The month of hell

Entries from my diary of July 2002

13 July - spent weekend in garden soaking up the rays feeling sorry for myself and watching Hoges catch mice - it seems almost too easy.
14 July - Still in garden, Hoges still catching and eating mice - can't be many left. I hope they are not so easy to catch because someone has left out rat poison otherwise Hoges will be very ill.
15 July - woken at 5.30 by Hoges having pulmonary embolism (ok, I admit I didn't know that at the time, she could have just had a touch of cramp for all I knew). Phoned vet and made mad dash to the surgery. Thank goodness I'm a woman and was therefore able to clean my teeth (didn't want to introduce myself to new vet with early morning breath), get dressed (definitely didn't want to introduce myself to vet in nightie covered in mice wearing night caps), email Stephen to say may not be at work and have a ciggie - all at the same time within 10 mins. Introduced myself to vet. He seems nice in a James Herriot sort of way. Hoges kept at vets, I go to work. 8.30 phone call telling me Hoges is breathing through nose (which vet points out is the prescribed manner) and sitting in cage with a bemused expression on her face (no doubt having been told off for not breathing in prescribed manner).I collect her from surgery, she is looking much better, and has an accident in Stephens car on 5 min journey back home, luckily he has leather seats so easy to clean.
16 July - she goes back for check up - signs of heart murmur, things not as good as hoped.
17 July - she has lung x-ray and heart scan. Sat at home all day worrying, no sign of any magpies or the Kestral that normally hunts on the embankment. Get phone call from Paul, the small animals vet (we are now on first name terms) there are signs of damage to heart and lungs. She is discharged with pills and a pissed off expression on her face, but at least doesn't piss in my car - brought towel as precaution. Bill not as bad as expected as in initial estimations amongst friends who are not vets the highest estimate was 500 pounds, I told the receptionist, she said I must have been lying awake at nights sweating - funnily enough I have been, but that is nothing to do with the bill.
18 July - decide not to attempt throwing pills down her neck in the way that vets do so easily, so crushed them up in her food.

23 July Am not happy about letting Hoges out so allowed Stephen to buy her a harness. I wanted one with jazzy stars on, he bought a sensible one in red. Hoges not happy, I'm not happy but we will persevere. Wish she wouldn't stick backside into air like a porn star every time I put it on her.
25 July - Have found out that if I get a long bit of grass and run up and down the garden she will happily chase it (even with harness on). We do this about two or three times an evening - fences are at about chest high so I look as though I am just running up and down talking to myself, only immediate neighbours looking through upstairs windows will know I have a cat with me
26 July - It's raining. Hoges wants to go out and play. She won't go out when it's raining, I can't stop it raining, we are at stalemate. I have a bath. Hoges still wants to go and chase long bits of grass. Put coat over nightie, put harness on cat and open door, Hoges changes mind. Take off coat, Hoges back at door - open door thinking she will change her mind - I am in the middle of my lawn in short nightie. Hoges is happy, in her little mind she has caused me as much embarrassment as I have caused her. We go back in.