Shadow has a Procedure

The micro-chip identification which the vet inserted into Shadow's neck yesterday and all the admin pertaining to getting a cat into South Africa

Three months ago in the middle of May, we acquired a cat here in Khartoum. You can read about this here . A few days later I traversed all over the three cities of the Tri-city, Khartoum,  looking for the rabies and other vaccinations the cat needed. You can read about this here 

Staring up at a proffered toy

While in South Africa, we bought a micro-chip to be inserted into Shadow's neck. It is an identification chip and is necessary for when we eventually leave the Sudan and, of course, take Shadow home with us! Last week I visited the vet again and arranged for him to come to the flat and neuter Shadow while also inserting the micro-chip.

Stretching up to take his toy

Yesterday the vet, Dr Ali Khalid and his assistant, of the Police Dog Administration arrived at our home carrying his black doctor's bag. They caused quite a stir in the neighbourhood. (Afterwards Grant had to try and explain to the storekeeper aross the street and a few other neighbours what the "doctor" was doing here)  

Is he deep in thought? Can cats think?

As Dr Khalid and his assistanct entered our office/lounge/diningroom, Shadow who'd been sleeping under the table jumped up and hid behind Grant's desk. I eventually coaxed him out and grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, offered his rear end to the vet who injected him immediately. (Note: the method of grabbing the cat  by the scruff of the neck was taught to me by our vet in South Africa. It is not painful for the cat,  but like when a mother cat lifts her kittens by the scruff, they hang all curled up under her while she transports them, this is exactly how an adult cat curls up when you do it this way. He's rendered clawless - cats scratch and bite when afraid - and you can deal with the cat quickly and humanely)

Within five minutes, Shadow began to wobble and eventually fell asleep - behind the desk again. I retrieved him from under the desk and placed him on the dining table where the vet's assistant had laid out all the tools of the trade. At this point I left the room telling the vet that if he needs anything more, he could call me.

After Grant serviced the air coolers two weeks ago, he left the step ladder out on the balcony. It is now Shadow's lookout post. He can see into the street below and seems to be keeping watch on proceedings!

The vet gave me a tag for Shadow's collar. It says Intervet 2010 but we cannot read the rest - too small!

Shadow, today,  is a very different cat from the kitten (below)  who walked into our lives earlier this year

Fifteen minutes later the vet called me; he'd done the procedure (to neuter a male animal is called a procedure while spaying females counts as an operation. ) He was about to inject the micro-chip and I stood and watched. Poor li'l Shadow was out for the count, eyes wide open and tongue lolling out of one side of his half-open mouth. His breathing was so slow, I kept looking closely to see if he was still alive. The vet assured me he was under anesthetic and this was the effect. Our vet back home always told me that he didn't like pet-owners to see their pets during or  immediately after an operation. It is far too distressing for the humans. And I agree. Grant, the ninny, stayed M I L E S away in the bedroom, certain that his cat was not going to come through!

The medical team left and both Grant and I sat and looked at the cat still lying, unconcious, on the dining table. Well, I sat  and prayed...

Exactly an hour after the vet had administered the injection, Shadow's front paw twitched. His breathing became a little shallower and faster. Then he pulled his tongue in and licked his lips. He was coming around!

Another hour later and he was staggering around the flat. He didn't want a drink of water even though I offered it to him. When I went to bed, he was sleeping [peacefully] on the bottom of our bed.

Shadow (then still unnamed) five minutes after he had arrived to live with us on 16th May this year

In retrospect, I have to admit that it was a very traumatic day in the Hedges [Khartoum] household. But at least Shadow is "done" as my granddad used to call this procedure. He is also micro-chipped and can get into South Africa without too much trouble.

(So, my apologies to my blogger friends for not visiting your blogs these last two days. I've had a lot on my mind. I also apologize for another cat post but this is rather an important cat in our lives here in the Sudan)

The Arabic word for veterinarian (vet) is Tbyb Byţry (pronounced teebb-baytree). The Arabic word for procedure is ‘Jrã.

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