Update on *Foster*(cough) Opie!

[catcrazylady]

I have been so busy with this new job and I feel so guilty for not posting more. I've been putting in 50 to 60 hour weeks at the the shelter and then I have to come home and take care of the brats, the ferals, and now give time to little Opie. I'm just so tired most of the time I don't have enough left in me to post! I have been lurking and trying to stay caught up though so I hope you all understand if I missed any of your posts.

Now on to Opie! (Thanks Jan for that name. It does fit the little redhead boy!)

He is supposed to stay on cage rest for FOUR more weeks! The little guy is going nuts! This is just not a life for a kitten and he lets me know it too.

I get him out several times a day and play with him in my lap. We play belly tickle and feather wand but....

This is really starting to get boring!


I'm a baby and I need to PLAY. I'm so so bored!

Please, please! If I get real cute will you let me out of the cage and off of your lap???? PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!


No no little Opie. I'm sorry but the vet says that you must have cage rest so your broken leg will heal properly.

Ok, fine! Then I will just go crazy in the cage!!!

Good Grief Opie!!! Stop that before you really hurt yourself!
After that I realized the little guy is going cage crazy and I couldn't stand it. His mental health is as important as his physical so I decided to let him romp on the cat tree for a bit. I made sure he didn't do any big jumps but got time to play.

I turned him loose and he was off like a bullet!


He sharpened his claws


He played tag with Rosco


Exchanged paws and had a blast with Leroy


And he spent some time watching out the window


The little guy is now peacefully sleeping in his cage and he is much more relaxed. I hope I'm not hurting him but he was getting to the point that he was going to hurt himself in the cage. I think I will continue to do these monitored cat tree outings a few times a day so he won't go totally crazy!
He is such a cutie but right now he is requiring lots of my time. That is not a complaint, I'm enjoying every minute!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Lisa, Opie sure is adorable and I think that this is a great idea to let him out of his cage while you supervise him. I think that I'd enjoy every minute with him too. Good luck.

[orangemm]

Oh, he is just the most adorable little thing! Those pictures were priceless...I wouldn't be able to leave him in the cage, either.

Poor lil guy...he wants to get out and PLAY! It must have felt so good to be able to play on that tree, romp around, and sharpen his claws!

[Craftlady]

Opie is sooooooooooo cute.
Your sanity and Opies is important. Letting Opie play with others and on the cat tree under supervision isnt going to hurt anything. For someone who has had a broken leg Opie sure doesnt show it by his upside down impression of a monkey in a cage.

I think when vets come up with these great ideas, they should try it out themselves first and then see if its the right thing to do. LOL

[jenluckenbach]

Lisa, do us ALL a huge favor and simply sign those adoption papers now and get it over with. You KNOW he ain't leaving that house!

[sirrahbed]

Have you tried telling him that he is on cage rest?? That upside down monkey is so cute - what a sweetie he is! I know he is loving his supervised outings and you are one terrific Meowmie.

[catmandu]

ALL CATS,HATE BEING CONFINED,AND I THINK,THAT YOU DID THE EXCAT RIGHT THING,IN LETTING HIM,BE A LITTLE FOOTLOOOSE,WITH YOUR CATS,AS HE WOULD HAVE DONE HIMSELF,AN INJURY,IN THAT CAGE.
HAS HE MET,THE MIGHTY SCRAPPY MAGOO,YET.
I AM SURE,THAT RON HOWARD,WOULD BE PLEASED,TO SEE A CAT,NAMED AFTER HIS FAMOUS ANDY GRIFFITH CHARACTER.

[Grace]

This is very reminiscent of what we just went through with Grady, our 2 year old. He broke his left rear leg right before Easter. Had surgery with insertion of nail and screws - no cast. He was supposed to be caged for EIGHT WEEKS!!

We ended up putting him on tranquilizers twice a day - to take the edge off. We worked out a way to let him eat most meals outside the cage, and turned a front hall, with doors at both ends, into an alternative place for him to stay during the day.

We ended up letting him out during the day after 6 weeks - with supervision.

We all survived, and actually he has become much more of a snuggle bunny since he spent all that time one on one with us.

He never did hang from the top of his cage - and it looks to be about the same size as yours.

I do know what you're going through -

[catcrazylady]

It's hard to see them go through that isn't it Grace? Especially when they can't understand why. He is so young and so full of energy that it just has to come out some way, thus the monkey routine!

Jen, I told hubby the other day that we are like the roach motels, everything comes in but nothing ever goes out!

[Laura's Babies]

Those pictures are so cute and so is Opie!! I know he was glad for the freedome he had and will enjoy it every day.. I don't blame you for letting him out of that cage... He really would have hurt himself..

I been missing you and wondering where you were!

[jenluckenbach]

Now that I am done teasing you , I'd like to say how absolutely adorable Opie is. That is one irresistible little boy.

[catcrazylady]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Now that I am done teasing you , I'd like to say how absolutely adorable Opie is. That is one irresistible little boy.

He's got quit the attitude! I know it's from all the pent up energy so I'm excusing most of it right now. I may have to teach this boy some manners! He gets cranky really fast and bites and growls. It's not so bad while he's little but in a few weeks that won't be so cute! I really do think it's because of all the stress he is under being alone and caged.

We made some adjustments to his cage tonight so he can play monkey a little bit more safely.
I have the tube from the cat tree that no one likes and was no longer attached to the tree. We bungee corded it to the corner so he kind of has a condo to hide in and climb on. He seems to like it.

[K & L]

He's so cute! I can understand how you feel. We were trying to keep Pearl secluded until Tracey claims her, but with her brothers gone she was howling. We finally caved and she has the run of the place, and is really enjoying it. I think supervised play will be good for little Opie! We had one of our park ferals named that!

[catnapper]

Awww... sweetie pie!
This face made me melt


Flutter makes that face too!

Perhaps he and Flutter were separated at birth? Perhap thats how he came to have a broken back leg -- he survived the evil human who cut off Flutter's leg?

I know they had him casted before, but why didn't the vet put another support on him? It really made a difference for poor Angel. She was able to be out free and play while being supported.

[rg_girlca]

OMG Lisa, he is just too darn adorable.

Welcome to PT widdle Opie. * Hee, hee.* *Snicker, snicker.*