shrug

My poor kitty.

Today was the day that Mia was scheduled to be spayed. The secretary at school had made the appointment (my Russian is much worse over the phone than it is in person) for us to go in today at 11 a.m. It seemed like a strange time, right during the parade, but I did as told.

I got Mia into her carrier (easy because she'd never been to the vet) and walked the mile or so to the vet. My car was safely parked at school, away from the festivities. I could hear the parade going on several streets over. The streets were pretty empty and the day was sunny and warm.

When I got to the vet, I gave them my name. When they asked why we were there, I told them "She needs...scissors. No mama." They asked if I had an appointment, and I told them I did for 11.

We were taken back to an exam room shortly and Mia got the once over. Then, the vet brought in their English speaker. (SO glad Oleysia was working today!) After explaining that they would give Mia an injection and that she'd likely vomit and would be ready in 5-15 minutes, she asked us to come back later--there was no appointment in the book for us. They brought in the (note)book to show me and, sure enough, the 11 o'clock appointment had been whited out. When I asked why, she just shrugged and said, "This is Russia." We made an appointment for later in the afternoon.

We walked home, killed two and a half hours and then headed back to the vet. Getting Mia into the carrier was a little trickier this time. ;> The day was warmer and the Field of Mars was filled with people--couples enjoying the sun, boys in uniform, veterans in uniforms covered with medals, children carrying red carnations to give to the veterans.

At the veterinary clinic, everyone greeted us loudly and with big smiles. We went back, Mia got her injection, and was very quickly...still. She still had muscle tone, but was obviously not herself. The vet came and took her away.

While I was waiting for the procedure to be finished, Oleysia came out to tell me about the post-op care (put her on a blanket on the floor because she will be drunk, keep her covered, clean her stitches every other day). A man came in and asked about bringing in his wolf for care. His wolf! Oleysia had a sparkle in her eye as she explained that the wolf had a hurt foot. She also asked if I'd seen the wild cat that was in there earlier. I had--it looked like a baby snow leopard or an ocelot. I thought I'd been seeing things... Oleysia said they get pumas, baby bears and other wild animals. I told her how sad it made me to see the bear cubs out begging on the street. She agreed. I asked her where people got these animals and she replied, with the same shrug she'd shrugged this morning, "This is Russia."

About 45 minutes after we'd started, the vet brought a still anesthetized and completely limp Mia out to me, dressed in a little surgical gown to keep her from eating her stitches. I've done this once before, so I knew what to expect, but it still took me aback. Poor baby!

We walked home and she's resting on her blanket on the floor. She looks so pitiful. Beazy is a little concerned. I'm just waiting for her to wake up.

It's a little unnerving bringing home my kitten while she's in this state. But, (shrug) "This is Russia."