I also brought Bruce home from the veterinary clinic. Acquiring stray cats and dogs is common practice in the industry! Bruce was rushed into the clinic by a good semeritan who thought he might have been hit by a car. His hip had been damaged and he needed an FHO surgery. The ball of his ball-and-socket joint was removed leaving an empty socket. The procedure allows bruce to have normal mobility, and live without chronic pain in his hip joint. He recovered at the clinic for a month or so (enough time for me to fall madly in love with him). When he started hanging off kennel doors and running through the hospital like a mad cat, I knew it was time to take him home. Shrimp was NOT impressed when I brought him home…It took a couple months of hissing, growling and chasing each other, but eventually they worked it out and now are the best of friends! Bruce is the strong, silent type but has been becoming more affectionate as time goes on (he must be learning from Shrimp).
Bruce has shown me what real strength looks like. That even as an itty bitty broken kitty, strength and determination can get you through anything.