All about the feline

I had fully intended to get organised and packed for my surgery yesterday so that I could find a moment of headspace before it all begins. I had visions of a delicious al fresco breakfast, some quality time hanging out with the pets, a nice long walk with the dog. The reality was very different. 

Never mind silly old cancer, the cat decided he would steal the limelight and make sure I didn't have time to even think about my own impending surgery. I mentioned our Ragdoll Cosmo had decided to eat the rubber matting in the garage last night and was sick. He still wasn’t right this morning so I called the vet who asked me to bring him in. I did this in the morning, and they wanted to run some tests so kept him in for the day. After I had dropped him, I had to drive to the hospital in Oxford (another 2.5 hour round trip) to have my pre-op assessment and meet my anaesthetist.

Turns out he’s a lovely man, similar age to me and also has kids. He brought a tear to my eye when he said he really felt for me when he read my notes, as we are at the same life stage. He also has pets, so we spent quite a lot of time talking about the cat and how inconsiderate he had been to eat the rubber matting right before I was admitted for major surgery. While I was having blood taken, my phone rang and it was the vet hospital telling me Cosmo needed to be brought in for emergency surgery as they had found an abdominal blockage. You just couldn’t make it up. As I was busy preparing for my own surgery miles away, I had to call my mum, who luckily was on her way to our house, to ask her to pick up the cat from the vet and take him straight to the vet hospital for an emergency operation that day.

 Cat sorted, I hung up and got back to the anaesthetist who asked how I was feeling. I replied, “Fine, but more importantly, how are you feeling, you’re the one who has to keep me alive for 5 hours tomorrow, no pressure!” He replied “Oh I’m fine, I’ve got a bottle of whiskey in my bag for tonight to help me sleep!” Assuming that was a joke (!!), he really did put me at ease which was helpful ahead of the big day.