Jack’s Odyssey

Posted on Oct 17 in Animals & Pets, outdoor petsby TalinaPrint

It has been two weeks since we’ve seen Jack, our indoor kitty that moved outside. N spotted a road kill cat a few days ago near the house and came to me asking if I wanted him to investigate and see if it was our Jack.

We first thought he had run off and shacked up with a neighborhood cat or that someone snatched him up to keep. He is a super friendly cat that typically sticks close to home so it was odd for him to be gone for so long.

Everly Discovers Jack

N went and scoped out the fur patch spotted near the house and said it wasn;t the same markings as poor Jack. I had just assumed it was him and that he was already gone. I figured N was just trying to lie to me so I wouldn’t be upset.

Tonight N and I were talking in the kitchen with the window open for fresh air and I shushed him, mid conversation because I swore I heard Jacks distinctive meow coming up the block.

We both ran out and sure enough Jack had come home, we approached him and began giving him scratches and talking about where he had gone. When I lifted him to the food dish I noticed how super skinny he was. He ate more food than we have ever seen him consume in a sitting and then I noticed his chin.

There was a dark scabby spot under his chin so N grabbed a flashlight so we could see it better. Upon shining the flash light in his face we saw that all his front lower teeth are gone and his mouth is super swollen.

It doesn’t seem like an animal attack, more like some forceful trauma (like a fall or a pinching). There isn’t any bleeding, his tongue is fine and he isn’t shy of eating right now so moved him in to our enclosed garage for some R&R and some quiet confinement so he can heal.

It seems to me he’s been starving for two weeks based on his appetite and his lost weight. N thinks he got stuck in some sort of trap and has probably been stuck since he went missing. I don’t know if he got himself loose or if he was let loose by someone.

I am just in shock and am kind of at a loss here.

And before you tell me I am evil for letting him be outside know that I’ve already heard the song and dance… We had our reasons and I don’t need to hear the told-you-so okay? I already know I am the worst pet owner ever.

I am just getting my worry and feelings off my chest here. I’d love to rush him off to the vet, throw some money down and have them make him all better like good pet owners do but the whole being unemployed and having zero income is kind of a road block for that. *sigh*

I need to just stop writing and go to bed now, this isn’t getting me anywhere tonight. I can tell. Thanks for listening though.