Donna in Hollywoodland

Cinnamon at The Vet

Within the last week, I noticed Cinnamon was losing some of the fur on the right side of her chest.
I bought some over-the-counter antibacterial spray in hopes that it would work.
It did not.
So fearing the worst - like ringworm - it was time for the Vet.

So after asking around to friends and coworkers, I decided on taking her out to
VCA Miller Robertson Animal in West Hollywood.
Also, I chose them because they were some what flexible on one big detail : Cinnamon will not go into a carrier.
It just ain't gonna happen, and I ain't gonna try.

So I made the appointment for first thing in the morning. There would be fewer animals there.
And Ms. Cinnamon Cat could walk in on her leash.

Getting her from the apartment to my car in the underground parking was a big worry.
I put her favorite blanket on the car seat first.
Then I had to carry her down the stairs. Our elevator was broken, and we had to pass the Repairmen in the hallway.

Once in the car, she was okay sitting on the passengers seat and looking out the window.
I've taken her in the car twice before. And from what I understand, her former owner used to take her in the car all the time.
Once the drive started to get to lengthy for her, she just sat there looking at me and meowing.

All the way to the Vet, I am having a full-on conversation with The Cat in a loud voice.
Anything I can do to keep her attention.
"Oh, look Cinnamon - a new coffee shop! We'll have to go there, yes we will."
"Ok, Cinnamon, time to turn a corner - so hang on."
"Oh, Cinnamon that noise was just a motorcycle, nothing to worry about."
"Okay, okay, almost there ! This will be such fun !"
And she's just sitting on the passenger seat, looking at me and meowing.

Finally, I arrive at the Vet, and I call from my Cell phone to tell them we are there.
The lady on the phone had originally told me they would take me right into a room. But there was no need.
The only other animal in the waiting area was a cute pug dog - who was happily waiting in his carrier.
And Cinnamon was on her best behavior.

We sat in the waiting area. I had to fill out the paperwork.
I even left Cinnamon sitting on the seat by herself as I took the paperwork up to the front desk.
She didn't budge.

The only time she moved from sitting next to me, was when the pug came out of his carrier.
Cinnamon started to move towards him.
I think she thought that they were the same species. She wasn't afraid at all.
She was actually bigger than the Pug.

But because I wasn't sure what was causing her to lose her fur, I didn't let her get to close to the dog.

We finally got called into the exam room.
I told the receptionist "I think we left alot of fur on the seat."
Her reply "Oh, thats not the first time thats happened."

Cinnamon managed to crawl on to the scale at my urging - and came in at a
whopping 28.5 pounds !!!!
Lets just say 30 !
I had no idea she weighed that much.

The nurse commented about what a wonderful, well-behaved Cat she was.
I am sure that nurse has seen some real psycho-cats in her day.

The vet came in and looked at her chest.
Exam plus a "light" test for Ringworm, a Lab Test for Fungus, and antibacterial cream until the test results come back : $175
Cinnamon was taken in the back for a skin sample. Then we were given the antibacterial cream, that turned out actually covered like 4 different possibilities of what it could be.

As we were checking out, Cinnamon stayed on her leash.
Then, some Big Doggies came in.
I said "Oh, no Big Doggies - we need to go." In hopes that the receptionist would make the check-out go faster.
I started to take her back into the exam room, but she seemed to be fine.

The ride home was alittle more difficult, because it was hotter out.
And she really wanted out of the car.

Once I got home, I but some of the antibacterial cream on her, then tried to keep her from licking it off for at least 10 minutes.
But eventually it all gets licked off no matter what.

After getting Cinnamon home, I realized the entire trip to the vet was more nerve-racking for me, than it was for her.

**** Update - It was not a Fungus or Ringworm. The lab test showed nothing. Probably an infected flea bite. The cream we got seemed to work magic. It cleared up her skin right away.

Cinnamon relaxes on the kitchen chair