In the cold winter of last year, one of the previously rescued stray dogs, which hadn’t been spayed, was about to give birth to puppies. However, due to being run over when it was a puppy, it couldn’t deliver the babies naturally. So, my mother and I took it to the vet for a cesarean section. When we brought the dog back home after the surgery, Fuxiu, our Siamese cat, put on an unexpected show. It tried to “attack” the dog from across the electric heater, creating a rather comical yet strange scene.
Fuxiu is the second – in – command in our family of pets. The top spot belongs to Niuniu, a Cocker Spaniel. Niuniu has a habit of driving Fuxiu away from the place where Fuxiu is comfortably lying. Whenever we buy a new pet bed, Niuniu will be the first to roll around on it. Moreover, if Fuxiu gets too close to my mother, Niuniu will show signs of displeasure. It’s quite astonishing to see how strong the jealousy among these little animals can be.
As time passed, Fuxiu gradually became more dependent on us, although in its own unique way. It always stays close to us but not too close for direct contact, except when it’s time to sleep. Then, it loves to snuggle up beside us. Fuxiu has an amazing skill that, as far as I know, few cats possess – it can open doors. Cats also need their own space to move around. Fuxiu is a bit timid but eager to explore the outside world. Every time it wants to go out, it will first jump onto the shoe cabinet. When someone approaches, we would say, “Fuxiu, open the door.” Then, it will stretch its little paws to reach the doorknob with all its might and look up at us, as if saying, “I’m opening the door. Please let me out.” If we add the request, “Fuxiu, open the door harder,” it will really put in more effort, making the doorknob rattle loudly.
Once the door is open, it will go out to play in the corridor. One time, I took it downstairs. At first, it just stood still, so I carried it to the car. That seemed to open up a whole new world for it. You might wonder why Fuxiu, which had always lived indoors, suddenly became so interested in the outside world. The reason was that last winter, it suffered from kidney failure. We had to take it downstairs to the hospital every day for treatment, and that’s when it started to develop an interest in the outside.
One day, my younger brother found Fuxiu lying motionless, completely weak. My tough – looking, six – foot – tall brother actually burst into tears while holding Fuxiu at home. That’s when I realized the seriousness of the situation. I took a leave of absence from work and rushed it to a nearby pet hospital. However, perhaps due to limited medical conditions, the doctor couldn’t make an accurate diagnosis. After waiting at home for a day, Fuxiu couldn’t even lift its head. Without hesitation, I took another leave and took it to the best pet hospital in the area. After taking an X – ray, we found that its bladder was extremely enlarged, causing urinary obstruction. So, the doctor started the process of catheterization, inserting a very thin tube into its urethra.
For seven consecutive days, Fuxiu received intravenous drips. During this period, the catheter was accidentally licked out by it once, and it had a retention needle on its paw all the time. Despite all these difficulties, Fuxiu remained incredibly strong. Our entire family mobilized. Whoever was available would take Fuxiu to the hospital for the injection. Even on weekdays, we had to take a two – hour leave. We could have chosen to board it at the hospital, but because Fuxiu’s condition was so serious, the pet store refused to take it. So, we watched over it around the clock, even waking up in the middle of the night to check on its condition. Finally, when it ate its first bite of food, and then the second and third, we finally felt a sense of relief. At first, its urination was not smooth, so we fed it anti – inflammatory medicine for a while, and gradually, it improved. Now, we still give it regular anti – inflammatory treatment and bought it a water dispenser. Thankfully, it hasn’t had a recurrence of the illness.
Fuxiu’s journey has been filled with ups and downs, and it has become an inseparable part of our family. Its resilience and the deep bond we share have taught us the true meaning of love and responsibility. We will always be there for this brave little Siamese cat, and look forward to many more years of happiness together.
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