It was a couple of days ago that I noticed that Sarà the cat had a teeny tiny hairless spot on one ear, so I made an appointment with the
dermatologist at the veterinary clinic, and that was this morning.
While going up to the attic to get the carrier, I was thinking that, B'H', it had been a long time since the pussycat had needed a doctor! And anyway, over these three years since we adopted Sarà, we usually saw the fantastic Dr. Rossi for vaccinations and such.
But the very first appointment of our history together had been, at the same clinic, with the dermatologist Dr. Del Vecchio: Sarà, naturally long haired, arrived to us a little mangy. I still remember that visit with the doc: Irene and I, feeling anxious and with no experience of cats, Sarà, frightened and almost flattened on the examination table, looked like Sylvester cat when getting splattered by a huge boulder! Dr. Del Vecchio protested "why is this cat bald?!...because she licks her fur away because of anxiety! we need a good therapy!".
And so it was, the treatment was demanding, expensive and, including an electric ampoule releasing pheromones meant to simulate her mother's, I had to overcome my scepticism about artificial stuff - and I will confess, also my rambling, mother-like pride! In fact, the doctor told me that being overprotective could increase Sarà's discomfort: he then suggested to always stimulate the cat to play, to hunt (hiding the kibble here and there) and to get to know her and her needs by reading about cats. And then, legendary, came his recommendation that Irene and I will always remember with fondness: "any book or site is fine, well, maybe don't settle for one titled "I Am Crazy About My Cat" ... otherwise ... LOL! ever since then, in our family the doc's nickname became "Iamcrazyaboutmycat"!
Today was tough for our kitty. It took me an awful lot of strength to push her into the carrier; she suffers from the car, but Ariel carried her to the car, sitting in the back seat with her and lovingly keeping her company, talking to her through the grid of the carrier for the whole trip.
The doc not only checked her ear spot - which seems to have been caused by a mosquito bite - but called for backup and instructed me to keep her practically upside down while she was being treated in a different part of the body, but I won't go into detail out of respect for her privacy! Suffice it to say that in the end she spontaneously flew into the cage!
Finally having arrived at home, when she thought she was safe, we had to hold her again to medicate her ear .. poor thing!
And as it always is at that clinic, one cannot miss a moment of beauty, of social ethics. While I was waiting for the prescriptions, my attention was drawn to this picture:
the doc saw me, and explained to me how his appreciation for the Jewish people extends in a very special way to Angelo Fortunato Formiggini (about AFF) and we remembered how the Mayor of Modena recently dedicated to him the small square under the Ghirlandina Tower in Modena, the very place where he died tragically. Doc, however, thinks that it would be even more meaningful if Angelo Fortunato Formiggini was remembered not only through his name on a tablet, but maybe with a sculptured portrait.
On the other hand, we know that Judaism is not so eager to represent faces and effigies. Anyway, Sarà is a lucky cat, and I along with her, for the goodness of the people who are close to us.
Finally, it will be a good night.