Frankie's been shot.

[Schutzengel]

My gorgeous ginger tom Frankie became ill and listless last night, so trip to emergency vet. Kept in over night and given pain killing injection and antibiotics. No better this morning. Very high temperature which wouldn't come down, so this afternoon he was sedated and x-rayed, and an air rifle pellet was found lodged in the wall of his abdomen. Fortunately it appeared to have missed his vital organs. He was operated on this afternoon to remove the pellet which had set up an infection. Latest news, he has survived the operation but is still very ill. So will be staying at vets for the time being. The police are going to collect the pellet from vets so that they can identify the type of air-rifle used. Hoping for a full recovery, but the worrying thing is there are small children who live next door, plus other pets around our small, rural, and very quiet cul-de-sac. How sick can some people be, it's beyond me. Some hooligan on the loose with an air-rifle is scary, and I hope for the animals and childrens sake that the person responsible is soon caught.

[Schutzengel]

First of all to answer the newer replies, followed by the news. Some bad, some good. I'll get to that in a minute.

paddywak. saw your message which said you couldn't get through this morning, thank you anyway for your kind thought.

Icemaiden, mrs.chappie, imhotep, daffy, dawndevil, brenda, boo, redhelen, allykitten. thanks for new and follow up enquiries after Frankie.

Paraffin. thanks for the suggestions, will follow them up.

Swedeheart. thanks for your continued concern, and the advice, and yes the sun did shine here today.

Wolf. so sorry about your keyboard, but that's cats for you, more expense having to buy a new one. Tell your Frankie that his message is appreciated and give him a cuddle. How's Merlin.

Cont'd in Part 2

[Schutzengel]

So now to the news.
Rang again, as asked to, at 9am today. Vet said the operation had turned out to be a major one, as when they examined Frankie's internal organs, the pellet had gone through the small intestine, so they had to cut away the damaged part and stitch the ends together. He had 2 lines in 1 antibiotic, and 1 protein, also painkiller injections. And a plastic collar which he woke up, he didn't like. Vet said he was not as bright as she would like, and to ring again at 5pm tonight. Cont'd in Part 3.

[Schutzengel]

Part 3
5pm today. Collar removed, not licking stitches, on antibiotic tablets after having lines removed, and back on his normal epilepsy tablets. Bright but not like his usual self. Vet said not surprising as he's been through a terrible ordeal. Best bit - she says as he's only 3yrs, and strong and healthy apart from his well controlled epilepsy. He has tonight eaten a good meal, and is comfortable, but will need watching for the next 48hrs to make sure the bowel works properly, as sometimes the join can leak. Hope not. (fingers crossed). Have to ring at 10am tomorrow (Sat). So it's looking hopeful for a full recovery.
Cont'd in Part. 4.

[Ice.Maiden]

Oh Schutzengel hun - I've just come on, and yours's been the first thread I've read. I sincerely hope that Frankie comers through this. The reason for me saying yesterday that he should be OK, is because the same thing happened to one of my cats. We also have a dog who had to have two ops within 10 days of each other, when some stones were swallowed and got lodged. In both cases, the intestines were cut away, and in the case of our dog, FOUR ops've now been perfomed over a period of just a year and if it happens again, there's no more that can be cut away, so fingers crossed. As for our cat, Minty, she was very poorly after being shot. She went down and down, and we feared the worst, but all of a sudden, she took a turn for the better and responded to treatment. Five years on, she's still with us, and a very lively, happy cat. I send you my best wishes. x

[Schutzengel]

If Frankie continues to progress over the next 48hrs, he may be able to come home to recuperate in his own bed.
The Police are collecting the shot-pellet from the vets, and 2 officers visited our house today, to view the surrounding area. They are being very supportive, and will contact the local newspapers to report the incident.
Will let you all know the next lot of news, and I am feeling a bit more positive tonight, although still very, very angry.
You have all been so kind, caring, and thoughtful, and I appreciate it so much. It's a great help at such an awful time. Thank you all again. Much love to everyone. Schutz.

[pastafreak]

Frankie is a very lucky cat....it is so good to hear your news Schutz.

Best wishes to both Frankie and you xx

[Schutzengel]

Hi Icemaiden. Thanks for the info about Minty, it's great that she has done so well. And it's very encouraging for me.
I am sorry to hear of the troubles your dog has had, and just pray that it doesn't recur.

I have just finished posting the updated news on my Frankie's progress. Some good news and some not so good, but he's hanging in there are there is some improvement. Thank you for caring, and for your good wishes, and in return I send you and the pets my best wishes too. Schutz.

[Aprilis]

Shutzengel, I'm so sorry to hear that some nasty piece of heinous trash has done this to your Frankie. I do so hope that the Police manage to find and charge the culprit (I know what I'd like to do to them), but most importantly that Frankie is back home with you real soon and fully recovers from his terrible ordeal.

Thinking of you both,

Aprilis x x x

[swedeheart]

Yes Schutz try to take comfort from Ice.Maiden's story:-) What a brave soldier Frankie is, having eaten tonight, that has got to be a good sign! I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight and more good news tomorrow. See you here then.

(If you're wondering: We had cats when I grew up and later on I had a cat who lived to be seventeen. No pets now but I love cats and dogs both.)

[Schutzengel]

Pasta. Thank you for your good wishes. Frankie certainly has been a very lucky cat. The house seems very strange withut him, and the other two are very unsettled. But hopefully that will change for the better soon. Cheers. Schutz.

[Schutzengel]

aprilis. I agree with you entirely, but I wouldn't dare tell you what I would like to happen to the person concerned. Thank you for thinking of Frankie and me. xxx Schutz.

[Schutzengel]

Swedeheart. I will try to sleep tonight, but it's difficult, as Frankie has always slept on the foot of my bed, and came creeping up to say hello as soon as I woke up, and I don't like it when he's not there. The other two like to be fussed over more in the day time, but I think Frankie thinks it's beneath his dignity to be observed being a baby, and prefers the privacy of the bedroom. :-)
Isn't Icemaiden's story an inspiration, and encouragement, and so good that Minty is still going strong 5 yrs after her encounter with a shooter. Thanks for popping in again. See you here tomorrow. Best wishes. Schutz.

[DrFilth]

Sorry to hear about Frankie and hopes he makes a full recovery. there are people on here who would do that to any cat in their garden

Rtaxron
Tue 23/09/08
14:10 I had the same problem at my last house and the cats used used to kill my Carp in the fish-pond as well.

I bought a second-hand air pistol (lead pellet type) and used to shoot for the cats tail.

They soon got the message and disappeared.


this person still posts on this site but under another user name. even wild bill ****** could not shoot a cats tail so you don't have to be einstein to work out what he hit .

once again hope your Frankie gets better and you have a long and happy life together


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[DrFilth]

the starred word was H ic ock


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[Schutzengel]

DrFilth. Thanks for the kind message, regarding Frankie. Like you I wonder about the person you mentioned, and what part of the cat he did hit, and meant to. It would be beyond the most expert marksman to hit a moving cat's tail.
A sicko of the first water, in my opinion. I wonder if your posting will draw the person out of the woodwork, now that they're using a new name. Cheers. Schutz.

[Schutzengel]

I'm off to bed now, so see you all tomorrow.
Sleep well. Schutz.

[Schutzengel]

Thanks Redhelen. I have to telephone at 10am today. Will post the news as soon as I can. Hope it's good news.
Your two sound adorable, and crossed paws are much appreciated. Schutz. xxx

[afcjan]

hope to hear good news Schutz, keep strong we are all thinking of u xxxx

[madboutcats]

At last im back online and can post to you schutzengel, (my computer crashed last sunday) I do so hope that frankie is on the mend (what id like to do to the scum is like everyone elses unprintable) He needs to get home and get oodles to tlc from you and the rest of your family. Cupar and margo and sam aka samuel peeps all send frankie their love and wet nose cat kisses. big ((((hugs)))) to you.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx