Everything I Know About Christmas I Learned From a Cat

Clueless Wonder is still a patient at The Vet Clinic. He's become a favorite among the staff, and the techs all argue about who gets to bring him out to visit with me, and who gets to take him back.

He's eating now, and a little problem we were having with retention of bowel contents was relieved by two enemas on Wednesday. His belly is shaved for the ultrasounds, his neck is shaved for the central venous catheter, his leg is shaved for the peripheral catheter, and apparently all the shaved parts itch. I visited Clueless twice today, for 45 minute stretches each time, and he fell asleep on my legs while I scratched all that velvety naked skin. He showed little interest in the laser pointer that I brought with me this evening, though he deigned to watch the little red dot sit on his paw for a while. Of more intereste was the fresh catnip toy I had purchased for his Christmas present, though he showed minimal enthusiasm for that as well. He's quiet, and he's patient, and he's content to accept attention in the form of belly rubs and chin chucks until he falls asleep.

I sat in the waiting room this evening next to a couple with a golden retriever, whose belly was shaved. The retriever had a feeding tube, its end taped in place mid-neck. The couple told me how their dog had been diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of lymphoma the week previously, and how they were trying chemo in order to extend the dog's life for as long as he seemed to be enjoying it. The chemo seemed to be working well, and I wished them luck with therapy. If they are lucky, it will extend their dog's life by about six months or so.

It will be Christmas here in two hours. I've got LGS on my lap, Squeegee's on the bed trying to break in to the new catnip I bought, and the Warrior Princess is asleep downstairs in front of the space heater. I've one more present to wrap, and then I can sit down and read a book or watch some rotten television and sip some equally insipid spiced apple wine whose label appealed more to my eyes than the wine does to my palatte. I know Clueless is in good hands. Tomorrow morning, after rounds, I'll visit with him again. It will be a better Christmas than I've spent in a long time, because I already have everything I really want.