There's a lot of stress in the Renovators household...Remodel Man is looking for a new job and career, Builder Boy is testing every boundary in his little world, and I am dealing with both of those stresses plus my own multiple jobs, this house, the bills, the laundry, the infertility and so on. But on Saturday night, I discovered another household member is totally stressed out, too.
Our cat, Deconstructor Cat #1, or DC1, came into our room first thing Saturday morning to cry for food. A few seconds later, he was getting kicked out by Remodel Man. He had been sitting strangely on top of some dirty clothes with a dazed look in his eyes and weird muscle movements in the nether regions. We've seen this before when he was sick and peeing all over the house. I thought we had over-reacted and that he was just sitting there.
Later that night, we saw him sitting on a mailing box, looking the same way. As he jumped off, we noticed a tiny puddle...and it was dark. Dark as in bloody. I checked the litterbox and it was much of the same. Sigh...here we go again.
I drove DC1 to another city where they had an all night emergency care animal center. Five hours and $300 later, the diagnosis: STRESS. Turns out, DC1 is stressed out, too. Most likely from the abundant affections of a four year old who loves DC1 very much. DC1 tolerates Builder Boy, but makes it clear it's only toleration. Recently, Builder Boy's affections have been numerous and very passionate...and DC1 is not happy.
The doctor had to sedate him to do some and tests...DC1 would have none of it. Somehow, they got the xrays, which showed nothing, but that was about all he would allow. So, now we wait and attempt to lower the stress of the cat. He is still, almost 24 hours later, feeling the effects of the sedation. He is walking normally now, unlike last night when he was walking like a drunken sailor, but he is lethargic and groggy and his third eye is still hanging out there. He's breaking my heart.
We are one stressed out family here...you know it's bad when your feline is on kitty Vali.um...