*Graphic photo* Ginger's injuries

I have a post in the Crossing the Bridge section for my cat Ginger who ran away from the cat sitter while I was on vacation. The cat sitter called me the next day, saying that she had found ginger hit by a car on the roadside, but she was still breathing, so she rushed her to the vet, who couldn't save her.

However, it appears that my Ginger had a twin. MY Ginger came home this morning around 7 am. Most of her came home, that is. When I opened the door to my hysterically wailing cat, I immediately smelled infection. That musky, slightly sweet smell is hard to mistake. I wiped my happy tears away and started looking her over, and found something to make my tears turn to those of fear.

Ginger's "safety" cat collar had gotten under one of her legs. The safety elastic -- the part that's supposed to allow her to escape from the collar -- had been digging into her side from the time she escaped, it seems. The wound didn't look to terrible, so I rinsed it off very gently with sterile saline, and began to life the collar away from her skin. No matter how gentle I was, it must have hurt her a great deal, because she jerked, ripping the collar away from her skin and revealing the massive wound beneath it.

The wound is deep and infected, and has opened up. I immediately wrapped her in a towel and rushed her to the vet's office. I got there 15 minutes before they opened, but banging on the chain link of their kennel section sure got their attention. I've included a picture of her wound.

The vet has already sedated her, a vet tech was walking around holding her and murmuring to her when I left. Once they're sure her stomach is empty, they will further sedate her, clean up around the wound, excise the chunk of muscle that's floating there along with any badly infected tissue. Then they will give her a few sutures to keep the wound closed, and include a drainage tube. THis is going to take a long time to heal, but it should heal.

She's been given antibiotic shots and a steriod, and they're running her blood to check for infections, and check her numbers. They're going to call me if they find anything new, but I should be able to pick her up late tonight or early tomorrow morning. The vet said this could run us anywhere from $200 to $700, but no matter what if she gets better and is in less pain, it's worth it.

If ever one of my babies needed vibes it's now. Thank you all so very much. I didn't want her back like this, but at least I got her back.

This is amazing. Healing vibes for Ginger

I hope that she will heal up fast. I am so glad she came home!

The hubby and I are both ecstatic that she's home. We love our little Ginger girl. It tells you how much he cares about her, that when I gave him the vet estimate he just said "It's worth it. We'll get it taken care of". Thanks for the Vibes. I just want to call the vets office every 15 minutes and check on her but I think that they'd stop answering my calls, and charge extra. I'll update as soon as the office calls me to let me know how she's doing.

While it's sad the way she came back at least she is still alive and has a great chance for a very full recovery. That is just amazing and wonderful that she came back and you were able to get her in to be treated, while the shape she came back in is sad, but she is still alive, even though I feel sad for whoever was the owner of the other kitty(and bad for the cat) that was hit by the car and wasn't as lucky.

Taryn

Poor Ginger! I'm so glad she came back to you and is getting the care she needs.
RIP poor little cat that got hit by a car.

Healing vibes for Ginger

lots of healing for Ginger

Omygoodness what a story! And what a wound, ouch! I am glad she is back with you though and sending vibes that all goes well

oh, poor little girl! so glad she came home and many healing vibes

I am so happy for you and Ginger. I am going to pray for her and ask the Lord to heal her. What about the pet sitter? Have you let that person know.
If I had been taking care of your cat, I would feel responsible for part of the vet bills, but that is between you and that person. Anyway, I am glad you got her back. Ginger, you little sweetheart, get well quick. We all all praying for you.

Sending lots and lots of healing for Ginger and a for you for the emotional roller coaster of the last few days.

Mega-super-incredible healing :vi bes::vi bes: from me!!!

Poor little Ginger and poor YOU!!

Ginger is out of surgery now. (I had to call, I couldn't wait any longer )

She's still really loopy on the pain meds, but they said we could come get her anytime today between 3:30 and 5:30. She may end up needing to spend the night, since we only have 1 car, and Hubby won't even get off work until at least 5. My poor Ginger baby! The vet talked to me on the phone and told me that everything went well. That side of her neck is swollen and might end up a little tighter, musculature wise, but he thinks she'll be just fine. She's going to have a mighty scar though.

The cat sitter had been coming over every day to check on us and make sure that we were all fine. She felt absolutely horrid about the cat that died (that she thought was Ginger), and she had already taken care of all the vet bills for the cat that was hit. I called her about an hour ago and told her that the Real Ginger had reappeared and she was almost as happy as Hubbs and I. She said that she was still ok with having paid the bill for the other cat, but couldn't afford to pay any other bills. Honestly, Hubbs and I can handle this one. The bill for the cat that was hit was over a grand, but the sitter paid it all. I feel so bad for the Ginger-clone kitty, but she at least had pain meds for her last few hours. She went out loved and as comfortable as she could have been.

Now I have to go Ginger proof the house again, to keep her drainage tube from ruining the furniture...

What an amazing story! I am so happy that your Ginger is home safe, and will recover from her injuries. It is a shame about the other cat but at least she was cared for and your sitter did all she could. Healing vibes for Ginger.

Great news that Ginger is back and will probably recover well I hope she gets well soon

Wow. Amazing. So glad you got Ginger back and she's going to be fine. So sad for the anonymous kitty who died. RIP, little kitty. Welcome home, Ginger!

What an amazing story!! Bella and me are pulling for little Ginger. I know she'll make it through this-she fought to get back to you so she'll fight to stay with you!!!
So the sitter thought the other kitty hit by the car was Ginger? I can't imagine what you thought when you saw her again. This will have a happy ending

Hubby wants that baby girl home tonight! He's already said that he plans to high-tail it through short cuts on post to rush and try to get to the office before it closes. For someone who's not used to guys liking cats, this is a total "squeee" moment for me. He's even recruited one of the guys he works with to ride with him to hold the cat on the way back.

Hopefully there aren't any complications between now and then. Vet started an IV drip about an hour ago because he feels she's a little dehydrated. Something about a skin pinch test thing. Anyway. He's doing his best to give her every single advantage. He's even sending home some hydrogen peroxide and some betadine free to clean her wounds with.

I am totally going to send this office a thank you card and some gifts. Does anyone have any suggestions for a gift basket?