To cut a very long story short, my Vinnie has been a very sick and poorly chap.

It all started last week when he went in for his bladder tests, and I was told that the 21 days on the new food they prescribed, had not been too sucessful and that Vinnie had 92% crystal count in his bladder and was in a right old state again.

I was thankful as I took him to the vets 14 days earlier than expected, explaining to the vets that he was just not his normal self. Now any cat owners reading this will know exactly where I am coming from. Non cat owners will just think that I am as crazy as they are lead to believe.

Saturday Vinnie comes in for his afternoon sleep and I noticed 2 puncture wounds on his face. I gave him a bit of a warm salt water wash and made a mental note to keep an eye on them.

Sunday it started to look like he had an eye infection, so I kept cleaning his eye, the puncture wounds and it all seemed to calm down. He seemed a little down in the dumps, but I did assume it was his bladder making him so listless.

Well, when I got home from work on Monday I was greeted by Vinnie who looked like someone has stuffed a small tangerine up inside his face. He looked so terrible and struggled to even get up to say hello.

He was in his basket and with the vet in 20 minutes. He had a fox bite which had caused a major infection that was taking a real hold of him. His temperature was as high as a kite and he was in a right old mess. His body was trying so hard to fight the infection but he was so run down by his bladder problems that he stood no real chance.

I got tablets, I got eye cream and I took him home to be with me, not in a cage at the vets.

Monday night was awful, Tuesday did not really see any improvement, Wednesday seemed a slight improvement.

I am so pleased to say that this morning, he was awake (which is a first since Monday), came running onto my bird chirping away and rubbing all over me begging for breakfast. His eyes were clear, his fur looked like black velvet again and he was very active.

He ate 2 lots of breakfast which was the first food he has eaten since Monday, he also gulped down nearly 3 bowls of water.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am, and how relieved I am for Vinnie as I really thought that this could have been it for him. In 15 months, I have had 2 occasions where I have really thought that I would loose him.

So now I am looking forward to a good nights sleep and, hopefully, many more great times with Vinnie.

Here is a photo of the silly sod, bless him.