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Frankie Weiss and Her Magic by Dan M Weiss
Chapter Four
The return of gingivitis During the next half-year we were a happy threesome sharing the Weiss home. Johnnie playing with her toys, Frankie still delighted in massacring the bear, even with her seven missing teeth, by flinging and chasing it over and over. And, Mr. Mom was the recipient of their endless love and pleasure in their play. Frankie and Johnnie were now fully grown. My two cats no longer shared the love seat. Johnnie would not go near it. Could it be Frankie as boss cat told Johnnie to get lost; was the seat off limits to her after more than year of sharing? Even with her missing seven teeth Frankie’s bear suffered the consequences of her torturous play. In grasping and flinging the poor thing, its ears were torn to shreds. Taking a fairly heavy cloth I cut and sewed on new ears to the bear replacing the old ones. It made no difference to Frankie, the bear was hers, and hers to send flying through the air which she did with much gleeful abandonment. The love seat now was Frankie’s alone. Could it be as they matured their needs changed? Did Frankie really give Johnnie notice she was no longer welcome to share the seat as they had in the past? Remember, Frankie ruled the Weiss household as far as her housemate cat was concerned; Johnnie played second fiddle in Frankie’s orchestrations. I was now aware that my cats’ habits changed frequently. While both Frankie and Johnnie at times would separately rest or catnap on the Captain’s Chair, the love seat was off limits to Johnnie. In fact, she would not even go near it. Frankie also adopted the four dining room chairs’ velvety cushions as resting and sleeping places. She would change from seat to seat at different times. Turkish towels were quickly put on each cushion to protect them from possible staining. Again, Johnnie never went near one to sit or relax or sleep. Yet in so many other ventures they were close as two peas in a pod. Greeting me as I came in the house was not a one-cat operation. Both cats had to greet me with their love that was mine to accept. This was not an option. Frankie must have known at this new period in her life that she had to share me with Johnnie, who jealously would push forward for me to acknowledge her greeting. Strangely, Frankie in her need to be boss cat never objected when Johnnie did this. I can only assume she knew my love was to be shared by both and, neither would be left out from my touch or greeting. Or did Frankie lose some of her bossy 'I come first' attitude? My happiness during this period of our shared life sadly was not to last. Once again, Frankie was not eating. She’d smell her food and walk away. This time, I knew what I had to do. Opening Frankie’s mouth gently, as I held her in my arms, the gingivitis had returned, her gums were reddish. Minutes later, calling Marlton, I made arrangements to have Frankie checked out. Her vet, Dr. Rothberg was off duty, and having no choice, another doctor would look at her to confirm my layman’s examination. On the drive to Marlton, my mind was reviewing all the options Dr. Fiorito had given me after her original surgery to remove the infected seven teeth and treat her gums. It was not too good. We could try some oral medicine that might arrest the disease. The best option was not to delay the removal of all her teeth. I could not bear the thought of my beautiful Frankie being a toothless cat. Let alone dreading the thought she might not survive this drastic dental operation. I could not feel too happy with any of the options. My world at this moment was one of despair. The life of this beautiful and loving Calico was in my hands alone. What was I to decide? The cost, money-wise, meant absolutely nothing. Frankie, her presence in our home and to give her an opportunity to live her life as part of my life as a feline was not optional, she had to be given every possible chance. The examination left one of the two choices; we decided to try the oral medicine first and see if it would help alleviate the gingivitis. It was to be given twice daily. Wrapping Frankie in a large towel and with some difficulty I opened her mouth and delivered the prescribed dosage. It was not an easy job doing this twice daily; suddenly Frankie decided to cooperate and my struggle with giving the oral medicine lessened. So did the gingivitis and Frankie was eating again. Using the medicine, Frankie was her normal self for quite a while. But the gingivitis was relentless, it returned with a vengeance. It would not let my Calico, my ray of sunshine eat, it hurt too much. We had finally run out of options. I had to bite the bullet as far as Frankie was concerned. please turn the page
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