Fluffy Update
The vet couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong with her right leg because there was no visible swelling. IMO, I think my (not so) gentle fluffy cat scared the heck out of the vet. I had never seen my cat so mad. She was growling, hissing, baring her fangs and ready to bite. I don’t blame her, not after the encounter with a thermometer. 
Some of the things I learned about Fluffy: she weighs 10.3 lbs; is 11 years and 1 month old (I don’t know how the vet determined that); is a domestic long-haired tiger stripe tabby, has excellent set of teeth; and, carries a grudge. 
She stayed overnight in their kennel where they sedated her and took x-rays. Diagnosis: arthritis in her right carpus (wrist) which was aggravated when she probably jumped off somewhere and wrenched it. I do remember hearing a thud from inside hubby’s office and seeing Fluffy coming out slightly favoring her right leg but I didn’t think it was anything major, just her being a bit clumsy. In any case, she was given meds and was released the next day but not before I paid the bill altogether totalling (clasping hurting chest…and billfold) $240. I had a little issue with that. I just knew that everytime I would see Fluffy walk by I’d be thinking, “There’s my fur-covered microwave oven.” Or, “There’s 2 months worth of groceries meowing at me.”
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I called up MIL and asked her if she’d like to contribute to the “help release Fluffy from the vet’s office” fund. She said “yes” and that she would write me out a check which I picked up on the way home. It was sealed in an envelope so I was wondering how much it was for. I thought, “$50 would be nice…$100 would be nicer.” Holey socks!!! She covered the whole vet bill. Thank you!!!
All’s well that ends well. Fluffy still has a limp but I only notice it because I watch her closely. She seems to have forgiven me a bit for taking her to that awful place and abandoning her but she still refuses to play with me. I have to take her back on Wednesday for a follow-up…we’re both not looking forward to it for different reasons.
