Having spent a good deal of time in animal hospitals recently, I can sympathise, & will be wishing Bailey a speedy recovery. It sounds like she’s in very good hands.

Hugs, Jan, and white light shooting out to Bailey. I've just this minute come from a Vet myself, as I'm in the process of looking for one nearby who is fluent in English, since my Greek won't be good enough for conveying critical information. I don't think this is the one.

When will you have news? I know how anxious you must be.

Thanks misteraitch, she's in great hands. Alistair is not only the cats' vet, but he's a friend too. He used to live in the next close, and his garden backed onto mine, so his cats and mine use to hang out together.

When he was going through a divorce about ten years ago, he asked me if I'd act for him, as he'd asked around for recommendations and several people had given him my name. But I said no, because, as a client of his vet practice, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to have details of the practice finances, nor did I want to hear personal information about him that might make a professional vet/client relationship difficult. So I referred him on to someone else, and he was very pleased with the outcome, as was I, because Alistair and I remained friends, which is hard to do if you've heard all someone's deepest, darkest marital secrets.

He's a really nice man and a very good vet.

I'll be able to bring her home late afternoon, but it will be a few days before the lab results are back as the tissue and blood have to be sent away for testing.

And, of course, she won't be able to go outside for a while, so this means a litter box in the flat, when I have a visitor arriving on Friday. Gah! But it will be worse for Bailey than for us, that's for sure.

Good thoughts for Bailey, EJ. Let us know the test results.

The litter box isn't that awful; I had one going for about 12 years, and if you declump every day or two, and wash it weekly it isn't at all ucky.

I'm glad you'll be able to have her home this afternoon. Those overnights and longer suck so very, very much.

Yeah, I can deal with the litter, and the box I have (must get it out later) is one of those with a hood and a little entrance, so the cat has some privacy. Most female cats I've owned absolutely hate anybody seeing them use the litter box.

Good energy going to your kitty. Poor kitties don't like the vet, and usually because hurty things happen to them. So I'm pouring the good vibes to your kitty.

Poor kitty - sounds like she's in the best possible hands though. Hope it all goes well and that she doesn't hate you too much when you get her home...

Throwing some positive thoughts your way! We've had several big vet visits for my cats recently and I know how worried and anxious I get, so I feel for you.

Aww! Hugs to Jan and Bailey. And Lucy, too.

Hugs to all and purrs from the kittens..

They're such beauties!
Sending good wishes to all.

Best of wishes and luck to Bailey and Lucy.

(As a side note, Dr Alistair looks quite a bit like Agent Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), methinks.)

Ha, you're right, grabbingsand. I always a weird crush thing on Skinner. I hope cortex and his wife address this possibly common perversion in their blog.

Add my whuffling to the pile.

Hugs and skritches all around and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Update: Bailey is just coming round from her anaesthetic and I am to call again in an hour to see how she's doing and when I can pick her up.

Lucy is wondering where her mum is. She keeps wandering round and then miaowing (which she rarely does, she's a silent kitty).

I'm glad it's going well, jan. I hope she gets better soon! Hugs and whuffles from me and the bush cats.

Good news so far, then! I always worry about the anaesthetic. Keep the good news coming, Agent Skinner (my darling)!

Poor pretty Bailey. i was just thinking about her extreme cuteness yesterday.

Hugs to you Bailey and Lucy. Be well Bailey.

I hope she is ok! I also hope you can stop worrying for at least 5 seconds to enjoy the hilarity that is a doped-up pet.
Heal well, Bailey!

Get well soon, Bailey!

Another update: I have to go to the vets in about 10 minutes, as Alistair wants to speak to me.

Trying not to worry here ...

SHE'S HOME!!

The surgery was packed and I hate to wait for ages. One family, an older couple and their adult son, went in with their very old and ill-looking little dog and left without the dog, and all in tears :-(

Bailey's lump was removed and has been sent away for analysis. Alistair said that nothing had changed from his initial feeling this morning that it wasn't anything to worry about.

But he said what did worry him was that during the operation Bailey's breathing became very laboured. She does wheeze a bit, a cross between snoring and wheezing, but usually when she hunches herself into a corner in what looks like a very uncomfortable position and falls asleep there.

So he took a chest X-Ray, and said that nothing showed on it, and the wheeziness is probably due to her being overweight.

So Bailey's home, she's very, very cross with me, and she wants to go out, which she can't until her stitches are out. She goes back on 28th May for that.

Oh, and they also clipped her nails and gave her a kitty Brazilian (sometimes the fur round her bum gets a bit daggy, so they shaved it for her.)

Oh, and thank God for pet insurance. I had to pay £50, but the rest of the fee - £496 - will be paid by the insurance. It's the first time I've ever had to make a claim, and sometimes I resent the amount I've paid over the years. I don't notice the monthly premium going out every month, it's only about £12 for the two cats, but I really would struggle if I had to find over £500 in one hit.

So, yay, cat insurance!

So glad to read everything is going okay so far. Big hugs and healing wishes from me and the beasties.

Oh good. I only just read the thread and I got all worried, so yay for the update! *sends healing thoughts to Bailey*

Good. I know you are so glad she’s home.

Hmmm, one of my kitties also does the wheeze sometimes when she’s sleeping. When they went for shots, the new vet wanted to schedule her for teeth cleaning. I’ve been holding off because of the wheeze/ anesthesia concern – plus, this new doc who took over the practice is just not as thorough as the old one was. I’ve got to find another vet before I let them sedate her. Especially after hearing your experience with Bailey.

Sending good vibes to Bailey for a smooth recovery!

So glad Bailey s home. What a relief. Poor older couple with adult son.

Pet insurance!

I have two cats now and should get that.

and we and the kittens are very pleased that Bailey is ok and crabby.

Very glad she's home.

yeah, glad she's home, ej.

I'm glad your (very pretty) kitty is home! I hope she heals fast, and that it turns out to be nothing serious.

Oh my gosh, she's got just about the prettiest eyes I've ever seen! What a lovely kitty.

Best wishes to all of you for a speedy recovery!