Anti-climax

Some time during the night, the abscess on Minuet’s face opened and some blood and puss came out, though not enough to reduce the swelling. I suspect it did some good anyway. I kept her isolated in the library over night, principally so no other cat would pilfer her food. She ate a decent amount. This afternoon, Min visited the doctor.

It was a bit of an anti-climax, as no definite cause of her inflammation could be found. Her lip was too swollen for a good observation to be made. I was given some anti-biotic to put into her, by mouth, twice a day for a week. Fortunately, it is liquid, so it will be easy for me, though possibly painful for her. Once the anti-biotic reduces the swelling, if it does, I must take Min back to the doctor for an assessment.

The fact that the swelling opened a bit suggests to me an outside injury, which would be preferable to a dental cause. A problem with Madame’s teeth would need surgery to fix, and of course at her age anaesthetic is almost an impossibility. Indeed, just to lance the swelling, as was discussed at the hospital today, would have required sedation, and so was ruled out.

While I was at work, Min wet outside her litter-box twice today, for the first time since her initial weeks with me. But I attribute that to the pain and stress of her predicament. I expect that problem to subside with the swelling. At the hospital, my sunflower behaved very well. She purred as I stroked her and spoke to her (despite her deafness), ceasing only when the doctor was present. She nonetheless allowed the staff to clean her and examine her and, when she came home, climbed the cat-tree in the library to sit in the warmth of the sun’s light. Though the discomfort of her situation may cause litter-box irregularities, Minuet seems determined not to let her current affliction get the best of her. She remains a lady.