Friday, May 20, 2011

Meet Thomas on Friend Friday

Wooly posing for Peel at the vet.

This was our post when Blogger went AWOL those two days last week.  It showed up in our drafts this week so we figured we would go ahead and post it.

Thomas (formerly known as Wooly) is the office cat at a vet I lived near and has quite a story to tell.  Sorry the pics are blurry - a friend took them with her cell phone for me.  Let's get to his story.....


It was late winter of 2005 and I kept noticing drops of blood here and there in the snow out near the feral cat shelter.  I was worried one of mine has gotten into fight and needed medical help.  All of mine were accounted for but still the drops of blood kept appearing in the snow. 


Finally I saw the injured cat - a large gray  long haired Main Coon like cat was walking slowly through the yard, dragging his left front paw.  The blood was coming from cuts on the top part of his paw which was now face down and making contact with the ground as he walked.  He couldn't seem to lift it.  I called to him but he stayed his distance.  I put food out and set a humane trap to see if I could entice him in and take him to the vet.  I would find the trap set but no cat inside. He kept coming by for food but because of his paw, he was not able to go in the trap without setting it before he was all the way in.  I didn't see him every day but when I did his paw looked the same.


Seeing him suffering like this was very upsetting..  I contacted the neighbors.  No one knew who he was or where he came from.  I began to call him Wooly because of his massive thick  fur. Another neighbor joined me in trying to capture him but he disappeared before we were able to get him safely to a vet.  We looked for him, left food out but no sign of Wooly.  Peel and I were saddened to think  some wild animal or dog must have gotten him in his weakened condition.

Late winter turned to spring and Peel phoned me,excitedly, to tell me to come with her to the vet who had his office in our neighborhood  one street over. We walked in and who do we see but Wooly, alive and well and with his damaged front leg removed!  It seems that he moved on to another street and someone was able to make friends with him enough to catch him.  Once at the vet, he was examined and tested for the viruses.  His test came back positive for Feline Leukemia. The rescuer told the vet John to put him down, not wanting to take on a sickly cat, I guess.



Wooly chillin' on the floor at the vet with his lion cut!

Of course Dr John couldn't euthanize him. Instead he set Wooly up for surgery and removed the left front leg at the shoulder.  Dr. John explained that the tendons had been severed making the leg useless. Wooly probably got it caught in a wildlife trap since we lived in a heavily wooded area in the mountains.


The office staff renamed him Thomas and decided to keep him as the official greeter. Thomas has been living the good life and serving his post at the vet's now for several years. Thomas also has a buddy to live with - a sweet tabby named Jonah who has Feline Leukemia too. His owner wanted to euthanize him after he tested positive so the vet took him on as another office cat.  They are living the good life now!


If a vet is willing to keep and care for two Feline Leukemia positive cats, it shows that they do have a chance at a good life with proper care.  I know some of you have already taken in FeLV cats and know how special they are.  Think it over seriously before giving up on a cat with FeLV!

UPDATE ON CHICA
Our sweet elderly Chica is doing much better with fluids more often.  She is back to her normal self and will be getting fluids once a week for the time being.  She is eating normally and getting around just fine.  Thank you all for your purrs and prayers for her.  Her official 20th birthday is coming up next month so we will have to have a super celebration for her.

Do stop by for more animal posts at Camera Critters.

26 comments:

Fuzzy Tales said...

Wow, what an incredible story about Wooly/Thomas! We don't know anything about Feline Leukemia, but thought the life span of cats that have it was fairly short. So it's very cool that Thomas has been living the good life for several years now, along with Jonah.

You have a GREAT vet! Seriously! Ours wouldn't even neuter "Toby," since he wasn't already vaccinated.

And we're so glad Chica is feeling better! 20 is a grand old age for a kitty, really amazing. She has great genes--as well as great care!

Hannah and Lucy said...

We love that Chica is doing much better and is eating well. Your vet sounds marvellous and how nice that Thomas had a colleague to help him with the meeting and greeting there.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Unknown said...

Our Vet has a office cat, so does our hardware store and the library (we live in a rural village, they works for a living) and they loves their jobs! Me is happy that chica is doing well!
Kisses to yous all and happy weekend!
Nellie

Admiral Hestorb said...

I am in tears as the Admiral's mommy. I am so grateful that Thomas and the other kitty were taken in and that Thomas got the care he so badly needed. Bless all of the innocents and those who care for them.

Chica darling, much much love to you.

Marg said...

That is such a great story about Wolly or whatever his name is. He sure looks happy there in the picture and what a great place to live at the vets. There are several cats that live at the vets where I go.
So glad Chica is doing so well. Hope you have a great week end.

Katnip Lounge said...

This is a GREAT story! Hurrah for Thomas.

And HURRAH for Chica! We're all pleased she's feeling better.

catsynth said...

We're glad that Thomas' story had a happy ending. It sounds like he had a rough start, but he was fortunate to find people who would leave him food, take him in, and then give him a home and a purpose.

And that's great news about Chica. Glad she's feeling better.

Brian's Home Blog said...

I am very happy to hear that sweet Chica is doing better! That Wolly boy is so handsome and I am so glad he has a great life now!

Julia Williams said...

Nice story about Wooly (I like that name better than Thomas) and YAY for Chica! 2o years for a cat is pretty darn amazing!

If you get a chance, please come read the guest post by my naughty kitty Rocky.

HH and The Boys said...

Great post. Your posts about your cat friends would make a great book of short stories.

pawhugs, Max

Sparkle said...

I'm so glad to hear that Chica is feeling better! And thanks for sharing Thomas's story with us!

The Island Cats said...

That is a great story! We're so happy that Thomas was given a chance and now has a happy life as a vet cat!!

We're glad Chica is feeling better too.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

We are so glad that you decided to "report" this story, IT was totally worthy of it's own post. Dear Thomas is so sweet. WE are all so happy to hear of his wonderful reprieve and that he landed in the right Vet
s office! Good for Thomas!
And we are very happy to hear about Chica. That is beyond good news!

purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Yay fur Chica...and Wooly/Thomas. Our vet doesn't keep any office cats but den again most of dem haf pets because dey is left der. Dr G's dog comes to work wif him sometimes, he's a silly woofy who thinks he's a cat.

Old Kitty said...

What an amazing story!! Me and Charlie are so glad it had a happy ending not just for Thomas but for Jonah!!! Yay for you for rescuing Thomas and yay for the vets for giving him (and Jonah) a second chance!

Awww hugs to sweet adorable and wonderful Chica!!! We are so glad she is getting better!! Take care
x

Laura said...

Thanks for posting such an up-lifting story! There is so much cruelty and indifference around us that we don't hear about the kindness of others. I like your neighborhood vet very much!

Athena said...

What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. And I am so glad to hear that Chica is feeling better!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

Wonderful story, your vet sounds like a wonderfully kind man.

Kay L. Davies said...

What a wonderful story and what an amazing vet. You (and the two cats with feline leukemia) are lucky to have him.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Poor Thomas! I'm so glad he was rescued and is now being cared for as he should be. :)

Becca said...

What a sweet story...I love happy endings! :)

My Mind's Eye said...

Oh me Thomas is quite a dapper gentleman....I bet he makes all the ladycat heart beat fast.

This was a very good post and a lot of work! I'm glad it reappeared. Our Thursday post that week totally disappeared.
Hugs Madi and Mom

Chubskulit Rose said...

Lovely!

Shadow shots on a relaxing walk, have a great weekend!

Avalon Lion said...

What a poor cat, but I guess he's in good hands now. I have known a cat with feline leukemia who lived happily until age 22 (TWENTY TWO)! So it's true that we should never give up on those cats!

Purrrrrs from your new feline follower xxx

~Avalon Lion (I'm not really a lion, but I do look like one)

Gigi said...

Oh what a good, good story! My Human leaked a happy tear or two, but not me! I am, after all, a manly Mancat!

Hope all kittehs and Humans are well. My Human has been so lame about visiting.

meowmeowmans said...

What an amazing and wonderful story about Thomas. :)

Yay Chica! You go, girl!!!

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