Monkee Business: Monkee’s Happy Tail
December 8th, 2021
By Savannah Verdon, RedRover Development and Engagement Coordinator
For many of us, a house is not a home without a pet – and for Jenny and her husband Roy, multiple cats makes for a full house and a happy home. Caring for their feline brood was a true labor of love. Ranging in age from six months to four years, each cat is loved individually for their unique personality and irreplaceable role in the family.
Monkee, a shy boy with big green eyes, enjoyed spending his time hiding in the closet. If Jenny couldn’t find him in the closet, she could likely find him in the tub – in fact, his full name is Monkee in the Tub, given for his penchant for playing and having his meals in the bathtub. Jenny had even made a wooden sign cautioning others about the Monkee in the tub – just one of the many ways she expressed her adoration and appreciation for him and his siblings.
Even with multiple cats in the house, Jenny and Roy noticed when Monkee stopped urinating and became lethargic. The year prior they had lost their boy Mister, a true gentleman, to hepatic lipidosis, so Jenny wasted no time in getting Monkee to the veterinarian. As is particularly common with male cats, Monkee was diagnosed with a bladder blockage due to the accumulation of urinary crystals.
Right away, they had Monkee sedated to insert a catheter and begin draining his bladder. He was put on IV fluids, and though he wasn’t interested in eating, the veterinarian assured Jenny that her boy was comfortable. Monkee would need to remain hospitalized for at least 48 hours, granting Jenny some time to figure out how she and Roy would be able to pay for his treatment.
Shortly before they had to say their goodbyes to Mister, their small Louisiana town was hit first by Hurricane Laura and later by Hurricane Delta. While they were fortunate that their home was spared, the hurricanes left behind an air of bad luck that persisted into 2021. In late June Roy suffered a heart attack and was on the mend after undergoing a quadruple bypass surgery, and the back-to-back crises had taken an emotional toll on the family. While they both lived on fixed incomes and received government assistance for food, they were left with little else after paying their rent, utilities, and other bills. Most days felt like a struggle, but they could always count on their kitties to boost their spirits.
While Jenny couldn’t afford to pay for Monkee’s hospitalization outright, she wasn’t going to let their difficult year get in the way of making good on her commitment to giving him a happy and healthy life. She had first learned of RedRover when Mister was hospitalized, and though he passed before we were able to help, this time we could approve a RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant for Monkee while he was still receiving treatment for his bladder blockage.
When Monkee returned home, he was greeted by his feline siblings who sorely missed their brother and two loving parents who were happy their little boy was well once again. Jenny shared that Monkee has been more active since his hospitalization, even more so than before he became ill. Thanks to compassionate people like you, Monkee has many more years ahead of him to take some “me time” in the bathtub.
We are so grateful for our supporters who help RedRover bring hundreds of animals like Monkee from crisis to care!
