Specially-Abled Pets Day
Happy Specially-Abled Pets Day!!!
Ok… it was yesterday, May 3, 2021. But still. In fact, I just sent Bear’s picture to be featured on a National Specially-Abled Pets site along with the “shorter than this” story how he got to be specially-abled.
I’m sure not many people even know what this day is, let alone that it exists. I didn’t. And I have a specially-abled kitty cat! But, I’m learning a LOT of things running my small business — and it’s been very cool to say the least.
Tonight, I thought I would share Bear’s story of how he got to be a 14 year old specially-abled kitty cat. Bear with me… ;)
I guess it was around 2014 at least (gosh, I still feel horrible about his sitch) when we noticed that Bear’s right eye was looking weird. By weird, I mean, discolored. Sometimes it would look like a rust color, sometimes green with specs in it, and sometimes cloudy and glassy. We automatically assumed maybe he was in another cat fight and caught a claw to the eye. So we watched it daily — for years. =/
He went to the vet a couple of times and they kept telling us he needs to see a kitty cat eye doctor for this type of thing. But at the time, I was a single mom, single income family, raising 2 teenage kids, with a mortgage and all the usual bills. I just couldn’t afford the special visit. As time went on, we just continued to monitor it. Didn’t know what else to do at that time. He didn’t seem to be bothered by it? He’s already not a vocal kitty. Doesn’t cry or meow hardly ever.
Long story, short… as finances improved and priorities could be shifted, I took his kitty booty to the vet. Again, they recommended the kitty eye doctor. I booked an appointment. While meeting with the eye doctor I began to feel worse about not getting him what he needed sooner. :( She said he has a cateract and it’s causing his eye to swell with the potential of bulging. His eye could not be saved - best to remove it. Now, I know… I get the pun too… he’s a cat… cateract… but when she told me that his eye was causing what would be equivalent to us having a migraine — I about lost it. :( My poor Bear… so, you’re telling me that for the last, like… 5+ years, he’s had a MIGRAINE!?!?!??!?! I’M THE WORST MAMA EVER!! =(
So, we got a quote for surgery from this place. Took that quote to our vet. They quoted the same surgery and BAM! Scheduled it! December 13, 2019 Bear went to our vet to have his eye removed (and for HALF the price!). Kind of a cool process - and even cooler that they brought me his eye in a jar so I could see it!
In the end, Bear is migraine-free and living his best life again. Not to mention he hasn’t been in a cat fight since we moved to our current home! We had some mean kitties in the old neighborhood. AND… he’ll be 14 years old on May 13, 2021!! ** Happy Birthday Bear-Bear! **
Since December 2019, our sweet Bear kitty has been specially-abled… and we didn’t even know that’s what it would be called. Until now. :)
Happy National Specially-Abled Pet's Day - May 3, 2021
If you think you’re kitty might be having an eye issue, don’t wait to get it checked appropriately - it could be too late.
Stay tuned for future stories of inspiration, goofiness, and fur baby antics! Appreciate you being here! =)
** Here is the link to a National Specially-Abled Pets site - if you’d like to read more about it - OR to feature your own specially-abled pet on their site.
December 13, 2019
This is our family photo we took before taking Bear to the vet for his eye removal surgery. His last picture with both eyes.
