Introduction to Nomad’s Tail~
Nomad has a condition called calici virus, which has caused a growth in her mouth, and unfortunately, there are complications that have triggered a secondary growth. Over the past couple of weeks the lump inside her mouth has grown until it is now evident on the outside of her face. It’s heartbreaking to see her perfect little heart-shaped face distorted by the swelling.
Recently, apart from the tell-tale lump, she has appeared to be in good form, she’s eating quite well and engaging with her environment, both people and habitat. She appears to be enjoying life, and the focus of her care is on ‘quality of life’.
Nomad is approximately 14½ years old. She’s mostly black with a white neck, belly and feet, and she has the most endearingly cute lil black ‘goatee’ that looks real funky. She came to live with me in April 1993 and, at the time, I estimated her to be a Christmas kitty, who had possibly outgrown her ‘cuteness’.
Perhaps I’m being unfair to think that, but at the time, there were no ‘Lost Cat’ notices circulated in the area. No evidence that anyone was looking for her.
So, if the cat fits … !!
If she’d been homed at 6 weeks (much too early, but it’s the age a lot of kittens are ‘relocated’), she’d have been born on Friday, 13 November!
She chose to adopt me around 14 years ago when she was just an itty bitty, lil kitty who I came across in the street one day. Being me, I talked to the lil kitty, stroked her, allowed her to ‘paddle’ my knees and climb all over me (with kitten claws!), and then went on my way.
The next day as I was about to leave my house, through the glass in the front door I could see something dark on the front step. Straightaway, I knew it was the lil kitty, and when I opened the door, she looked up at me as if to say, “I made it! Why’d it take you so dang long to open the door?”.
A year after she moved in, she got pregnant and in September 1994, gave birth to three adorable little kittens – two girls and a boy. She was a wonderfully attentive mommy, I was so proud of her.
The birth was totally amazing, and I sobbed with joy, wonderment, concern. It was 3.30am and I was yelling encouragement! ‘Come on, Nomad, you can do it, baby, come on, sweetie.’ No idea what the neighbours made of it all! Oh, and I was sobbing, too! It was VERY emotional.
Being a softie, the inevitable happened, and we still have number one kitten, Dollie, with us. I’m glancing at her now, as she lounges on a couch. ‘Ooh, life’s soooo hard!’.
Based on her size and physique, it’s my opinion that Nomad is a 1st generation Burmese cross. She’s very small and slender, and since she became a mother, my nickname for her has been ‘Skinny Mama’.
Because she is such a small cat, with hindsight, I think giving birth took more out of her than I realised at the time.
On Saturday she had her monthly visit to see the vet and my worst fears were realised. Although without another biopsy, it’s not confirmed, indications are that she now has cancer.
I’d been praying this wouldn’t happen, altho’ it had been on the cards for some time. I just kept hoping that somehow by divine intervention she would be spared.
The vet’s bills are crippling – the regular cost of her 4-weekly check-up and ongoing medication is around £170, and usually there are other sundry expenses that bring the monthly total to £200+. No insurance policy, of course.
This lil girl is such a wonderful character with oodles of personality. She’s smart as a whip and ‘oh, so polite’, crazy as that may sound! For instance, before jumping on your lap, she’ll look at you and ‘ask’ permission.
Now, I try to make her life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Making sure that she gets plenty of 1-to-1 time with me… and that I get plenty of 1-to-1 time with her!
Oh, how I love this itty bitty, lil kitty, she totally stole my heart.
Nomad’s Tail~
