Bruce of Oakport - October 2010

I've taken Bruce to the West Fargo Animal Hospital a few times now: feline leukemia 2nd vaccination, rabies and distemper boosters, fecal exam, etc., and things appear to be going well. Then I notice that when I set the dry cat food out for him, he doesn't eat much. Next I notice that he brought a mouse to the front door, but only could eat a bit of the neck... that lower canine tooth that Heather noticed was broken must be giving him trouble. I consult with Heather and she relays the info to her DVM, who prescribe pain meds, because this must hurt him a lot.



A diagnosis of abscessed canine is determined, and an estimate for extraction (plus blood work, x-rays, ultrasonic teeth cleaning, anesthesia, blood profile, soft food, etc.) is presented: $543.86. Wow... let me think about this a minute... a stray cat ...hmmmmm. My dearest Burton says, "It's only money. The poor cat... lucky he came to our door back in 2008. You've got a connection with him now and I guess we better help him out." ...So 9 Nov 2010, I dropped Bruce off at WF Animal Hospital, where he spent the day (and I was at school, etc.). They extracted his tooth, put him on antibiotics, the rest of the pain meds (Tramadol) and soft food for 7-10 days. So I took him back to our house, and tried to keep him comfortable, supplied with soft food, pain meds and antibiotics for the next several days. By the 2nd or 3rd day, he needed/wanted to go outdoors to his familiar environment, so I let him out and he returned in the evening. 22 Nov we got 12.5" of snow; Bruce decided he rather enjoyed our warm home and he could forgo living outside since we also provided food and a litter box. (to be continued)

Bruce of Oakport - July 2010

Bruce sleeps on our porch most warm nights, and he prefers to drink from my plastic watering can. He usually hunts at night and if we hear a loud meow around 11 or midnight, he has proudly brought a bunny or mouse to the door. Daytime is when he gets squirrels, chipmunks and birds, and he devours them... every piece and part. I got to thinking that since he lives outdoors, and fends for himself, he probably needs to be dewormed from all these wild creatures he eats. Heather brought the dewormer and got him to eat it in some pieces of cheese.

I had to insure he is not rabid either, since he wears no tags or collar and is a neighborhood stray. Heather made an appointment for him at the WF Animal Hospital, brought us a pet carrier, and 27 July I brought him in for a check-up. He was 14.8 pounds, got feline distemper and rabies vaccinations, and a wellness exam. The exam showed he did not have feline leukemia, but he has FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus). FIV is the cat version of HIV, and thankfully cats can not transmit it to humans; however, FIV positive cats can give it to other felines through deep bites. The doctor recommended to limit spread, we confine the cat to indoors or put him down. Well, he hated being in a pet carrier for a 20-minute car trip, so I knew keeping him in my house was probably not going to work. Also, because I don't like having a bunch of dead rodents or birds in my house. I decided I would feed him morning and night, let him sleep on our porch, and try to make him as comfortable as possible. (to be continued)

Magnus' 1st Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2010 at Great-Grandma Arleen's house. Magnus Lee showing off his bottom chompers; a second top tooth is making its way through, so he wants to chew on everything. We had a nice meal and visit and stayed with Arleen one night. Saturday, Jason, Marta and Magnus came to our house for the night, picked up their 1/4 beef we had ordered together and headed for home Sunday evening.

Bruce of Oakport

This is "Kitty," who first arrived at our door on 10 Nov 2008, the day I euthanized our German Shorthaired Pointer, Stryker. From inside the house, I heard a motor running, and finally discovered it was a white, tailless cat on our front porch, purring loudly. He was very friendly, and looked hungry despite his overabundance of fur. I opened a package of tuna for him, which he gulped down with delight. We parted ways and I didn't see him again.

From time to time in the summer, I would see him in the neighborhood, and I would give him some attention (and maybe more tuna). I don't know who owns him or where he lives/sleeps, but he is not afraid of me and actually enjoys the attention.

Heather and Garett returned home from Sheppard AFB,TX, in December and by 3 Jan Garett had flown to IL for four months more of USAF training at Scott AFB. He completed his phase two of training and got back home 1 May. He had been home for awhile, and one night Heather and I were outside and heard a cat fight in the woods across the road. I had a hunch it might be that white cat, so we walked to the edge of the road, and I called, "Kitty." Sure enough, out of the woods bounded the white cat, and another cat (long tail, brown striped markings) stood looking at us when I shone a flashlight in his direction. I told Heather I see the white cat occasionally, and he is very friendly. He followed us to our yard and up on the porch, so she checked him over, and discovered that he is a neutered male. Someone must have owned him! Heather and Garett started calling him "Bruce," and I put food out for him on our porch - morning and evening - and he comes to eat. (to be continued)