Since arriving here, Cyrus has pretty much been lurking inside of his carrier growling softly any time I drew near to him. He would lean his head out to eat wet food- ignoring the dry and drink the water bowl dry in my absence.

This morning when I went into feed, he had messed all over himself and his carrier (never a good sign) as he can get in and out of the carrier at will. I had no choice but to carefully remove him from his hiding place and clean everything (including him up)

I took a deep breath, slowed my breathing and reached in to scruff him. He allowed me to do this and when I placed my hand underneath his chest to support him, my fingers slipped into something gooey and wet. He has a festering wound under his right shoulder.

I just dropped him at the vet. They will have to sedate him to even draw blood. If he tests negative, they will go ahead and neuter him and we will see if we can make up to him for all he has gone through so far.

Our hope is we can offer him a life from here on in where he will never have to bare teeth or unsheathe his claws ever again! I have a soft spot for the older Toms who are forced to live life on the edge. Add to that his royal orangeness is actually quite sweet. He could have ripped me open at any time.

If you would like to send us your mad money, lunch money, coffee break or vending machine money- we would gladly put all of it toward his care.

2:42 Update- I am sorry to tell you that Cyrus was put to sleep this afternoon. He tested positive and he was fighting so many infected wounds on his poor body that we decided to give him final peace. I’m just sorry we didn’t get to him sooner.