We Thought We'd Lost Our Wild Boy

We thought we'd lost him. As in not just lost-can't-find-his-way-back, but likely dead. And we we soooo deeply sad for 3 days.

MD is our latest rescue cat - a wild black male who has been severely traumatized and abused. We have coaxed him to allow us to touch him, feed him and he finally felt safe enough, after almost a year, to sleep in the house - as long as he could come and go at his leisure. And our old Thai teak house was perfect for him.

And then the termites ravaged our old wooden house, the roof came off and we were forced to move. It was never a question that MD was coming with us, but we worried about the HOW of confining him safely for the first week. Let's just say it was rough. but he came through like a champion, and was finally allowed out. And for 4 days he was fabulous - came in for meals, slept inside with us (which he wasn't thrilled about but tolerated) and hissed at a couple of other curious neighbourhood cats who hopped over the tall, secure brick fences to check out the new boy.

Until day 4 when he refused to come in late evening. I knew he heard me and was close somewhere, but he refused to come in and so I, with some hesitation, left him outside for the night.

FFWD to 4.49am when I woke to the sound of an unbelievably vicious cat fight. I raced outside, and saw MD fighting for his life with a HUGE black and white male cat, and then they both bounded off into the jungle across from our house in the pre-dawn light.

MD didn't come back for 3 days.

We called, and searched (as much as one can in that snake pit jungle zone across the road) and prayed.

And then just when it seemed like he was lost-lost or lost-dead, he limped in for breakfast. And slurped his way with his damaged mouth (we think kicked in his previous life) through 2 HUGE kitty breakfasts. And than lay down too exhausted to even groom himself.

MDBack1 2.jpg

He was filthy, ravenously hungry and COVERED in bites and sores.

MDBack2 2.jpg

He was also TERRIFIED and has spent 3 days now alternating between a snuggly spot in my bed, and cowering under the kitchen cupboard. As much as part of me wanted to take him to a vet, he was so scared and has been such a traumatized kitty through his life, that it seemed more cruel than nursing him at home.

I've been cleaning his wounds alternating with colloidal silver, colloidal copper and activated charcoal. He's been eating well and yesterday finally his big leg shoulder wound spontaneously drained of a seriously incredible amount of bloody pus. I put him on a towel and just let it drain. And he seemed instantly happier. Purred. Hasn't been licking it at all.

He oozed from about 4 spots for half a day and then everything started to close and heal. I followed him round the house with disinfectant and the colloidal sprays, literally mopping up after him!!

He previously had refused to go outside or even anywhere NEAR the open front door but yesterday he felt better enough to sit in the sun on the front mat.

And then ventured out a bit further onto the porch.

That's as far as he's got so far, but he's wandering out within a couple of meters from the house a few times now. He knows he's safe with us in the house!!

He's eating well and healing, and getting on just fine with our other two kitties, who are simply giving him space. all very harmonious and domestic.

And so our wild boy is home.

I have NO DOUBT that when he's recovered the jungle across the road will prove irresistible, and that he'll be over there again. Sigh