Last evening, Rory went outside to sit alongside his wifelet-that-was and adult daughter [both have been spayed]. It's a ritual. They sit and stare, and once the visitors have eaten, off they go into the forest, and in comes Rory. Another black cat was spotted in the garden a couple of nights ago. Tough and youthful in appearance. We wondered was it an offspring of Rory's?
Rory was late, so I called him to come in. When he eventually reached the back door he was in one hell of a state.
He had either been hit by a car or he had had an almighty big scrap with another cat and he was DRENCHED almost as if he'd been under water [the burn is close by]. His back leg was dragging. His nose bloody. He kept shaking his head, and we noticed that something has torn hair out from behind his ear.
Naturally, we need to get him to the vet. He refuses to be handled. We cannot get him anywhere near the cat carrier. The vet is 24 miles away. I've spoken with the vet and she is to phone me back after two. Talk about distressed...
Monday update on Rory...for those who care 
Last night, dear Rory attempted to jump on to Mr soop's knee. He couldn't manage the task, so lay at his feet instead. He sleeps for hours on end. He had the early morning wander round the garden with his protector - Mr soop - in attendance. It's a struggle for him and the effort tires him.
As we were drinking our early morning tea in bed, Mr soop suddenly said..."I'm extremely cross" 
then he continued..."whatever it was that attacked our boy, has done serious damage. He will never be the same again".
I'm inclined to agree. Rory is a shadow of his former self. However, he appears to be content. We shall continue to love him and give him the care he deserves. 
...although Rory's had the snip, he wouldn't be too keen on being named Maggie!
Dear Nellie, Rory has just wandered outside with MR soop. They appear to be almost in step with each other. Progress is awfully slow. Rory often needs to sit and contemplate...Mr soop remains beside him like a "minder". Well, that was a brief amble. They have returned. I can hear R's lunch being prepared, accompanied by delighted feed-me whinges...tuna for lunch and cold chicken for supper. Inbetween which, a decent snooze in front of the fire. Not a bad life for an elderly ex-feral moggie.
Galen I whispered your message in his good ear. He rolled over on his back and exposed a lovely, round tummy.
Rory for PM
I value all your opinions. Many thanks on behalf of poorly Rory. He sends happy purrs to Henry.
This morning, he hopped through the garden with Mr soop by his side. Every few paces he stops and stares [at nothing much] and sniffs the air. He seems very vulnerable, bless him. The bolshy feline that first came into our garden/home/hearts, is now a perfect sweetie.
OGM when Rory returned home dripping wet, we didn't detect a wee smell on him. He'd almost certainly been dragged under water in the burn. However, he has detected, and is bothered by, an area near shrubs, on which another cat has left his "calling card". 
Great news soop, he will be alright in time, especially with all the care and attention he is receiving. What a fan club this little cat has, its amazing.
But you do have a worry if there are nasty interlopers hanging about. Not sure what to suggest but I once had a problem with strange cats coming in through the cat flap, sending my motly crew into a frenzy of fear. I tried the stones in a can and rattled it when I saw the offender, but of course most cats offend during the night. The problem went away after a few weeks, and I've never been bothered since. LOve to Rory from Henry.
Good advice, thank you.
Do you have a handy hosepipe soop? A spray whenever you see the intruder would deter him. It doesn't have to drench him, that would be unkind, but a shower should do the trick and he will get the message after a few occasions.
So pleased that Hopalong Rory is slowly improving.
That is very sweet. Accompanying Mr Soop to the bin and back.
Glad to hear it soop!
johanna and Nfk thank you.
Rory sat by the kitchen door and waited patiently for Mr soop to take the rubbish to the bin. His left back foot doesn't touch the ground. It therefore took him an age to hop alongside Mr soop and eventually return through the front door. He stopped several times, to sit and sniff the air. The other black cat intruded on Rory's patch again last night. Once again, Mr soop saw him off the premises.
Rory is drinking...thanks to the tuna flavoured spring water. He's now sleeping soundly. We both feel that a little progress has been made.
Just caught up with this thread. I'm so pleased to hear Rory is on the mend although it sounds like it's going to be a long job and a while before he's back to his old self. 
[tuna]
phoenix What a lovely story. Thank you.
Soop so glad that he is eating and drinking, that must surely be a good sign?
Please don't think he will never be back to his old self, Maurice had a very bad patch once, he was missing for 3 days, came home with a nasty infected bite on his shoulder, the vets were considering putting him on a drip as he was so dehydrated.
He was a very poorly chap for days, the dear late Cluckmeister curled herself around him in the armchair, kept him warm and washed him. Like Rory, even the miaows were feeble.
As I right this, he is in fine fettle, currently going through another of his Clint Eastwood phases. He asks to go out, looks at the rain as I open the door, hitches up his metaphorical poncho, pulls down his metaphorical hat and sets forth.
"A cats go to do what a cats got to do".
PS He'll be back in once he's had a wee, and will want a nice rub down with the warm fluffy towel, but don't let on that I told you. 
)
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