not scare me. AT ALL.
2007: No entry.
2006: No entry.
2005: I was worried it might mess up his digestive system, but I can report that I saw it in the litter box.
Hi,
I have been faithfully reading every post since you were linked to from the Itty Bitty Kitty Committee.
I think I am as worried as you! I will be incredibly releived when all these awesome kittens are healed, healthy and find permanent loving homes!
I wish I could be there to help.
Keep up the good work!
Beth P. in Maryland
So glad everything is okay, and yes I think the kittens had realized you hadn’t had your daily worry quota filled yet. It reminds me of our house (two beagles and two cats). I have a theory that all our furry family members get together every six weeks to decide whose turn it is to have a crisis 🙂 You’re clearly doing a wonderful job with these babies.
So interesting about the vacuum, you would think something loud and at least twice as big would freak them out. Hmmm.
I, too, found you through the IBKC and have followed the story of the True Bloods. You are quite possibly the best kitteh momma ever. I adore the fact that you worry over those babies and their eyelips. Purrs and headbutts to the kittens.
I came to your website from IBKC, too, and I check your site faithfully every morning to get your True Blood update. I don’t know how you do it. I hold my breath as I scan down. I’m so anxious for these little kitties to come through OK. They are so fortunate to have you worrying over them. You make me feel better, too. I’m less embarrassed by all of my own frantic calls to the vet to have her check something out that looks concerning to me!
My Abby didn’t mind the vacuum when she was a kitten, but is scared to death of it now. My husband actually couldn’t believe it when he saw a picture of her as a kitten playing next to the vacuum, because she won’t go near the thing now (or the closet it stays in).
Glad to see the TB6 are doing OK. They are the sweetest little things!
You should get a Roomba so the kitties can ride it around, Achewood style.
I think you have a whole Worry Committee for the little True Bloods and their eyelips. I’m another one who checks in every day, holding my breath. I’m glad you had an extra dose of cute with Ike to temper the worry. Natasha has it right — you are the bestest kitteh momma ever. Hang in there!
These charming little guys have touched my heart in a big way, I have to check every day to see how they are doing with their new eyelips. These are such lucky kittens to have you to worry over them and take such good care of them!
egads! boy did i freak when i saw that pic. whew! breathe, breathe… we’ll be okay 😉
Thanks, all of you – it’s good to know I’m not the only one worrying about my babies. I kind of wish I could put myself and all of them in a state of suspended animation for about a month until they’re good and healed!
Sam, I actually do have a Roomba. I was going to wait ’til they got used to the vacuum before I took the Roomba upstairs. I bet they’ll love it! 🙂
Hope all goes well with Terry today! We don’t blame you for being worried about Bill and Hoyt, glad to hear all was mostly okay.
Those kitties are just tooooo cute!
Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew
I think when I retire I want to be just like you…and foster kittens. But the more I read your updates, the more I don’t know how I’d ever let them go.
I received the sweetest thank you note from the True Bloods today. Who’da thunk they’d have perfect penmanship! lol! I imagine detached eyelips bouncing around the kitten room…well, it may not seen funny now, but in a few weeks when this worry passes…it is funny. Really. Saying ‘don’t worry’ won’t do any good; you’re going to worry about the furkids regardless. But they will be fine.
Thanks for the updates.
I’m with everyone else up there…I read your posts as quickly as I can cause I’m always worried about something going wrong…as soon as you mentioned blood, I freaked out…whew…thank goodness they’re okay 🙂
Hope Terry’s surgery goes well today!
Oh poor Bill – that stinks that he was bleeding but it is good to hear from the vet that it is a good sign. I wonder if he just got too rough with his siblings – maybe someone accidently bumped it with a stray claw (not on purpose of course, kittens just sometimes forget they have them I have noticed.) And I am not surprised that they don’t mind the vacuum – mine didn’t start to have a problem with ours until they got older (I have no idea why, it isn’t like they got sucked in it (ok maybe one time I had the wand out and Barney got close and it grabbed his fur but he was ok)). And Barney has tried to ride it – but he is starting to loose interest as he gets older.
I will be crossing everything until I hear Terry is ok – as I have said before, that little guy just gets me ever time I see him.
You poor thing, Robyn! I empathize completely! Glad to hear it’s all OK, but that initial adrenaline rush had to be awful!
Good job on the vacuum. We need pics if they ride the Roomba!!
Fingers and toes crossed for little Terry. And for quick healing for the eyelips!
I was eating while on my computer, thinking, “It’s safe to look at the Love & Hisses Blog while I’m eating, what would possibly be gross?” And it had to be on Bloody Eye day =P. Glad to hear he’s ok.
Awww.. poor little Bill’s eyelips. That picture does make it look pretty scary. I know I probably wouldn’t have handled it as well as you did. I’m glad to hear that the vet thinks everything is just fine though… I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the little guy (and for sweet Terry, too) – but, I’m sure he’s a trooper. Kittens are like elastic bands 😉
So glad Bill is ok! Good luck and good thoughts for Terry! You will feel so much better when all the little kitties are done!
What a scare from Bill! I don’t even think I would have called, I just would have scooped him up and been on my way. You are so good to stay so calm.
Good luck, Terry! It’s going to feel so good not to have to worry about that little hair anymore… I’m rooting for the speediest eyelip recovery ever!
Oh, and I’m almost done with the Homer book already. Just can’t put it down! I love it.
Soooo, Terry is moving in, right!
You need to get Fred on the same page. These kittens have touched my heart, especially Terry. I have to get my fill every morning.