Foster Cat Journal: Oh, Cheech

I took Cheech to the Vet on Monday to be neutered. It was time. His weight-up a half pound in over a week since he's been in foster care, put him over the two pound mark, so time to neuter...then on to his new home!

Everything seemed to go according to plan, though I was still concerned about Cheech's oddly round belly. I met a Vet this weekend and she looked at it and said she thought it could be worms, but couldn't not rule out FIP. That said, Cheech's overall appearance is good. He is eating fairly well, not great, not terrible and his “output” has been okay, but for a kitten it's rather dark and hard stool. He is playful, but he still hides like a kitten-Houdini. He's affectionate and loves to sleep on my chest, even belly up, some times.

The Vet called and said they could not do the neuter, not because Cheech wasn't mature enough, but because of that big belly. They took some blood to see if that would indicate something was going on. The tests didn't come back in full today-just a partial. So far, nothing is abnormal, but the coronavirus results weren't in yet-even though that's not a great diagnostic indicator.

Sure, it's great to be able to surf the net and get lots of info about any topic you can imagine but, it also sucks. I read more about FIP and it just made me cry. I can't say for sure that Cheech is even SICK right now, but geez...he could have FIP. He could. That belly looks just like the photo in the .pdf from Winn Feline's article! And then what happens to Cheech? We know what happens...

I just love this little guy. I love all my fosters, but he's one of the few that really got to me. He is completely adorable and charming. To imagine him not being able to have a chance to live a full life after rescuing him from a dumpster, well...it would be really heartbreaking.

I understand that we don't have a diagnosis. That perhaps it IS a wormy belly or he ingested something funky in that dumpster? But why can't he come back here until the tests come in? At least he would have some time in a home, not in a cage.

Whatever it is, the waiting, wondering, worrying goes on. I know that the rescue road is paved with tears and bathed in the warm glow of hope. That's all we have right now. Hope. Hope that Cheech will be all right and hope that he can go to his forever home with his waiting family, soon.