Niblick's
Story:
Almost
20 years ago, my husband called me to tell me to meet him on the golf course
where he was finishing up a round. I showed up to find him holding a brown
box. He said, "I found a baby kitten." Inside was the cutest little
orange kitten about 8 or 10 weeks old, healthy and full of energy. We brought
him home and Niblick has been part of our family ever since. [He was named
after a golf club...at least that what's my husband tells me!]
A few years
ago Niblick was diagnosed with thyroid problems and some kidney issues but he
kept going strong. He just had to take some medicine every day. Then one
day last year I heard a loud thump and I looked up and realized he had fallen
off of the top of our stairs all the way to the tile bottom floor. Luckily
there was a shopping bag sitting in the exact spot he hit. I frantically ran
to him and he stood up and walked away seemingly fine, but that was when I
realized he going blind. Within a few months he was completely blind. The
Vet said it was probably because of his Thyroid problems. I was so upset.
How was this little guy going to manage blind. He was 19 years old at the
time. I worried he wouldn't be able to manage and feared this would signal
the end of his life. Boy was I wrong!
That was a
year ago and he is still going strong. It took him a little while to figure
things out. And for us to figure out how to make it easier for him. But
frankly, we didn't do much. He figured it out all by himself. He finds his
litter box and his water bowl without a problem. He smells whenever I get any
kind of cat food out and finds his way into the kitchen to fight for his fair
share with the other cats and if they get too close to his plate, he will
smack them. He even finds his way onto our laps for a good snuggle. All we
had to do was keep the door closed to the upstairs although I wouldn't be
surprised to find out he has figured that out too! But I won't be taking any
chances on that! I am so amazed how well he has done. He is about to
celebrate his 20th birthday in a few months and I am so glad to still have him
as part of the family. His blindness is not even an issue anymore. He's
just part of our family and stills he curls up with our other kitties like
he always did. I am not even sure they realize he is blind. How would they?
He's still just one of the gang!
Sherry
New Jersey!