Get Me To The Vet On Time

We have a nagging suspicion that perhaps Thisbe's diabetes is back. To make matters worse, "Atkins for kitties" has been recalled and we have to switch the felines to a higher carb cat food. We scheduled a blood test for today. Now we have a small house guest this week, so Thisbe, being a Fraidy Cat, has been biding her time under the bed. A warm, safe private space. Sometimes she'll come out a schmooze a bit with me. Not today.

S.O. and the young guest left the house so that Thisbe would know she was alone with me. I sneaked the cat carrier upstairs, put it on the bed and opened it EVER SO Quietly. Then I peered under the bed and had a conversation with Thisbe. Offered catnip. Offered a brushing. She was having none of it. Inched her way toward me a bit, but did not venture forth.

Finally I had to grab her by the scruff of the neck which somehow, maybe the way she was lying, did not work very well. Thirty seconds of pure hell between determined owner and clawing freaked out cat until she was finally shoved with no ceremony at all into the carrier. She was outraged and I was panting.

Off to the vet where she behaved somewhat better except when the "nice lady" picked her up. Claws go forth. I have a puncture wound on my arm, but that's all thanks to a heavy sweater.
Back at home, and all is forgiven. I hope. Except that I am wearing about 1/4 lb. of cat fur in various tortoise colors on my black slacks.

It could have been worse. A woman came into the vet's with a large black dog. She explained that the cat, also due for an appointment, had spotted the cat carrier and disappeared. Looked in all the hiding places, and did not find the cat. We have noticed that there is usually at least one spot in the house where a cat can REALLY hide. Thisbe's was under a stair in the basement storage room, and we had to board it up, because we could not get to her in there.

Wouldn't it be easier if one could have an intelligent conversation with one's animal companions? Maybe read Proust together? Go for a swim? Share a bottle of Beaujolais?
Should I write cat mysteries. Cats do have a sense of things. How else would she have known the carrier was on the bed?

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