On Thursday evening Panda did not come inside. It was normal for him to come to the door once darkness fell. I knew something must be wrong and taking a torch went looking for him. He was huddled under the house and I could see he was in stress. He tried to stand and his hind legs gave way.

I knew then he was a victim of the paralysis tick which is endemic to the east coast of Australia. Ticks are tiny arachnids, or eight-legged spineless creatures that attach to the skin of humans and animals to feed on their hosts blood. With the onset of Spring comes the start of the Tick Season. Such a tiny creature but it paralyses its host and without immediate treatment eventually death occurs.

I searched for the tick and couldn’t find it, because Panda is a fluffy cat with long fur. I looked in the normal places, on the head, ears.

I drove to the Animal Hospital at Noosa and luckily they found it on his back right leg. They said it was an unusual place for the tick. I had looked all over him but his back legs were so furry I had missed it. Panda had to be shaved so that they could make sure there were no other ticks. By this time his vocal chords were paralysed and the first thing the vet did was start the treatment with medication to relax him and reduce the anxiety. The vet said he would feel like he was choking. He was given anaesthetic then shaved and a cannula put in his right front leg through which they would put the tick toxin anti-serum to save him. I was told it would be 24hrs before they knew if he would survive. The tick toxin anti-serum can only remove some of the toxin from the bloodstream and cannot reverse the toxin already affecting the cat. He was put on a drip to rehydrate and kept under sedation so he wouldn’t stress.

I drove home from the Animal Hospital near midnight, feeling physically ill with anxiety. Letting myself into the house it seemed extremely quiet without my little furry companion.

 Panda with his teddy in happier times.

Finally today Panda is home again but it is a subdued Panda. He has not yet meowed since he has been home but he is eating. His vocal chords were paralysed but eventually he should come back to normal. Usually he will meow if he is hungry, then a different meow if he wants to go out and a whiny meow if he just wants a cuddle and scratch – I miss that noise and hope he is vocal soon. When they gave Panda to me in his carry cage, I asked if he was the right cat – he looks so different shaved. Hopefully his fur will soon grow back and he will get his meow back.

Poor Panda, all that magnificent coat shaved off, but he is alive. I am grateful he is still with me.