Sweetie's Recovery

I mentioned in a previous post that I had finally managed to catch and desex Sweetie, one of the fertile females on the farm. What I haven't had a chance to do yet is tell you about her recuperation, which has given me some amazing insights into animal behaviour and has spun my perceptions around.

I ended up letting Sweetie stay for about a week in the rumpus room. She slept, ate a lot and talked to me. She appeared to be quite comfortable and relaxed during that time and the scar on her abdomen looked to be healing nicely.

On the appointed release date I opened the door and just stood back thinking she'd give me the evil eye, do a mad dash for the door and then disappear for a few days. I was SO totally wrong. She didn't move for several hours. I think she liked the room service. She finally decided it was time to vacate the premises in the late afternoon, although it wasn't without some emotional complications. 

She immediately sought out her best feral friend Boots (a desexed black male with white socks) who, after sniffing her, turned his back and walked away. She meowed plaintively and rubbed herself against him again. He just gave her the cold shoulder and moved on. She appeared to be very confused. It was like she wanted to reconnect again after a separation, but he had snubbed her. This was very unlike his previous observed behaviour. Even if she went off to have kittens and then returned after a long stay away, these two have always reunited with great affection. I suspect he smelled the trace odours of the veterinary clinic on her and that he sensed she was still not fully recovered and that was why he turned his back and walked away. I've noticed that many of our cats give their sick companions a wide berth and want little or nothing to do with them until they're better. Watching this particular interlude was actually quite heartbreaking because on some level I sensed her pain and her confusion. Cats obviously don't process thoughts like humans do but they (like most creatures) do feel and have an emotional life. 

The good news is that the next day they were fine together and since then they've been acting like a young couple in love – they curl up and sleep with each other all day, clean each other and go for strolls with each other. The affection has returned and the bond has been strengthened. Sweetie, contrary to expectation, has embraced her new life and is looking healthy (you can no longer see the scar) and has a new aura of confidence and relaxation about her. She stays close to the house and only ventured away for the first time a couple of days ago.