Hot Cat?

I’ve been out out work since just before ten this morning. Cat, who had been in the garden, came in and settled to sleep on my bed, just before I left.  I got home at seven this evening, and he slept on. Most unusual. I think his hearing may be diminishing, so I went up to him and said hello – well gave him a kiss actually. He opened his eyes, stretched and remained on the bed.

In the bathroom I found he’d used the litter tray;  not the healthiest bowel movement.  The window was open fortunately so the  smell was diluted. I cleaned it all up, replenished the cat litter, washed myself. Still Cat slept. Odd.

I made dinner. I had just put down my knife and fork and moved to the sofa with the newspaper when Cat appeared. He sat and looked at me for a moment, but declined the invitation to join me on the sofa for a bit of post prandial bonding. Instead he headed back to the bedroom. And more sleep.

This was so unlike him. He wasn’t asking to be groomed, to eat, to go out. Nothing. There didn’t seem anything obviously wrong, and he was fine when I left him in the morning, but I began to feel worried.

A further half hour observing him and I called the emergency vet. Lethargy could be a sign of many things, but they suggested that I wait until the sun has gone down and the air has cooled. Apparently lots of pets have been affected by the heat today.

I’m waiting for that yawn and stretch, the demanding miaow and the request to out into the garden that’ll signal than his uncharacteristic behaviour is nothing more than a reaction to the weather.