Blood on her fur (although only a little). That was the first sign that something wasn’t quite right. It was on my cat’s neck, so she hadn’t been able to lick it clean.
As I gently wiped it off I couldn’t find a wound. A little growl from Lexi told me it was time to stop.
She didn’t move for the next few hours. She didn’t eat the treat I’d left her. She didn’t purr like usual when I patted her her. She was not herself and I concluded that she’d been in a fight.
Twice before she’d ended up with an abscess after a cat bite that required surgery. I was not about to make that a third time.
The next morning she looked fine. There was no sign of a wound. Perhaps she was unharmed. Perhaps she didn’t need to go to the vet. The little voice in my head said that it was better to be safe than sorry.
As I drove to the vet, with Lexi crying in the back, I prayed that if she had been bitten or injured, that the vet nurse would find it.
On first examination the she found a few scabs but nothing that looked like a bite. After taking Lexi’s temperature (which was normal) she checked around her neck again and BINGO! There is was a perfectly round puncture wound from a tooth.
I was sent home with an antibiotic paste (which tastes delicious according to the vet nurse and how readily Lexi eats it).
I am so grateful for the answered prayer.
I’m grateful for listening to my gut and not delaying the vet visit.
I’m grateful that I know my cats well enough to notice when something is wrong.
Then the what-ifs and the fears crept in. What if this happens while I’m away and I have a house sitter looking after the cats? Will they notice that Lexi is not herself? Will they assume she is fine the next morning?
Lexi has also gone missing twice before, getting locked under the same house both times.
I was already afraid that this might happen with a house sitter and I’ve worried that they wouldn’t notice her absence. Now I have a new worry!
I have a trip coming up where I’ll be away for three weeks – the longest I’ve left my cats. What if something like this happens while I’m away? Who is the right person to house sit who will notice these things?
To stop the voice of the what-if and fears from growing I come back to the God who answered by prayer that morning. I remember that he is trust worthy and I can bring my fears to him. He is the one who keeps my cats safe. He is the one who will help them notice if they are unwell or missing. He will help me find the right person to look after them.
As much as I would like to be, I’m not in control. I could cancel my holiday. I could live in fear. Or I could trust God.
I choose trust!
