Others might be more familiar with the concept of a mini-EF, but I choose to call it a slush fund. It's a couple hundred bucks I keep in my local savings account. If there's a minor emergency, it's there. If there's something I need to buy but the actual money for it is in online savings (like car maintenence or medical expenses), I can use the slush fund to cover me until the money arrives from New York.
All in all, a tiny little saftey net.
Well, Saturday one of my kitties came in the house limping. He plays like a big bad @$$ but doesn't like to fight other animals, and there are multiple toms in the area who could have beat him up. As the weekend went on he was putting less and less weight on it and meowing at me pitifully to make it all better with a can of sardines. I tried to get a good look at it, but nearly lost a limb in the process. Apparently he's only a bad @$$ when it comes to people...
So, this morning I took Samson to the vet. First, BIG KUDOS to the vet clinic near my house. Apparently they don't take walk-ins anymore, but were happy to fit me in since this morning's first appointment had canceled. Granted, Samsom meowing from the depths of the cat carrier like he was about to die surely helped get us through the hoops. No worries, though, he was only meowing like that because he was actually in the cat carrier, not because of the wound. Next time I'll carry him to the vet in a gift bag: for some reason, he really digs that and doesn't get nearly as freaked out.
Anyways, after an exam and a shave job, we could see the punture wounds on the front and back of Samson's paw. Since he wasn't running a fever or anything, we're working off the assumption that it's a war wound, rather than a snake bite.
They gave me lots of advice, antibiotic drops, wound wash, and a bag full of gauze. My total? Fifty five dollars. Did I mention I love my vet clinic? So, even though the total isn't that big, the Slush Fund comes to the rescue and does what it does best: pay for life's little unknowns.
All Hail the Slush Fund!
Now, Samson is at the house nursing his injured pride while my other two cats laugh at his shaved foot. I got the first round of antibiotics in him, which was no easy feat: the stuff smells like fake bananas and can't be hidden in anything. BAH!
Washing the wound didn't turn out too well. We'll take another crack at it tonight: it'll involve me, DH, and a pair of welding gloves.
All Hail the Slush Fund!
May 14th, 2007 at 04:21 pm
May 14th, 2007 at 04:44 pm 1179161043
May 14th, 2007 at 07:48 pm 1179172083
I cleaned all up and he didn't have any further problem. I would hate to have to take him in, sooooo expensive.
He is an American shorthair, picked him off the street at about 6 weeeks old, and has had excellent health all these years.
Anyway, my hubby gives me a 'slush' fund every month in return for my 23,000 annual part time paycheck. Hee Hee.
BTW I've known Sage longer than my hubby...
May 14th, 2007 at 08:20 pm 1179174034
hope your baby stays better!
May 16th, 2007 at 01:39 pm 1179322792
This reminds me of the time when I brought the family dog over to my mother's. She's like, "Oh, doggie! Doggie! I missed you so much!" And I'm like, "Hi mom. Um, hello? Hello? Yes, your only son here. First born. Bearer of the family name and your grandchildren??? Hello?"
May 16th, 2007 at 01:46 pm 1179323215
i've had several family members 'volunteer' to take my cat echo should something ever happen to me. my other 2 cats are starting to feel left out! and, um, if i were paranoid i'd be afraid of getting bumped off so they could have my cat.... perhaps the will should be revised...