Last year in September we adopted Monalisa

She was one year old at that time, she settled in, and very soon, she taught us an important lesson: who is the queen! A few weeks inside the house for adjustment, followed by a successful hunting carrier outside, she followed her passion and rewarded us with occasional gifts, mostly gophers from our garden. A win-win situation!

We hired house/pet sitters from “Trustedhousesitter.com”, an organization who links people in need of a petsitter with people who are looking for staying at a new location, who work from home and love animals. We’ve had a few trips, long weekends, 1 month trips, 2 month trips, and each time we had really good experiences with our sitters. We love the concept, Monalisa can stay at home, in combination with our sitters who love to live in the house! And the best thing: except for a minimal signup fee, it is free of charge.

For our current trip we chose Tess and Tess is wonderful! She gives us updates, sends photos, alerts us about important looking mail, she waters our plants and she got Monalisa’s approval! Purrrrfect 🥰

A few days ago Tess send us an alarming text: Monalisa got insured, her leg looks really bad, maybe a cat fight or something. What should she do, go to the vet? After seeing her photo, it was no doubt: emergency vet visit! that doesn’t look good 🫣

No problemo, except that it is nearly impossible to convince that animal into a cat carrier. She must’ve had a very traumatic past, a life changing experience, something that makes her scared of being in enclosed situations. Paperbags: no! Boxes: never! Cat carrier: hell no!

Our first attempt ended with me needing 7 bandaids for bleeding wounds on my hands, arm and down my leg. And I thought I have some cat experience with 7 previous cats I’ve had over the years, one or two at any given time. Like with all my cats, if tried the same with Monalisa: we planned vet visits for check-up, but we had to postpone and finally cancel.

And then there was that nasty eye injury that made it unavoidable to see a vet, that time it was the emergency vet hospital. Long story short: it took us 3 days to get her there and it was only possible because we bought a raccoon trap where we put her food and water inside. What an ordeal! And by then her eye was swollen, infected, and started bleeding because of her getting crazy in that trap. It was awful! For her and for us!!!

When Tess contacted us about Monalisa’s leg injury, I was hoping that it’ll be easier this time. But it was not. Strategic planning, detailed instructions, many text messages and phone calls later: Monalisa went to the emergency vet hospital again. This time it took only 2 days – I hope this is becoming a trend 😎!

Considering that we are in Italy right now and Monalisa in California, considering that the time difference is 9 hours, it was a long night shift for me on the phone with Tess, with the nurse, the doctor, the office, etc. Several hours later she was treated, wrapped up and sent home. It was 6am when I could go to sleep, knowing that everything is alright. The easiest part of the whole deal: paying the bill over the phone!

Apparently Monalisa did not have a catfight. Her injuries were rather sharp and deep, more like she was trapped somewhere and couldn’t get out. But it is impossible to find out.

She has to stay inside for a few weeks (easy cheesy) and Tess has to bring her back every few days to change bandaids and to see if the would heals. Otherwise they would need to amputate, but that’s another story. Bringing her to the vet again and again and again….. I hope that trend from 3 days to 2 days of getting her into the carrier is kicking in!

She’s back home and was hiding somewhere the entire day. Now she starts cuddling again. I hope she’s getting over her fear of the vet. Her trap is there, with food and water inside, set to remain open. Until the first bandaid change…..