Catnip Hill

We found Lazarus laying in the road. He was a 10 month old tom cat with a wandering eye for the ladies. Obviously he didn't know enough to look both ways and was clobbered by a passing truck or car. When we came down the road we saw his body laying there. I pulled over and put on my latex gloves so I could move his sad, dead body.

Imagine my surprise when he opened his eyes and looked right at me. I scooped him. The neighbor of the owners sneered and told me to just leave him there in the road. He was dead and good riddance.

After a fast trip to the vet, I found out that they couldn't treat him unless he was a stray or the family signed off on him and gave me possession. The other choice was to get the owners to sign for his treatment. I rushed back to the spot I found him and checked the house across from the nasty neighbor. The woman told me that he was indeed their daughter's cat. Her feelings were that cats were a "dime a dozen" and she would not pay to have him treated. She did however call the vet and give the cat to me.

His injuries included a badly broken jaw, a broken eye orbit and bumps and bruises. His jaw was wired shut and he had a food tube inserted into  his side. His medical bills were high but worth it to see him improving each day. After a week he was allowed to come home to live with me forever. For the next six weeks this cat, who didn't know me, allowed me to feed him through his food tube and treat him for his injuries. He purred and rubbed and loved every minute of attention.

We named him Lazarus because he arose from certain death. Now "Laz" is a happy cat full of life and love. He enjoys to ride in the van and goes to help pick up the mail. If you ask him if he would like to "go postal" he comes running to be harnessed. He also loves to go to Pet Smart, Tractor Supply and of all places, the vet office. He has fans everywhere. We are volunteer firefighters and Laz is Mouse Control Officer and Moral Officer. He loves to go to the fire hall and check things out.

As he has aged his jaw has grown a bit crooked and he looks like he has a Popeye squint. He is now loosing his hearing but he is just as sweet and loving as he always has been. His former owner has no idea what she has missed. A year ago she contacted me to tell me she wanted her cat back. No chance! Laz is glued to us forever.