Poor old Bruiser

Hil and I love the cats that visit us in Datca. Matt says he isn't keen but I think he quite likes them really. Over the years there have been many - Squeaky, Aphrodite, Sultan (who actually was Sultana), Princess Beyaz of Ozbel (my favourite), Black face, White face, Bella and loads more. The life of a street cat is free and easy but sometimes short. Anyway there are some old favourites that we see each year and they seem to remember us. We feed them a bit but not enough for them to depend on us and I leave bowls of water out. The gardener loves cats too so he fills the bowls when we are not there. There is a lady living nearby who feeds about 30 of them all year round. I know there are one or two friends who get cross about me feeding them saying that when I leave they feel abandoned but I discussed this with the vet who feels we should feed them when we are here, it helps to build them up ready for the winter.
About 7 years ago Black Face gave birth to three adorable little kittens in our garden. We watched them take their first steps and play on our terrace in the moonlight. They entertained us, falling over their own feet and each other. Well we think one of these cute little kittens grew up to be a real rough old Tom cat who goes by the name of Bruiser. Hilary adores him because as we know she has a soft spot for naughty old boys! He has such a sweet nature though and if we put food out he lets all the lady cats eat first before he finishes up their left overs. We suspect he is probably the father of many of the black and white cats in the neighbourhood - he is a very big boy. He also fights a lot and from the looks of it he never wins. He is covered in scars and wounds.
This week though he was the worst we have ever seen him. It was so sad, he limped up to us with weeping, bleeding wounds, mange and lifted his sore paw up and cried. So something had to be done for him. We called the vet and sped up to collect a basket. This was at 17.30 and the vet closes at 18.00 although he did say he would wait a while. We don't usually touch Bruiser so we were worried about trying to catch him. So we put some food at the back of the basket and he looked in. Without any further hesitation and wearing the gardening gloves I shoved him in before he had chance to protest. Hil snapped the door shut - job done! We felt quite pleased with ourselves especially as the situation was complicated by Beyaz the white cat becoming quite distressed at the plight of her friend and kept getting in the way. Also another cat decided to chose that moment to pass by with a huge, live lizard in her mouth! It was all getting somewhat frantic. Anyway with 10 minutes to spare we made the mercy dash to the vet.
They let Bruiser out onto the examination table and the vet's assistant was wearing her massive leather gauntlets. However Bruiser was a model patient and let Ali the vet examine him without any fuss. They said they knew him and had seen him around as their friend is the lady who feeds the street cats in our area. The diagnosis was mange, ear mites and bites. So Ali kept him at his clinic for three nights and treated him for all of his ailments. We were amazed that the bill was only 40 Lira ( 12 pounds) and that included his medicines, injections and food. Ali said that he could take the money from the street animal fund that the expats had raised from various charity nights but we felt happy to pay for it.
Now Bruiser isn't exactly owned by anyone but the lady who feeds him  had missed him and thought maybe as he is an old cat he may have died. So when she called into the vets and saw him there, she was very happy.
The call came after his three nights in the clinic and we returned to collect him. Ali and Lori said he was a lovely old boy and he had eaten lots of food. We discussed neutering as so many of my Facebook friends thought he should be done but the vet said he was too old now and it wouldn't be kind to him, so he remains intact. We did wonder what he had been thinking during all of this. He enjoyed all the food though and didn't make any fuss about the injections and stuff in his ears. We drove him home and released him on the park land by our house which is his usual territory. He came out cautiously and ate some of the food we put down for him and then trotted off down the road without so much as a backwards glance or a thank you!! He looked so much better, his wounds were healing, coat was already looking glossier, no more limping and there was a spring in his step.
That was yesterday and we haven't seen him since. I fancy he is thinking he will give those two mad English ladies with the big basket a wide berth in future.

Bye Bruiser 

Footnote - having written this Bruiser has just come round the corner and is sitting on our terrace miaowing loudly. As far as I can tell he is either saying - 'Thanks very much nice English ladies' or 'I want food' - probably the latter and we have given in.