#36 Rescued Cat - Peekover

Number 36 Rescued Cat is a handsome orange stripy guy. He's a little on the shy side. We found him living under a bungalow at school when he was about a year old.

When we brought him home he quickly acquired the nickname Peekover because he was always peeking over and around things to watch us. He always wanted to be near but still too afraid to approach us.

Being that Number 36 was so shy we weren't aggressively trying to find him a home quite yet. We knew it would take a little time.

Three months ago Peekover started showed signs indicating his mouth was bothering him. When the vet looked at him he discovered a growth in Peeker's mouth. The growth was removed but grew back in a few weeks. The vet started treating The Peekerman with shots to lessen the swelling in his mouth.

As the treatment continued a secondary problem arose. Apparently the shots Peeky was getting also increased his appetite to the point that he was gorging himself. This overeating led to a secondary problem... the food was going in but nothing was coming out.

Peekover had to spend an entire week at the vet's getting a series of cat enemas. He was one sad cat.

When we were finally able to bring him home we were all relieved... especially Peekover.

However, the problem wasn't totally resolved. Peekover had to stay in the cattery on a special diet and had to take a small pill twice a day. Well, if you've ever had to give a cat a pill you know what an experience that can be. Much humor has been written on the subject. Being fairly experienced in these matters I took the chore on with an "it just has to be done" kind of attitude. To my surprise and relief giving Peekover his twice daily pill was a snap.

Each morning and evening I would put Peekover's allowed portion of cat food in a dish and go into the cattery with the food in one hand and a small pill in the other.

Peekover was quite friendly and enjoyed the attention. I would put the dish of food down and sit next to him. Next, I would give him a good ear scratching then gently hold his head with one hand and slip the pill in his mouth with the other hand. Once the pill was in his mouth I would hold Peeker's muzzle closed and stroke his throat. Peekover would quickly swallow. Once I let him go Peekers would walk over to his food dish and wolf down the food.

Being quite proud of myself I told my niece how easy I found it to be. Giving The Peekerman his pill was easy.

This treatment went on for almost a week but poor Peekover was still having problems eliminating what he was consuming.

On the sixth day I followed the same routine. I entered the cattery with the dish of food in one hand and a small pill in the other hand. I put the food in its usual place. I started to sit down next to Peekover. As I was sitting down I moved the blanket that was half in his bed and half draped on the floor. When I moved the blanket, much to my surprise, there were 6 or 7 tiny pills neatly hidden underneath the blanket. I turned around to look at Peekover. Peekover was looking straight ahead. His eyes glanced over at me without turning his head.

His gaze matched my expression of surprise with his expression of, "What?".

As I gave him a good ear scratch I said, "You aren't the Peekerman, you are the Sneakerman!".

Peekover looked at me as if to say, "Yeah, and you are soo good at giving a cat a pill!"

PS: Peekover went back to the vet for another kitty evacuation treatment and I now let my niece give him his pill.

Copyright © Cleo
January 26, 2003

Read Cleo's other stories: The Very Sick Little Cat & The Tale of the Two Orange Kittens