The Care Package
Notes:
For the Tumblr Sicktember 2022 prompt 16: Care Package
Neal's phone rang as he was letting Felon out of her carrier.
"Well, what did the vet say?"
"As I suspected, it's just a hairball. They've given me a laxative paste for her and said she should be fine in a few days."
"Hmm, maybe you should get a second opinion."
"Relax Moz. Felon's fine."
Less than an hour later Mozzie marched into Neal's apartment.
"What have you got there?" Neal asked, as Mozzie put the large bag he was carrying down.
"Care package for Felon." Mozzie took each item out of the bag one by one and held them up before putting them on the table.
"Brush. Groom her daily. Specialised hairball formula food. Adhere to the recommended daily amount. Synthetic feline facial pheromones room diffuser, to help with her separation anxiety. Refill required every 30 days."
"Separation anxiety?"
"The vet didn't discuss that with you? What sort of hack did you take her to? It's when …"
"I know what it is Moz!"
"Well you know then that it causes overgrooming, which can lead to fur balls!"
"My cat doesn't have separation anxiety."
"How do you know. Some days, when the Suit commandeers you for one of his night-time ops, you go off and leave her locked up here alone for 14 hours or more. With nothing for amusement since you donated all the toys I bought her to the shelter!"
"I couldn't move through all the toys! There wasn't an inch of free floor space!"
Mozzie just glared at Neal.
"Fine, I'll use the diffuser. Anything else?"
"Make sure she has access to plenty of clean fresh water" Looking around the loft, Mozzie said, "now where is she? I want to confirm for myself that she is okay and hasn't been traumatised by the inept veterinary treatment you had foisted on her."
"Asleep under the sofa last time I saw her."
"Under the sofa? I knew it! Traumatised!"
Mozzie knelt down at the sofa and tried to coax Felon out. Felon looked at him and gave a little squeak of a meow, but didn't move.
Neal watched Mozzie's efforts for half a minute before going over to the sofa and crouching down. Looking at the cat, he held out his hand, softly clicking his fingers. "Come on girl, out you come," he cooed. "Uncle Moz here is worried about you." Felon started to purr and without hesitating, crawled out from under the sofa and into Neal's arms. "See, told you she is fine," Neal said as he stood while still holding Felon in one arm and scratching around her ears with his free hand. He gave Felon a final couple of scratches under the chin, then held her out to Mozzie. "Here you go, Uncle Moz."
Taking the cat, Mozzie moved round to sit on the sofa. He smiled as Felon happily curled up on his lap. Neal began setting the diffuser up while watching and listening to his friend sympathise with his cat over its 'traumatic' visit to the vet. You could say what you liked about Mozzie, but he was a softie with a big heart when it came to society's misfits or forgotten, its strays, whether human or feline. Something both he and Felon could attest to.