Couch 228--The Wellness Couch

I emailed the other T i saw for two sessions back in 2019.

I got tired of waiting for R to even give me a possible time slot. Get that he emailed on friday, but that was just asking what my expectations for a session would be. It's only been a day and a half from monday to now, so two days but it's the not knowing that is making me more anxious with the constant inbox checking.

My last exam is also in 9 days. I met up with my best friend Rac in the morning who is in the year below me and it made me so sad that I actually began to cry in front of her because she was leaving.

HUGS @Lemoncake

Here is my new cat Helen.

When I picked her up from the vet, they strongly recommended an Elizabeth collar for 10 days (!!!) and antibiotics twice a day. So of course I paid for those things. She is rather miserable in the collar though. She got stuck in the middle of the night (around 1 AM) in between the potty box and the dresser. I slept with her in the guest bed. She hasn't eaten very much and I haven't seen her drink any water but the collar does make it difficult. She is a pain to give the antibiotics to. I am used to my Esther kitty who I was able to open her mouth easily and shoot the medicine towards the back of her throat. Helen barely opens her mouth and then spits some of it back out. It got all over her Elizabeth collar last night so I tried wiping it with tissues! What a mess. She's lovey and cuddley though. Just what I wanted. Now hopefully she gets along with Emma and Amelia or at least Amelia. Amelia doesn't seem to know or doesn't seem to care that there is another cat in the house. We are keeping her in the guest room but Esther would have been back there sniffing under the door. Amelia hasn't seemed to notice or doesn't seem to care. I did have her sniff my tee shirt which had Helen's scent on it and she looked more puzzled than anything and then went back to letting me pet on her. My Dad is watching Helen today while I am at work. He opened the curtains for her in the guest room so she can look out at the outside. She seemed to enjoy that!

Okay I don't know why the picture is upside down!

She is beautiful, Kit.

I had a go at fixing the rotation for you.

Thank you @LostOnTheTrail!!!!

Aw, she's pretty, Kit!

Super cute!

She looks like just my brother's cat George! Fingers crossed she gets on with your other cats.

I feel like a new mom! I keep calling my Dad to check on the "baby" (Helen). He's like....she's fine. She's sleeping!

Love those whiskers! So is she white except for her black cap? She does look a little bit, "where am i?!"

Congrats on your new baby, Kit! She's beautiful.

Nope she is mostly black except her front legs which have some black on them and her chest and a little line around her back. I'll have to get another picture once she doesn't have to wear the Elizabeth collar. I think she's a bit groggy from the anesthesia. Dad is off to buy her some canned food in different varieties because we don't know what she likes. Hmm. Spoiled girl already!

Oh Kit she is so beautiful! What a sweet face!

Thanks, Artie. She sure has captured my already!

I thought those whiskers belonged to a tuxedo kitty! How fun!

She is only black and white and someone at the shelter referred to her as a tuxie so I'm not sure if that is what she is or not. I'll have to ask her vet when I take her in for her shots. Maybe some cat lovers on here will know if your cat can still be a tuxedo cat if they have front legs white but the rest of them is black except some white on the chest and face.

She’s a tuxedo if she’s bicolor/piebald black/white.

She’s a very adorable one too!

Thank you @@ I thought you might know. So it's settled, Helen is a tuxedo cat. I looked up the term and I thought she was but I wasn't sure. She is a cutie that's for sure. Thanks couchies for letting me fawn all over my new cat all over the couch! I'm suppressing the urge to call my Dad and check on the cat. But I might end up doing it anyhow. Like an anxious Mama!

It makes sense that you want to know whether Helen is OK, Kit. *hugs*

I'm sure my parents would call me if they thought something was wrong. I just feel better calling to check up on her. I did end up calling my Dad and he put my Mom on the phone and she talked about how she went in and tried to feed Helen but she didn't seem hungry. I don't know what her usual appetite is like so I don't know whether to be concerned that she hasn't eaten very much yet. I'll give it a day and then call the vet just to make sure everything is fine. She might still be having nausea from the surgery. I was reading about it online because both of my other cats came fixed. This whole recovery after spay surgery is new to me. I want to do the best by Helen that I can.

Absolutely, Kit. You seem to be an excellent pet parent, though.

Thanks, @LostOnTheTrail--that means a lot! Kit

The cat has had a stressful few days, is in a new and strange environment, and just needs time to heal and adjust. Take a breath and try not to be anxious around her.

Thanks stopdog. Good advice. I'll make sure to take some deep slow breaths before going into her room today when I get off of work. I don't want her to know that I'm anxious about her not eating much. I want her to feel as secure as possible even though I know it must be a whirlwind for her. Leaving the shelter, going to the animal hospital, coming home to a new home with new smells and sights and sounds. I'd be stressed too if I were Helen.

Senior cat and junior cat were both tuxedos. New cat is a tuxedo tabby (white and tabby markings). She has white paws, white chest, and a white belly with a little tabby cummerbund across the middle.

Apparently I’ve got a thing for cats in suits.