Following the suggestions of a few people here as well as a few friends IRL, Callie now has her own live video feed that I can check on her. It’s still hard not being able to give her snuggles, but at least now i can keep an eye on her and not have to guess at her condition!
Photos from breakfast this morning 💜
Hey everybody, I’ve been radio silent because… there’s not really any updates? However, i wanted to make a post because i know you guys love her, and I didn’t want anyone worrying about us.
Callie has been camped out behind the couch, and this is literally the only picture of her I’ve gotten in the last week.
Honestly, I’m okay with it. She isn’t out and roaming, but she hasn’t ran for the door again (plus we’ve been being meticulously careful) however she is eating, drinking and using the litter box.
One of the kids did also say that she saw Cal out in the living room walking around earlier, so hopefully that means that she’s becoming a bit more comfortable. I miss giving her snuggles and lovins.
I know she’s going to take time to become brave and comfortable, but im willing to let her take all the time she needs.
Hey everyone,
It's been a few days since I posted last, and the last update that I shared was definitely a bit jarring. For anyone who missed the post, I will recap.
Sunday night, a family member was taking out recycling and accidentally left the front door open. In this time (probably like... 30 seconds max I'm told) Callie noticed that the door was open and ran outside. Initially, she stayed under the car, and then she made her way into the garage thru the propped open space at the bottom. I found her a bit later, but forgot to close the garage door and she escaped back out again. About an hour later, I went back out, located her in the garage again and this time closed the door before attempting to catch her. After about 5-10 minutes, I was able to catch her, picking her up mid-run. Once she was caught, she settled down a bit.
I wrapped her in a blanket and went inside, sitting with her for a bit. In these moments, she seemed settled down, and kept pushing into my face and rubbing on me. After a while, I let her down in the bathroom and brought her food. She ate about half and then went and hid behind the toilet, and I moved her food to where she could reach it from back there. I went ahead and left her in the bathroom for the night, and then the next evening she was let back out into the house.
Tuesday morning, she came out for breakfast and ate in the bathroom, and then we didn't see her anymore until way later, after I began to panic, thinking she may have gotten out again. After like 30 minutes of looking, she materialized in the hallway, and ran back to the bedroom, and then back out to the spot I set up for her behind the couch where her food was. I checked about an hour later, and the food was gone, so I'm pretty certain she did eat.
This is where we are as of now. When I am holding her, she seems settled down and somewhat relaxed. However, whenever she is loose, she looks very very fearful and runs away relatively quickly.
I am very concerned about her, because I don't want her to be miserable and afraid constantly. The initial fear/change in behavior corresponded with when the kids came home from vacation (14 year old twins) and the house got loud again. I know this is likely why this is happening. The kids have orientation this week, and then are back in school next week, so things should settle down a bit.
I am so terrified of her getting outside again, particularly if she gets out when I'm at work or something. I am so attached to this cat at this point, and I am so invested in showing her that she deserves the world, but one of my family members asked the other day if I'm doing this for myself, or to benefit her, not being nasty or mean, but I think wanting me to be objective about it. Now, my anxiety being what it is, I am worried that I'm not doing the right thing by trying to give her an indoor home.
If anyone can offer advice, experiences, some indication that I'm doing the right thing here... please let me know. I know in my heart that she will be happy, but I am so worried about the process that it will take to get there, and her wellbeing. I also want to make sure my family doesn't get frustrated with her.
Thank you for any words you can offer... for right now, Cal is inside, safe, cool and well fed, so that's something we can all at least be comforted in right now.
Edit: I caught her in the garage, closed the garage door this time when I spotted her. She is safe inside.
Guys I am absolutely panicking right now.
The kids grandad had the front door open taking out recycling and Callie bolted. I saw her in our garage at first, and almost had caught her but she slipped past me. I can’t find her now.
Any advice… anything at all. Please. She has never strayed far from the house, I and I assume she will go back in the garage at some point, but I am absolutely panicking and just sitting on the front porch sobbing.
I don’t know what to do.
For some reason, we seem to be having another bad kick of diarrhea, shes hiding and seems very nervous again.
I’m not sure what’s happened or what’s changed, as she had been doing great and progressing well.
I’m so scared I’ve done something wrong, and so sad we’ve had to confine her back to the bathroom due to the diarrhea/fear of not being able to find her when she’s hiding.
She’s still “okay” health wise as far as I can tell, but I am so worried about her new behavior.
Good morning!
Callie is doing great, and is about 6.5 pounds now. Her face, thankfully, is also healing fantastically.
She has also officially left the bathroom, and comes into the kitchen at breakfast and dinner yelling at me to hurry up.
My concern is that when she’s not eating, she’s pretty much behind the couch constantly. What can I do to help her feel more comfortable and confident?
When she’s out walking around, she tends to shy off from pets (sometimes even from me) and will go sit under the table.
I want to give her everything she needs and the life she deserves.
Also - collar is the “Callie Alert System” as I’ve been calling it, so that when she’s mobile I can hear her
Don’t look that one if you don’t want to see icky, even though it’s really not that gross (idk, I may be biased after 15 years in EMS 🙃)
The scab that had formed has popped off as of this morning, and the wound is definitely still deep, but the vet’s biggest concern was if she would develop necrotic tissue around the wound, to which I can happily say has not been the case. The skin around the wound is pink and healthy, and there is some fresh blood in it, which means the capillaries and vessels are healthy and intact. Best part? ZERO signs of infection.
Again, thank you all so much for your support. None of this would have been possible without her army behind her
Good morning everyone!!
I went in to the bathroom to feed Callie this morning, and my 13 year old boy Sammy and 5 year old boy Buzzy followed me into the bathroom. I sat her food on the counter, and was preparing to scoop her up to clean her face with Betadine when this happened with Sammy!!! Omg I was so excited. This was the first show of affection I’ve seen her give to another cat since Mr. Orange passed.
Also, she and Sam are close to the same age (12 and 13 respectively) and the size/body condition differences are INSANE. She’s literally half his size… but good LORT does she look so much better from two months ago!!!
💜
I will also be making a second post with an update regarding her healing with progress photos (with censors for anyone squeamish) , so keep an eye out for that.
Good morning everyone!
So, Callie is healing up fantastically. Her face has a scab where the abscess was drained, but it’s looking great and she’s nearly done with her first antibiotic.
This being said, along with her meetings with the rest of the cats going well, I have decided to go ahead and leave the bathroom door open, for her to explore as she sees fit.
This is where incognito mode comes in. The Queen has decided that the bed behind the toilet is her throne, and she has no desire to leave her linoleum kingdom.
She comes out into the hallway when we are making food for them, and screeches at me for meals, but other than that, she really doesn’t come out. When she does come out, she meows the entire time, as if calling out for someone? When I notice she’s ventured out, I always go out to her to give her a familiar face when she explores, but she does not stay out long.
I know this is gonna sound so stupid, but is this normal ?
I figure she’s just nervous because the bathroom has been her home for the last two months, and she’s suddenly had her world expanded, but I want to make sure I can support her any way I can.
Overall though, health wise, the kid is doing fantastic, big part to all of you!
Hey ya’ll, sorry for the delayed update. When I got home from the vet with her, I had to run out and grab betadine and gauze pads. Finally home and settled.
Vet checked her out, said aside from the giant abscess, he can’t get over how much better she looks in just a few weeks. Double checked for fleas, which are all gone, and said she looks so much more alert. Was so surprised she let me bathe her, and said she was so soft.
Definitely was an abscess, so he sedated her and drained it, and they flushed it out really well. Basically now, she’s got a big ole nasty hole on her face… but all the infection has been cleared out. Not gonna post pics of the wound, cause it’s pretty gnarly and I know not everyone wants to see that.
I just wanted to tell everyone again how grateful I am for the help. I was able to go in there and tell them to go ahead and do whatever they needed to, and also got both her antibiotics as well as Onsior for pain. I would not have been able to do that without her army’s help 💜
Last page was today’s visit, plus she ended up with a $68 anyibiotic two days ago as well as first aid stuff.
Well, the first part of the GFM money hit my account this morning, so we are greenlit for the vet tomorrow.
She will be going to see our amazing vet, Dr. Franklin at 12:30 CST. I absolutely cannot wait for him to see the progress she’s made in just the last 3-4 weeks since her first visit.
She’s had a bath, the buggies are gone, she’s alert and eyes are clear, and she’s gained over a pound!!! He’s going to think she’s a totally different cat!
Based on the image and description of her face, the vet on staff yesterday was willing to prescribe her Clavamox to get a jumpstart on the antibiotic, so her body can protect itself from the infection in the abscess.
Included is her honest opinion of the Clavamox… she said “mama, that stuff is ICKY!!!”
I swore up and down this dude was over 20lb… but here he is… about 18.7
Cosmo is a little pudgy, but he’s overall just a massive cat. His head is about the size of a grapefruit, and he’s got big ole paws.
He’s also a smoke coat void… so his undercoat is grey. He’s also a whiny baby 🤣
Edited to add: Vet appointment has been scheduled for Thursday 07/16 at 12:30 pm CST
Edit 2: adding GFM link… all funds leftover from the abscess visit will be going into a savings account for any future emergencies (hopefully none!!) and her eventual dental care.
Well, as of last night, I am about 98% sure that we are indeed dealing with an abscess. When I got home from work last night, Miss Thang came running up to me yelling for food and i checked her face. The bump isn’t any bigger, but she has developed a scab on the outside of it, which from my knowledge, and according to a vet tech friend of mine, is a pretty decent indicator that its an abscess and its MAD.
The GoFundMe is over $600 now, which is absolutely INSANE to me. You guys have showed up big time for this old lady and it about has me in tears. Id say she has no idea just how loved she is, but I think she does. She spent about a half our snoozing on my chest last night while i did warm epsom salt compress on her face, and then gave her forehead pets, which seem to immediately make her go to dreamland.
Again, thank you all so much. At this point i am just waiting on the GFM funds to hit my account, and she will go in. I am going to set an appointment for Thursday, as it says 2-5 days and im being optimistic. Until then we will keep with the warm compresses. Will post the receipt from the vet when we go, just to show what she had done and the total.
It was suggested to me to share a gofundme to help cover costs associated with Callie’s medical care, both now with her current jaw issue, as well as to be able to continue care as it comes up.
Link to original post recapping her journey so far below:
https://www.reddit.com/r/formerlyferal/s/v2jErPLUaI
Callie currently has had a mass pop up overnight on her jaw, and i suspect that it’s an abscess, but I am honestly not 100% sure. The vet wants to do a needle aspiration/biopsy to diagnose it, and be able to properly treat it.
She will also likely need a dental in the near future according to the vet, due to some pretty bad teeth, which I am sure will include extractions etc.
Thank you for all your help and support… anything helps, even shares. I just want to give this old lady every opportunity that I can so that she can enjoy her golden years. She has decided that my lap and chin scratches are the best thing ever, and her purr has slowly gotten stronger and stronger.
Edited to add link to her progress video
Morning everyone.
Last night when I had Callie on the bed for snuggle time, I was petting her face and noticed she has a mass on the back corner of her jaw, that literally popped up seemingly overnight. It’s kinda soft - not squishy but definitely can feel some give to it, and you can move it a bit. Doesn’t seem to bother her… but I don’t understand what it is. Her behavior/appetite are completely normal.
Called the vet this morning, they want to do a needle biopsy, which is probably gonna be about $150-$160. At this point I’m trying to figure out what to do, because I have already drained myself dry with finances. I can’t get care credit, so that’s off the table too.
If y’all could send good vibes our way as I try to figure out how to handle this situation. She has overcome so much and has come so far… I’m just so upset we have a setback like this. She just officially hit 6 pounds yesterday as well.
Summarized everything Callie’s gone thru so far, and posting some videos that I hadn’t posted before!!
So last night, I ran out to the store to grab a couple packs of smokes and a few drinks (monster and soda) for my family.
I go in, grab my first batch of drinks and sit them on the side counter. Then go back and grab the 2nd batch and sit them on the side counter. Once it’s my turn at the register, I move everything over to the register and start talking to the clerk who I’ve known for like 3 years in passing at this point. Super sweet dude, like 6’4” nerd, my kinda bro.
Suddenly, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turn around, big tall over 6 foot dude with a very thick accent that I couldn’t place. He points at the side counter to two 24 oz cans of Heineken beer and goes “miss you forgot this”.
First off, if I’m gonna drink piss water, it’s gonna be Miller Lite. Second off, I don’t drink beer anymore because after 30, my stomach decided it was going to revolt at the mere smell of it. So I go “oh, no those aren’t mine” politely.
Dude points again and goes “no, I think those are yours”
Me, confused, said “nah, I don’t drink Heineken, definitely not mine”
Dude sighs, and says “miss I do think those are yours, you should move them over with your stuff”
At this point I’m like, damn, this dude really thinks I’m getting beer. So I’m like “no Sir, not mine, I don’t drink beer at all really” and turn back to the counter and talk to the clerk again.
I hear a very heavy, seemingly frustrated sigh behind me; and then this dude goes toward the other register, but then left super quickly, way too quickly to have paid. At that point, I realize he’s put the beers back in the cooler by the register and left.
So, me, completely oblivious, keeps checking out until it dawns on me that that was weird. I look at the clerk and go “in hindsight, I think that dude may have been trying to get me to buy him beer”
The clerk just stares at me for a second, then goes “I mean he could have been joking, but yeah probably”
So I just shrug and go “well he picked the wrong person, cause I got a touch of the ‘tism and I don’t get subtext…” and this clerk just starts cackling and goes “I feel you hon, same. Same.”
Told my AuDHD friend about it this morning and he just laughs and was like “yeah, your social obliviousness pretty much frustrated that dude so much he just gave up”
So now the joke is, I avoided getting “politely mugged” because I’m oblivious to life.
I am in Texas, and I am absolutely dying in this heat. I’m
Originally from Maryland and this is my 4th summer here, and dear lord… it’s only July 3rd and I feel like I’m gonna fall over.
Any tips? It’s to the point where I’m experiencing chronic exhaustion. I slept til 4pm yesterday… hence why I’m awake at 2am. Best part… gotta leave for work at 5 am. 🫠
It’s also so frustrating how people tend to be so dismissive.
“You’re just fat, that’s why you’re so hot”
“Go exercise, you’ll feel better”
“You’re only 33, there’s no way you feel so sick”
“Quit being lazy”
I just want to be able to function like a normal person.
So, Monday is two weeks from the vet visit, which is when we can do official introductions… but this poor girl has been becoming increasingly restless in the bathroom by herself. Because of that, we did a trial “outing” tonight.
She never left my lap/chest from her blankie, but Callie spent about 30 minutes in the bedroom with me and my gf, as well as two of the other kitties on the bed.
When I tell you this girl was soaking up every second of the love and pets… good lord she looked like she was in heaven. At one point she got a full face massage, and was melting into my hands.
My two boys that were on the bed didn’t mess with her, and just kept chillin.
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we’re going to have a very happy lap cat.
Hey all!
Been a few days since I posted an update and didn’t want anyone to worry.
My old lady is doing great! She is now about 5.6 pounds (she was 4.9 at the start of this adventure) and appears to be like… 98% flea/flea dirt free. She hasn’t had loose 💩 in a few days, and is eating like a horse.
When I come into the bathroom, she gives me her little smokers meow and starts prancing around and rubbing against the counter. We’ve also discovered that she isn’t a fan of coming over her head for pets (I can’t really blame her tbh) but loves scratches on her sides, booty and chin. She also lets me pick her up to weigh her and look her over with no issues.
Monday 07/06 is 2 weeks past her vet visit, which is the time period my vet said we should quarantine to ensure all the buggies have gone to buggy heck. My biiiig void Cosmo has been laying outside the bathroom door chatting to her (you can hear him in the video lol!) and I’m like “dude, you’re literally 4 times her size… please be gentle when she comes out”
Plan is, Monday, I’m going to take 10 minutes at a time and put her in the carrier and sit her next to the bed in the bedroom with me. That way, she and my residents can see and chat with each other with a safe barrier. My clowder (6 neutered boys) are in for a rude awakening of tortitude 🤣.
Thank you guys for sharing this journey with me! I have also created an instagram account for her, but haven’t done much with it yet. It is @queencalliewildheart for anyone wanting to follow along!!!