Phoebe At Home

Yesterday was spent getting frequent updates from the vets, all good reports.

Dr. Ortega reported that not only did Phoebe head-butt her (a rare honor) but licked her hand. "I guess she's claimed me as hers for the day," she said, then laughed. "I feel honored." No snark. And she should.

At six o'clock, I went to pick up my girl. She was brought into the room by not one but two vet techs, who kept saying, "Phoebe is so sweet! She's just the best cat. We all fell in love with her. She's such a good cat." I know.

Phoebe was glad to see me. I was thrilled to see her looking so healthy and interested in the world.

The doctor came in and gave me a long list of instructions and a bunch of syringes to give Phoebe her steroids. In the meantime, I am not to open the windows at all, no matter how tempting it might be, and to put air filters in every room. When I clean, Phoebe should go into another room with the door closed and be kept there until the dust settles.

I was dreading the bill, but when I saw it, I knew they had cut me a ridiculous number of breaks. It was half of what I was expecting. Not cheap, but well worth saving Peewee's life.

On the way home, Phoebe accomplished a first. She is the first cat I've ever let out of the carrier while I was driving. I let her do it because she got into the back seat, reclined there and only once or twice made a peep.

At home, she was Phoebe On Steroids. It took her a couple of hours to calm down from the excitement of the car ride. But once she did, she set out investigating every inch of the house. She was also very cranky and put up with no nonsense from anyone.

When I woke up this morning, I couldn't find her on the bed, where she normally sleeps. Uh oh, I thought. I got up, then looked back on the bed. She had been sleeping on the pillow above my head.

Her belly must have miraculous powers because when I woke up this morning, I was blessedly free of the headache I've had for two weeks.

She actually jumped onto the kitchen counter to drink from the kitchen faucet. Now she's back on the bed.

It is so, so good to have my girl home, especially since it was the last thing I expected.