*Graphic photo* Ginger's injuries - Page 2

Thanks for all the comments! The support from you guys has been phenomenal, as always!

Now that Ginger can eat again, she has free access to dry food 24/7. I free feed all my cats, and Cuddles is the only one that's a little pudgy. (still only 12.6 to 13 lbs though -- not bad for a large-bodied male) I have been keeping the chicken broth out for her, too, changing it every hour or so to keep it fresh. The broth is really helping to keep her hydrated! I will have to keep this in mind! I'm picking up canned food tonight as well. I, too, am really hoping that the food aggression just goes away with time. But it's hard to watch her be this stressed out.

Velcro kitty status is abated for the moment. After our round of Pain meds and antibios this morning, she's a little angry at me, and decided she needs alone time. Our bedroom stays really dark during the day, and she has always loved our bed, so she's currently curled up in the drop cloth on the bed snoozing, but positioned so if she opens her eyes she can see me sitting on the couch. She is pointedly ignoring the cat bed that's on the bed less than a foot away from her. She does not like carriers either, but she'll tolerate them when she has to be in them. She won't lounge in them though.

I ran into an interesting situation this morning when trying to medicate her. Both her meds are liquid, so trying to get her to take them was a bit rough. Because of the wound, I can't scruff her, cradle her, or hold her head still without pulling on the wound and making it ooze. Getting those meds into her was pretty rough. I finally took a large towel and draped it over my lap, then put her on top of it. Then I wrapped the towel around her like a kitty burrito, being careful not to put too much pressure on her wound. This immobilized her well enough for me to squeeze her liquid meds in between her cheek and gums. The taste must be awful though. As soon as I let her go, she's freaking out, rolling, shaking her head, and then runs to go eat something to get the taste out of her mouth.

Can anyone think of a way to make clindamycin a bit more palatable, but still make sure she finishes her dose? She's supposed to be on this for 10 days, minimum, and I just don't think she's going to tolerate me that long.

Thanks for all the vibes. I really did get so lucky.

The tuna might just work. I'm about to head out for groceries, so I'll let you all know how it goes.

PS, Ginger heard me stand up, and is now sitting on me to prevent me from leaving. My poor girl! She's so scared she's going to get left behind again. Hubby will be here with her though, so she'll be alright.

Well, let me tell you that Tuna Juice trick worked GREAT! I gave her a bowl mixed half and half with the antibio and the tuna juice, and locked her in the bathroom. I checked on her a few minutes later and she had one paw in the bowl licking the sides and bottom clean! She does not, however, seem to like the actual tuna fish. That's alright though -- the other three were climbing over each other trying to figure out where the smell came from! They devoured it with no problem!

Also, I think that at least for now I have an exclusively indoor kitty. Hubby left the door open when he went back out to get more groceries to bring in, and Ginger was cowering around the corner in the kitchen, refusing to go NEAR the door. I think she's decided she's had enough outside time for now.

We think we may know where she was while she was missing. The sitter says that there was some work going on underneath the condos across the lot from our apartment. The access panels were all removed, and then replaced. If Ginger had gotten trapped under there, then she couldn't have come back no matter if she wanted to. One of the panels is open again now, and the timing just seems a little too coincidental. She would have been living just off of whatever bugs and lizards and spiders she could find while she was trapped. She wouldn't have had access to any water other than what she found to eat, unless there was a leak. It's really the only thing we can think of for why she was gone so long when it was apparent she wanted home so badly.