Dang. Missed Again.

After more than two weeks in our isolation cottage, Popeye the blind cat from Lebanon finally moved into the cat house this past weekend.  All of his tests came back negative -- we ran titers on four different viruses -- giving him a clean bill of health.  His CBC (complete blood count) profile and chemistry panel all looked great, too, as did his thyroid.  Our small animal vet, Dr. Brenda Culver, explained to me that this means what happened to his eyes was most likely a response to a viral infection of some sort, which his body’s immune system finally and successfully fought off ... but at the cost of his vision.  He has no active disease processes going on now.

I took these photos of Popeye in the cat house playing with that toy I call a springy-thingy ... although I've seen them called a pom-pom and a 'swat exerciser,' among other names.  Because Popeye can see shapes and shadows through a small opening in his right eye, he can kind of ... sort of ... see that it was moving.  The hard part was getting his aim lined up and ready to swat it back.  In the photo above you can tell he went wide of the mark.  (Reminds me of my former tennis game.)

So after a few misses, Popeye would decide to take control of the situation and that confounded pom-pom.  That's what he's doing in this photo.  He'd push it all the way down, then ease up gently, and do this a few times.  Then, when he thought he knew exactly where it was going to spring back, he'd let go.  And sometimes he'd nail that thing with his paw, and feel very pleased with himself!

Comments

[Genie]

Maybe Popeye is left-pawed. The miss was with the right. The hit was with the left.

[sue tassoni]

To my baby, I'm so glad you're happy & I Miss you here in RHODE ISLAND. Your clean bill of health is a gift to me, so I know I've done all the right things
KISSES & HUGS to my little man, SUE

[Vicki Small]

Hooray for Popeye! I hope he keeps on practicing until he can nail that sucker at least 8 times out of 10! And if he doesn't get bored, first, I'll be he will.

[Nicole]

Amazing! Go Popeye!

[Debbie Burke]

The adaptability of these critters never ceases to amaze me (thinking also of Brynn's curtsy). Thanks to Steve and Alayne for giving these wonderful guys a chance to show how they can figure out ways on their own to overcome disability.

[ginger & Tobias (the greythound)]

Popeye certainly is a handsome fellow! I'm glad he's gotten a clean bill of health & he outsmarted that ball on the spring! Smart guy! Didn't take him long to figure that one out!
Hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit

[Helen Rietz]

Popeye is obviously smart, resourceful, and undaunted -- the very qualities that almost certainly kept him alive in Beirut and allowed him to get to his new life at Rolling Dog Ranch. You go, Popeye!

[Boundforglory]

My kitty has the same problem with a feather teaser. Popeye looks fabulous! I'm glad he'll be enjoying much happier and healthier days at RDR.

[Nina]

What a great photo and story about a world travelling cat who is enjoying his life! He is so precious!!

[Carla Polastro-Nigro]

What a smart boy! Way to go, Popeye!

I'm sure he's delighted to be out of the isolation cottage & be able to enjoy the company of his new-found cat friends.:-)

[Amy]

Smart and handsome, that's my kind of man, umm, I mean cat. I'm so glad Popeye has a new home, toys, friends and perfect health!

[Susie from LA]

Absolutely doesn't look like that poor, little scrawny kitty you showed us last week from when he was in Lebanon. Rambunctious and beautiful!! Purrrrr-fectly happy from now on!!

[Shirley & James, Portland, OR]

That second picture is award winning material.

[m]

what a good game!!!