Creature Features

Neo has been in hospital all weekend after being poisoned by a Paralysis Tick. I noticed he was a bit funny friday afternoon when he didn’t meow at my return home, nor did he want to go outside, or eat food. I sat with him for about 30mins just seeing what was wrong, I asked him numerous questions, but he wasn’t able to answer them succinctly enough. His breathing pattern was different and it was obvious that something was wrong.

I thought maybe he had reacted to some anti-biotics he was prescribed with earlier during the week for a couple of punture wounds from a fight he was in, I was hoping he would sleep it off. In the morning, his condition got worse and I decided to take him to the Creek Rd Cat hospital (yes a dedicated cat hospital). After a quick inspection, they found a fat tick in the middle of his back. It all made sense. His larynx had been paralysed, his hind legs and his upper respiratory tract all affected by this tick. They put him on a drip and prepared him for some Tick anti-serum.

Neo made a speedy recovery, after seeing him the next day in the visiting room at the hospital, he was up and about and alert like normal. However he still had a gag which meant he couldn’t eat or drink, so he had to stay on a drip.

I picked up Neo early this evening, it was great to hear his loud meowing and see his fiesty demeanor again. Mum helped me pay for his bills today which was lucky as it was bad timing with cashflow. So from Neo and myself, thanks Mum!

FYI: This photo was taken last year (2006) on a Canon 20D with a 50mm 1.8 Lens. 1/60sec f2 ISO-100