I have an elderly, much-loved cat called Barack. He is an oriental, a Burmilla breed, very vocal and very affectionate. We have lived together through family deaths and various other disasters (and joys) through all that time and his company has helped through the rough and the smooth.
Unfortunately, just before the platinum jubilee weekend, he became a hunched, unhappy ball of grey stripy fur, only moving to visit the field behind the house if strictly necessary, not eating or drinking. Really worried, I phoned Cinque Ports vets in Rye on Thursday, June 2. Unsurprisingly, they were shut and directed me to the emergency vet at Ashford. I had not been well (I am getting as elderly as the cat!) and decided I would wait and see if he improved.
Friday saw him starting to drink, so I left him in peace, mostly sitting on my knee whilst I pretended I didn’t have all sorts of things to do. Like eat. Then Friday night he became really poorly, so first thing Saturday I rang the veterinary practice again. A very helpful person, very polite, did her best, but, sad to say, the Rye veterinary practice did not have a vet on duty. She thought Tenterden might have one. Or possibly Hawkhurst, would I like to call them?
So I rang Tenterden. Equally polite, doing her best, but no, Tenterden did not have a vet on duty either. By this time I was getting a bit panicky, and tried Hawkhurst. Relief! Yes, they did have a vet on duty and I could come in. So I sorted out the cat basket, sorted out the car and extracted Barack from under my bed, where he had by this time taken refuge and off we went. Driving to Hawkhurst seemed much less of an undertaking than Ashford, and we duly got there safely, both of us. A really helpful vet checked him all over, took time to assess him properly and prescribed for his needs, and we drove home. I am happy to say he has at last started eating properly and is out and about in his own inimitable way.
The reason for me presenting you all with this saga, is that I am sure the Cinque Ports Vets, who as you have read, have a number of practices (six in all across Kent and East Sussex), will say that there was a vet on duty at one of their practices. Quite true. Their staff, too, were really polite and gave me the correct information. However, I cannot agree that a veterinary practice is a veterinary practice, without a vet. I understand the Tenterden and Rye clinics had a veterinary nurse and a receptionist on duty and I know there is a crisis in the training and subsequent employment of qualified vets, but Rye is a good way away from Tenterden, Hawkhurst and Ashford. Time to go to the Badgers Oak veterinary clinic in Northiam? They’re probably full.
Image Credits: Gillian Roder .
So pleased he’s making a recovery. He is beautiful and sounds like a very special cat.
Badgers Oak always have a vet on call, our last visit was at 9 pm two weeks ago and we have previously called at Christmas when no one else would even answer the phone. They seem to recognise that pets don’t get ill just between 9 am and 5 pm!