I'm sure Rupert figured out somehow that I was leaving town for San Jose tomorrow and wouldn't be back for a week. Thus, he decided to self-destruct in a spectacular fashion and put us through a harrying trip to the emergency clinic.

The cause? Symptoms similar to his last urinary trouble, but this time with complete blockage, which can be deadly in a matter of hours. He was trying to pee but couldn't at all, even at the prodding and palpitating of the ER doctor. We gave them permission to give him a catheter to check for blockage and the results came back positive-- completely blocked.

The vet returned with an estimate for overnight treatment ranging on the low end from $533 to an exorbitant $1,132. I'll be the first to admit that when faced with veterinary bills of this magnitude the question "is it worth it?" has crossed my mind. The answer, always, is "of course." So I was prepared to plunk down my credit card as a deposit, say goodbye, and roll with the punches. After I had a nervous breakdown in the car. But when the doctor went to fetch Rupert so I could kiss him farewell, she returned with the jubilant news that he'd urinated everywhere, all over the vet tech. Hurrah!

So we returned home with our cat and only $330 in veterinary charges... and the newly accepted knowledge that if we want our defective pet to remain healthy, we must continue to feed him shitty-ass ash-laced Science Diet c/d, FOREVER, rather than adding even the smallest amount of his Innova kibble. Thanks, "holistic" catfood, for throwing off the pH balance of my feline. I bought you to replace ass-tastic Science Diet, and now you've chained my cat to it forever. WUNDERBAR.

The cat is happily doped on painkillers and waddling about with a plum-sized lump on his left leg where the vet gave him subcutaneous fluids. I'm sure he'll be fine and I can afford to take care of him, I just wish he'd stop doing this right when I'm about to leave for a week.

I'll be in San Jose for Search Engine Strategies until next Friday, learning the tricks and tools of the trade, networking, and partying every night with Yahoo!, Ask, Google, et al. Will blog if I'm able. :)