Attack!

This morning Lloyd and I were awakened just before 5 a.m. to hear our kitty, Trouble, suffering from his worst asthma attack to date. It was a scary time period. I quickly sprang into action to set up our humidifier- knowing that the air had been particularly dry in our area lately. Trouble could barely breathe, and my heart was sinking. For some reason, he seems to do much better when we take him into the garage during an attack. He, too, automatically heads there when he becomes congested. I knew I had to get him to the vet again as soon as possible. He made it through this terrible attack, and several hours later the vet on duty at Dr. Park's administered a cortisol injection into his chest. Now he is here.... lying next to Lloyd and I on the couch, and I could not feel happier. He slept the afternoon away in a dark corner, not wanting to be disturbed by the other 3. He loves me again and wants to sit on my lap. It is so strange, when I think about it, how many people I know that have asthma. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to suddenly have a difficult time breathing. I take it for granted that I don't suffer from what seems to be a fairly common malady.

It took me a few months to realize that Trouble wasn't just hacking up the occasional hairball. I would notice his wheezing getting progressively worse when I cleaned, dusted, vacuumed or when he stayed outside near the plants. I equate him to the kid from the Jerry Maguire movie. This kitty seems to be allergic to almost everything!! I'm not sure that I can come even remotely close to comparing having animals to having children, but I can say that so much about the choices Lloyd and I make revolve around this little black and white cat! No aerosols, perfumes, dyes, or smoke in the house. I limit my candle burning moments and use all natural cleaners in the house. I cant buy cheap clay litter- it has to be pine or paper. We always buy ridiculously expensive cat food to prevent the 3 boys from developing UTI's.... my how much we would save on medications and living expenses if we didn't have these blasted kitties!! I have to admit, though... they are worth every stinking penny!! When they pass gas, we can't stay mad at them very long. They wait for us to get home every day. Littlefoot likes to watch t.v. with us, and she's the only one in the family that I have gotten addicted to the Forensic Files show. Lando is the hider, and thinks the world is out to hurt him.... maybe because it once did. Obi is moody, spry, and likes to hold a grudge, and is a constant reminder of why I am wary of ever raising a teenager. And then there is Trouble. He can be a bit of an a-hole. He is extremely needy, and usually doesn't settle for sitting on your lap. He insists on sitting on your chest and putting his face thisclosetoyours. With all that said... I always think about what I have heard of animals- that they choose their owners, and not the other way around. While I never really wanted to own 4 pets, I am happy they adopted Lloyd and I and found their way into our home!