Miss Thing...

relaxing on the top of the cat post when we lived in Arlington. The apartment had a wonderful view of the Washington Monument and other DC landmarks, including the Pentagon, Kennedy Center, etc. She would sit and bake in the sun all day... This was taken in 1999 when she was about 7yrs old.

Now, she's getting ready to turn 14yrs. Last year, she survived a dislocated jaw & perforated liver, among other injuries, after 4 of my greyhounds attacked her for no reason on 12/12/05. She's been healthier & stronger than ever. She's actually always been a tough, sassy cat! The occassional flare-up of crystals in her urine, but generally healthy. Until this morning. Because of what happened w/the dogs, she now lives, quite comfortably & happily, in the guest bathroom. I went into the bathroom to clean up, re-fill foot & water & generally visit with her. Instead, I found her balled up at the bottom of her cat post not moving. She didn't even mew. I tried to pick her up but she refused. On closer inspection, her back-end just collapsed from under her!

So, now, she's at the vet getting some IV fluids & pain meds. We think she may have fallen when trying to jump on the counter [poor whisker/paw coordination at her age maybe?] and hurt herself. It's actually not the first time, since a few years ago, we noticed her lower front teeth missing! She has/had a habit of sleeping on her head right on the very edge of her cat post--and we assume she subsequently fell off, knocking her teeth out! Anyway...

I hope when we go see her tomorrow, she's doing better and it was just a simple little accident. I'm not ready for her to go yet. I feel like she had a 2nd chance after last December--and was convinced she'd live to be 90yrs old. She's been there for everything in my life since I was 20yrs old. I'm not ready yet...