Warmest spot in the house

I couldn't find Mack when I came home for lunch to feed him. I wasted a good 10 minutes checking the basement hiding places, as well as behind all the closed doors (remembering when I locked him in the linen closet last week!). Finally, I looked in the living room again ... and there he was -- in the warmest spot in the house: on top of the snake cage, right over the warming light. I didn't even see him there when I walked in the door. It's been so long since he felt well enough to jump up there.

This is another great sign!







Speaking of the snake, for anyone who hasn't seen her in a long time (or ever), here's another picture of her. She's over 6' long, and the circumference of a soda can, at her widest. She seemed very interested in the mammal on top of her enclosure ... but she wouldn't be able to eat him, even if she could get out. She's built to consume other snakes, as well as SMALL animals ... and even anorexic, Mack would be too big for her to swallow.


And, finally, here is a picture of John feeding Mack. I know it sounds kind of icky to have a cat with a feeding tube, but it's really not as awful as it sounds. And it does seem to be doing him some good, so we are very grateful that it's even a possibility!

And besides, we won't need to feed him through a tube forever. After all, there are plenty of indications that he is getting better and better: Mack came to the door (with Lucky and Reggie) to greet John when he came home tonight, and later Mack was wrestling with the catnip toy again! Best yet -- when John filled the food dishes with dry food for the other cats, Mack walked over and sniffed it.

I know, I know ... sniffing food might not sound like a big deal ... but he hasn't showed ANY interest in food of any sort in a LONG time, so this is significant progress. Sooner or later, he's going to want to eat regular food, on his own ... and then I can stop spilling, dribbling, and shooting watered down liver pate all over my kitchen!

We just have to be patient.