Animals - especially dogs

A Punk Named Sherlock

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This is our cat Sherlock. See how sweet he looks sleeping on Clif’s lap?

Nothing could be further from the truth, and this pictures give some idea of Sherlock’s true punk nature. You might call this Sherlock’s resting expression.

Nine years ago, when Sherlock was a kitten, and we first brought him home, he climbed my back ten times as I was trying to work at my computer.

Sherlock is a cat who likes to bite the hand that pats him, and we always have to warn guests not to touch him.

Sherlock is a bird snatcher, and he brings both live and dead birds into the house. We have gotten quite expert at chasing birds through the house and wrapping them in a towel so that they can  be safely released.

Sherlock’s sister is Ms. Watson, and he is such a bully—biting her to the point where sometimes there are little scabs of blood—that she hates to be in the same room with him. Here is Ms. Watson, on the lookout. Because of Sherlock, Ms. Watson is always on the lookout.

Like Launce with his dog Crab in The Two Gentleman of Verona, I could make a long list of Sherlock’s transgressions.

However, I will end with his latest exploit but spare you the gory pictures.  A few nights ago, Sherlock was in a fight with something that fought back hard. There is a huge wound on Sherlock’s neck that makes him look like a zombie cat.

Naturally, we had to bring Sherlock to the vets, and this little trip cost us $130. We were instructed to do unsavory things to the wound and on our own decided to treat it several times a day with peroxide. We have draped towels and blankets where Sherlock sleeps so that no stains are left behind from the wound.

All things considered, Sherlock is doing well, but needless to say, he is grounded. No more going outside for him. Maybe not ever.

I post this piece because I don’t want readers to get the feeling that it’s all skittles and beer at the Little House in the Big Woods. Far from it, as is illustrated by the  story of a punk named Sherlock.

My daughter Shannon, upon learning of Sherlock’s wound, commented, “Isn’t he a little old to be getting in such fights?”

Apparently not.

Addendum: My blogging friend Xenia from Whippet Wisdom advised against using hydrogen peroxide on open wounds. She noted that the peroxide interferes with the healing. A quick spin on the Internet supported her conclusion. Both WebMD and the Mayo Clinic advise against using peroxide on open wounds. So we will stop doing so! Many thanks, Xenia!

 

42 thoughts on “A Punk Named Sherlock”

      1. I feel like Sherlock’s not so wonderful qualities are all being laid out here but none of is good ones! He is an awful bully to Miss Watson and does have a tendency to nip a little. But I have spent lots of times with him snuggling and purring on my lap and he has never once bitten me (there have been a couple times where his mouth has been open on my arm as he contemplated it – but he didn’t close it to complete the bite! :P).

  2. Oh dear, poor Sherlock! We never use peroxide over here on wounds as it is considered to slow the healing process and make matters worse. I do not know what treatment your vet recommended but it may be worth reconsidering. When a cat lashes out the way he does they are either feeling something or simply prefer their own space. I hope he will make a speedy recovery 💜💕

    1. Thanks for the tip about the peroxide. I have to admit, we use it all the time on ourselves, but maybe we shouldn’t. I’ll check with the vet. As fro Sherlock, no, he does not prefer his own space. He wants to be up close and personal. And biting. He’s just one of those cats, and it’s a good thing his home is with us. 😉 But, as my daughter noted, he does have a sweet side, too. Just not as often as we would like.

      2. Just looked at Web MD and the Mayo Clinic, and they concur with you about the use of Peroxide on an open wound. So we will stop using it! Thanks, Xania!

  3. We had a cat like Sherlock but a little milder. We had to tell our guests that while he was purring loudly when they pet him, only touch him twice because after that… We got him when he was 8 from a friend of our son’s who couldn’t keep him. He lived to be 20. I said that he and I had a mutual adoration society because we adored each other and few others adored him for obvious reasons I guess. Cats can be (usually are) characters, aren’t they? But poor Mrs. Watson. 🙂 I hope to never be without a cat.

    1. I think milder versions of Sherlock are not uncommon. As my daughter Shannon noted in this comment section, he is oftentimes sweet. Just not often enough. 😉

  4. J & D > Sherlock is a bad boy – a bully. That said, we have a very sweet female that bites when she’s petted, but it is more of a love-bite, very gentle gripping with one side of her mouth – no fangs. Sherlock needs an older wiser cat in the household who takes no nonsense, and will slap him with a paw if he gets out of line. Trouble is, that’s usually the role of a cat that’s older still and was in the household previous to Sherlock’s arrival. Oh, wait a minute, that’s you, isn’t it? ;~)

    1. Yup, that’s me. Actually, we blow in his face when he tries to bite us, and that does help. Still…for all my grumbling, I am fond of him.

  7. Cats sure have a knack for keeping us entertained and I enjoyed hearing about Sherlock’s antics. Perhaps the good outcome is he will be safely inside and it will relieve you of chasing birds all over the house.

    1. They certainly do. Never a dull moment, that’s for sure. And, yes, an indoor cat solves the problems of birds in the house. 😉

  9. Well, let’s hope he has learned a lesson (hope springs eternal). A good natural antibiotic/antifungal is tea tree oil. Moisten a cloth with warm water and dab a drop or two of oil, then press into wound. It also deters them from overlicking it as it doesn’t taste or smell good!

    1. Hope springs eternal is right. 😉 Thanks for the recommendation of the tea tree oil. We will try it.

  11. Oh, he has quite the cattitude! My Mum and Dad have a cat with that sort of temperament – a casual pat will net you either teeth or claw marks in your hand, and, as with your Sherlock, visitors have to be warned not to touch him. I think some cats just cannot help themselves. I do hope Sherlock recovers quickly!

    1. Catitude is a perfect description. I agree that some cats seem as though they cannot help themselves. The wound is looking better, and I am cautiously optimistic.

  12. You must look for the children’s book called ‘Rotten Ralph’. It’s about a naughty cat who is always pulling pranks and being mean to other cats ( and humans) but is loved by his sweet owner, Sarah. The illustrations are hilarious and my kiddo’s loved this book! Maybe a short story about Sherlock?

    1. I’ve heard of “Rotten Ralph,” but I’ve never read it. I’ll put it on my list. And like Ralph, our Sherlock is lucky he has tolerant people who are fond of him. 😉

  13. Your Sherlock looks a lot like my Zack, and my Zack recently got the snot beaten out of him, too. Why can’t these boys learn not to pick on cats who are bigger and younger than they are?!

    1. Hear, hear, Kerry! Sherlock is an alpha, alpha male, and I think he just can’t help himself.

  14. Poor Ms Watson (& she’s adorable)! We have two male cats who love attacking their smaller sister, so it seems to be a trend. Eliza is right about the tea tree oil. After seeing the monks at the tiger temple in Thailand treat their big cats wounds with gentian violet, that is another thing that I am never without – it zaps fever blisters dry in a jiffy too 😉

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