Arthur and Merlin are asleep in the picture window. The perch has a heating pad and the late Fall sun beats in. I doesn’t get much better than this for a cat.

Pebbles, in black, and Sarah, in white, watch a sparrow.

As you may recall, last week’s vet visit resulted in several recommendations for our portly Sarah.

The vet suggested we put Ban Roll On on her front leg where she has worried the fur off from stress. It would keep her away from the area.

Except, of course, our special kitty liked the taste. Or, at least, showed NO inclination to not lick the leg.

Suggestion two was to use Gold Bond powder on her butt. This would keep it dry and make the fecal matter less likely to stick.

Umm… the expression on her face when I first powdered her was unusual. I think she expected to get washed. She was both startled and intrigued.

And, the excess powder that fell off? Tasted good to her.

The Gold Bond seems to be working. Less stinky butt, for sure and it looks like less adhering to her as well.

A little sparrow is under the hedge, making any differences moot for Pebbles, the black kitty, and Sarah, our white kitty.

Sarah and Merlin to the vet today. He used to come to the house, and I miss that. Now he works 45 minutes away, so we haul over there for visits.

Merlin has Eosinophilic Ulcer, also called rodent ulcer.

Eosinophilic ulcer in a cat can be a frustrating problem to eliminate. The lesion results from a localized invasion of a type of white blood cell called an EOSINOPHIL. A type of white blood cell found in vertebrate blood, containing cytoplasmic granules that are easily stained by eosin or other acid dyes, eosinophils often are associated with and invade tissues that are being physically irritated or are undergoing an allergic reaction. When large numbers of eosinophils locally invade the tissues they interfere with normal physiological processes and as a result scar tissue can form, microcirculation is impeded, and inflammatory cells migrate to the area in an attempt to heal the damage. Tissue destruction results in death of cells and, in the case of “rodent ulcer” in a cat, there can be a disfiguring ulceration of the upper lip. In severe cases the inside of the oral cavity and the lower lip may be involved.

He got treated in April and May and it’s discouraging that it has returned. He got a cortisone shot and we got one for me to give him in three weeks. He also got his waxy ears and his pee pee looked at. All good. He lost over two pounds though, not feeling food and the mouth sores hurting, before we could get him in. He needed to lose weight, but not this way.

Sarah was due her three years shots. We also had him look at a rogue nail on her paw. Because she is a mutant, with extra toes, some of that tissue is in the wrong spot and so she has a nail growing upward below one of her toes. I clipped it last time and the vet says that’s the ticket. If she’s ever in for a procedure, he’ll remove it permanently but for now, trim as necessary.

She also got her butt shaved again. Miss Rolly Polly can’t keep it clean. Some salve for now. He suggests God Bond powder to keep her ass dry and to limit any fecal matter sticking. She’s worried a bare spot on one paw due to her frustration with not being clean. Vet suggested using Ban roll-on on the spot to make it unattractive to lick and bit.

They’re both home now and all is good.