Tuxedo then and now - 3 parts

ldg

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Tuxedo was a really nasty little fella, so we TNR'd him without any plans to adopt him out or keep him. This pic was taken just shortly before he caved and gave Gary a headbump on his foot, changing everything. Look how puffed up for Winter he is!
This was taken late November 2002:



In February/March of 2003, it went to below zero for a couple of weeks in a row, and Gary was going nuts, because Tuxedo would come running every time we opened the front door - but was not staying in any of the shelters. He'd turn up with yellow fluff on him - so we were sure he was burying himself in insulation somewhere.
Finally, we couldn't take it any more, and found a new cat-only boarding facility that was empty and the owner agreed to take him - and work on socializing him. We visited frequently - at least weekly - and Tuxie started jumping straight into Gary's arms. But one day she called and said "I think there's something wrong with your cat. Every time I open the door, he runs to pee on the carpet." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How long has this been going on? "About three days." We rushed over there, grabbed Tuxedo, and got him to the vet.

There he got fixed up for his UTI... but stopped eating. The vet finally said - "Gary, this cat has obviously bonded to you. If you want him to live, you have to take him home."

Well - we were scared, because all of the cats we rescued/adopted, he'd beat up pretty bad. We were in the RV, so no place to separate them. But what choice was there? So home he came.

He was such a sick little boy.... he had no will to fight. We released him on the bed. All the kitties came through to sniff him - and that was it. It was like he'd been here all along. But he really was in such a sorry state.
This was taken on his first day home (April 2003):



...but it didn't take long to fluff him back up!




 

myfamiliars

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Laurie, it's really heartwarming to read about (and see) how persistent you were in loving this boy. Tuxedo went from a nasty, scared, skinny feral to a handsome, fluffy, happy homeboy.
 

eilcon

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You guys did a wonderful job with Tuxedo. What a transformation! He's such a handsome fellow.
 

momofmany

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Originally Posted by myfamiliars

Laurie, it's really heartwarming to read about (and see) how persistent you were in loving this boy. Tuxedo went from a nasty, scared, skinny feral to a handsome, fluffy, happy homeboy.


Originally Posted by eilcon

You guys did a wonderful job with Tuxedo. What a transformation! He's such a handsome fellow.
And


Tuxedo is a darling!!
 

valanhb

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Laurie, I remember all too well the trials you guys went through with Tuxedo. From the very NASTY, mean little cuss that you almost just wanted to go away (he hurt the other kitties so much!), to the bonding that happened with him and Gary both outside and then in the boarding facility, and the years (if it wasn't years, it sure seemed like it!!!) of health issues and fighting so hard to get him completely healthy from that "idunno" autoimmune disease he has. It's so hard to believe the transformation, even seeing it in pictures.
Tuxedo is a very special little boy, and you and Gary are very special people to have fought with him so hard to give him the live and love he has now, from the inside and the outside.
 
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ldg

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Thanks.


And Heidi - it was years, actually. Thank GOD we didn't leave him outside - because we wouldn't have known and he just wouldn't have shown up one day.
Everything truly does happen for a reason.
He still has the "idunno" autoimmune disease - he just needs a lot less treatment. *phew*

...But Tuxie sure turned out to be worth it. I also remember when he could stand just one pet on the check - and today it was hard to get rid of him he was so insistent on getting heaps of pets!
But I LOVE that he starts purring just from talking to him. He still doesn't really sleep in bed with us - he runs into the bedroom, gets pets - maybe lies down at the very edge of the end of the bed for a while - and runs away (when he's feeling well, Tuxedo NEVER saunters - it is full tilt at all times
). I just know that one day we'll wake up to him next to one of us....
 

pushylady

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That picture of him ill on the bed is heartbreaking. It's wonderful what a turnaround he's made and you're wonderful to have given him the chance to have this good life now.
 
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