While grieving for Snowball the week after his passing, Randy and I stumbled upon Jack. I enjoyed seeing pics of him because he reminded me of Snowball and in some odd way it comforted me to see his picture. Besides just looking like Snowball, Jack is Snowball's age - it was fate! We met him at the shelter and knew immediately we wanted to take him home.
In a strange twist of fate, Jack got very ill the following Wednesday, only 4 days after we brought him home, and was diagnosed with feline distemper the next day. Distemper is highly contagious and usually fatal. It is very rare for a vaccinated adult cat to contract this virus. In fact, the shelter vet had never encountered this situation before. Jack had been vaccinated on Halloween, the day he arrived at the shelter, and we adopted him 6 weeks later. I can only guess that the vaccine didn't take because he was not healthy when he was brought in (which we know).
The vet sent me home with fluids, meds, and AD (special wet food for recovering dogs and cats) and wished me luck. The next 3 days were tough. I administered his oral and SQ meds, and gave him fluids. I started force-feeding him AD through a syringe over the weekend. By Monday he showed signs of improvement. Yesterday he started really eating on his own and finally he is drinking on his again.
We are starting to see Jack's personality finally. He actually got quite playful last night and chased around a twistie-tie (also one of Snowball's favorite games). He likes to follow us around and is even running up and down stairs and around the house. He is really claiming us and Snowball's things and loved his new home.
When we initially adopted Jack we knew we were likely saving him because very few older cats get adopted. Little did we know we were really saving his life. Had he gotten these symptoms in the shelter, they would have been forced to put him down because of how contagious the virus is, especially for kittens.
Snowball's tragic passing enabled this cat to live. We will always miss Snowball, but everyday I get to see some of Snowball in Jack, which brings me some peace. Welcome to our family Jack!
PS His story is on http://blog.ourdoglog.com/search/label/adoption%20stories
3 comments:
I hope all is going well with your new baby. I have posted Jack's adoption story on my blog today, as you said to pass the word along that distemper is not a death sentence. I'm so glad Jack is doing better.
Chris
Such a wonderful story about Jack. Snowball knew that you would be able to save poor Jack and sent him to you. Stories like this make my heart so happy!
Sorry about Snowball but sure am glad Jack pulled through for you! It's so hard when we lose a pet because they are members of our family and we get so attached to them and love them so much! Thanks for stopping by to read about my Moe cat's adoption story. I am posting a post about him tomorrow at www.zemeks.blogspot.com since it will be the first anniversary of his death and I can't help but think about him.
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