The cat was in this place, and I, I did not know.

We found Cuchulainn. The idiot was in the basement all this time, doing an excellent job of Not Being Seen. He would occasionally make himself heard, which always resulted in me looking for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
So six weeks of no food, limited water and a chilly environment took their toll. He's lost 60% of his body weight, was quite hypothermic, and we're not 100% sure he can see (though we suspect he can). He'll be remaining at the emergency vet until 7:30 am, at which time we will move him to our regular vet. He is in a heated cage and receiving intravenous fluids (he's too dry for subQ).

Grendel seems relieved that we found him. I think he tried to show us once or twice, but we shoo'd him out ot the basement, because cats aren't allowed down there, and we figured Cuchulainn had gotten OUT.

morgan1 has a more articulate account here.

Cuchulainn Update

Visited him this evening at the Vet's. We got another quarter can of Hill's A/D in to him by getting in his face with it. He ate voluntarily, so that means we should be able to reverse the hepatic lipidosis* without doing anything draconian. Hydration is going well; he is receiving the fluids intravenously, and he appeared to be much better hydrated than he was this A.M. Morgan thinks he has groomed. I don't know whether he's groomed, or if moving toward proper hydration has helped his fur back into place. This isn't an either/or situation, of course. Both are probably true. Dr. Troy seems to feel that he is never going to be able to handle a terribly high protein diet again, so it will be interesting to see what kind of food requirements he comes away from this with.


*Hepatic lipidosis, aka fatty liver disease, is something that afflicts cats that starve - the liver loads up with fats causing the appetite to become suppressed.