Wet Cleanup on Aisle 5

Back to Square One

Right after Thanksgiving, I adopted a cat who’d been in a shelter for ten years. Needless to say, it has taken some adjusting to get him used to being in a home.

Essentially, he’s been hiding in the closet for two months. He lets me pet him, but only if he’s in the safety zone of the closet. Just this past week or so, he has been brave enough to hang out in the open when I’ve been nearby, but he dashes for the closet if I get too close.

I knew when I adopted him that he needed a dental cleaning–something that could have been done before I took him home, but, long story, I elected to take him “as is.” Last night as I was petting him, I realized the towel underneath his mouth was sopping wet. Argh! Drool! Sure, maybe it’s the kind of drool that some cats ooze while being petted, but, given the fact that he could knock you over with his breath, and the fact that the towel was soaked and I’d only just begun to pet him, I figure it’s something to do with his dental disease (and pray it isn’t something worse).

They told me when I adopted him that I could probably put off his teeth cleaning for three to six months. It’s been just over two and I think I’m gonna have to suck it up, like NOW. So, yay! All the trust I have built up with him will be thrown out the window as soon as I grab him and drag him to the vet. *sigh*

My only hope is that his teeth are making him feel so crappy that it’s affecting his behavior, and once he gets some sparkly whites and some antibiotics, he’ll feel better and become a whole new cat. Knock on wood.