Trip to the Vet

It was time for Daisy Duke and Simba to get their annual checkups with the vet. I use a small animal doctor in a neighboring town which just happens to one of Little Town's biggest rivals in district sports. (Especially football!)

Coaxing my cats into the carriers is no easy chore. I waited until early Monday morning to set out the carriers by the front door. The Gray Cat was the first to notice the carriers. His memory is more clear about the function of the carriers than Daisy and Simba because he's had more trips to the vet. Simba sniffed and went on eat his groceries. Same with Daisy. I wasn't thinking about the cats getting car sick or I would've waited on feeding them.

I utilized the element of surprise on both cats. Simba was slumbering in his usual spot on my rocking chair. I scooped him up and got him stuffed in a carrier before he really knew what was going on. Daisy was taking her morning nap on Kris' bed and I attempted the same tactic with her. She came to her senses and locked her back feet down as I was trying to keep from getting scratched. An extra push and shove and I had her locked in her carrier. And then the crying began. Simba doesn't make much noise but he was letting me know just how unhappy he was. Daisy yowls all the time but her bitching was tenfold as soon as I latched the carrier door.

It is a 45 minute drive one-way to the vet clinic. I managed to fit both carriers in the passenger seat so we could all see each other. Simba settled down after the first 15 miles. Daisy cried until I got her inside the clinic. Both cats continued to glare at me through the little peep holes of the carriers. Both cats received a clean bill of health for the most part. Simba weighs 12 pounds and Daisy is a petit 10 pounds. (yeah, my cats are fluffy like me.) Daisy has a slight heart murmer but nothing to be alarmed about. It's amazing how a complete stranger can handle the cats with such ease. They both went right back into their carriers with nary a hiss or bitching comment.

Loaded them back up and headed to Little Town. Daisy cried for another 10 minutes and finally settled down. Simba ended up taking a siesta until I stopped at the light by the stockyards. Both began yowling again just a few minutes from the house. I released Simba to his backyard kingdom. Inside the house, Daisy raced out of her carrier and under my bed. Gray Cat met us at the door with a look that said, "Sooo glad to see you but soooo glad I wasn't crammed into one of those little hell boxes."

Neither cat got car sick nor did they much enjoy listening to the Blue Collar Comedy channel. Simba was waiting for me at the end of the day for his supper. Daisy emerged from under my bed and gave me that "I hate you" look. Simba ended up staying inside all night which is unusual until I realized that he was having a reaction to the shots. He's fine this morning and I believe I have been forgiven for being such an evil caretaker of the felines. Little does Gray Cat realize that it will be his turn to see Dr. Dave in a couple of months. And loading his fluffy ass in the cat carrier will be a challenge.