Pretty scary title, eh? This post is going to be very straightforward and I’m putting myself out there a little … forewarning.
This has been the question DH and I have been asking ourselves for the past year regarding our cats. And they nearly missed death tonight.
We have four. Yes, FOUR. I adopted one in college (Pia) and then a college friend found a stray wandering outside of his apartment complex so I took her in as well. Turned out that the stray (Duzee) didn’t have ringworm but was pregnant. She ended up having three kittens but only two survived. The original plan was to keep only her but the kittens were SOOO cute and I decided to keep them (Captain and Tennille).
They are now very much into their “senior” years as cats — 16, 15, 14, 14. And the “family”, as we call the three related ones, all have medical issues. Duzee has hyperthyroidism and requires medicine to be placed in her ear everyday (topical medicine that I’m deathly afraid Monkey will find). Tennille was diagnosed with bad kidneys 5 years ago after $800 worth of testing and a promise that if we didn’t spend $3000 on a kidney transplant, she would die within 6 months to a year. We didn’t spend the $3000. So much for that vet’s diagnosis. Because of this condition though, she has become incontinent and urinates outside the box frequently (at least we think it’s her or her sister because we’ve caught them both before). Which brings us to Captain (yes, a she). We’re pretty sure she, too, has a kidney issue since she does the same licking of the fur off her belly as Tennille did prior to her kidney diagnosis.
Due to these conditions, the fact that we have new carpet on the upper two levels of our house and now have a toddler walking about, the girls stay in our basement — specifically one room of our basement most of the time. I’m not comfortable with this arrangement but it’s the best we can do to prevent DH from strangling them to death should they pee on the new carpet and to prevent Monkey from picking up cat vomit and eating it.
I came to a breaking point two weeks ago where the realization of going into that room to clean it just made me sick to my stomach. It stinks. It’s dirty within two days after cleaning it and the guilt weighs heavy. But what can we do? I had actually psyched myself up to take the three sickly ones to the county animal shelter where they would surely be killed given the statistics they had online. But I couldn’t do that. Then we convinced ourselves that maybe just taking them to the vet for euthanasia was the best option. I made an appointment and started preparing myself mentally for it.
Last night DH admitted he wasn’t comfortable with this decision and we agreed to cancel the appointment. But we’re back to where we began two weeks ago. They’re pretty much too old and too sickly to adopt. They’re not in so bad of shape that euthanasia is warranted at this point. And we’re so fed up with the hair, the expenses, the trying to keep Monkey out of the grossness that is the cat territory (which he LOVES because he loves animals, especially our cats, go figure).
Our other concern is that Monkey is now recognizing them. He knows Duzee’s name, mainly because she’s the most socialable and will let him pet her. What if they hang on for another 3-4 years and THEN we DO have to make the decision to put them down — how will that affect him? Plus, if we decide to have another child we’ll need that room for storage of the guest bedroom furniture. What then?
We feel like there is no good solution. Waiting it out will suck and be expensive. Euthanasia is not a good option at this point. Adoption is impossible (I’ve checked a few shelter websites — one, they’re all FULL and two, the oldest cats I see on there are 9-10 and HEALTHY). What would you do?
yikes. There doesn’t seem to be an easy or painless way to solve this problem. I don’t envy your position.
I’m sorry.
We’re kind of in the same boat though with our Kerry Blue Terrier. She’s only 6, so she’s young. But she has a host of ailments (spiculosis, follicular tumors, cysts, dental disease, kidney stones, gallbladder problems, chronic hemmoragic gastroenteritis, allergies, and severe anxiety and fear issues). She came to us that way as an abused and neglected rescue. We’ve come a long way, but she’s by no means “perfect”.
I spent the last 2 nights cleaning blood up from the–well, everywhere on the first floor–from her stomach problems.
And now she’s causing us issue with the neighbors. That house has a history of having tenants who were aweful: attempting to burglarize our house, sic-ing attack dogs on us and laughing, throwing lit firecrackers at the dogs when they were outside, etc. So she’s afraid of the HOUSE and thinks its evil now. And these people aren’t to blame. And a kerry? When that fight of flight response kicks in, they only ever pick one. And it’s not flight.
No one is going to want to adopt a dog with all her issues.
I don’t feel ready to put her to sleep, because her vets say she’s strong enough to weather it all and she still bounces around like Tigger.
So I’m at an impasse.
This does stink for you all (in so many ways). We’d have to put them down since with the lung issues of our boy, the urine out of the box would be bad for him. Sure would be easier if you had a health concern for little Monkey that would warrant the euthenasia. Any chance he’s pre-asthmatic (ie does he get coughs each year this time that last a while??) or allergic to mold or anything?
Aw. Poor girls. I think I would have explored euthenasia too, the situation doesn’t sound good. Having pets it supposed to be enjoyable, right? But then again, they are family and just because you don’t like them anymore it’s not right to “get rid” of them. But then again…the peeing and the medical bills… I totally understand why you guys go back and forth. Well, hopefully nature will take it’s course soon enough and that will be the easiest for everyone. I feel for you guys.
Thanks everyone for your comments. It’s been tough.
becoming mommy — Sounds like you have it much worse than we do. We only have urine and cat vomit to deal with (and the occassional poop outside of the box). I feel for you as well.
Psalm40 — This is the first year Monkey has had a cough last this long. He was sick on and off last year but with various illnesses, not all including a cough. But if it does seem like he has an allergy to them, we’d definitely have to make a decision.
We keep hoping that nature will take over (as bad as that sounds). As DH often says, taking in an animal means taking on the responsibility of possibly making these decisions — inheriting a tragedy basically.
I’m late to this post but just wanted to tell you my experience with a similar issue. I had a chihuahua, Sam, for 11 years before my DD was born. Normally a dog that size can live till sometime in the teens but Sam began having medical problems before I got pregnant. He had high blood pressure, a heart murmur and kidney disease. He too required daily medication. When DD was born she took his place as my baby and he sort became a second class citizen.
DH and I prepared ourselves for lots of jealousy and acting out on Sam’s part but he proved us wrong. He quickly became attached to DD and loved to lay close by. It was very touching. Still, at times, he seemed to just be an extra responsibility, another thing to care for. I felt a lot of guilt b/c I sometimes thought it would be easier to not have him around. Then one day we noticed he’d lost weight, a lot of weight. How did I not see it sooner? Shortly after I made a vet appointment for him he stopped eating. They scheduled an ultrasound for him. The worst was confirmed–cancer and it was bad. His liver and pancreas were riddled with it. There was nothing to do but let him pass away at home, doped up on pain medication or lovingly put him out of his misery quickly. We chose the latter. It was so hard. I held him and said my goodbye. I regretted all the things I had thought about before.
We miss him a lot and even recently adopted a Jack Russell in need of a home. I guess I wasn’t ready to give up the “extra responsibility” afterall. Granted, the Jack isn’t ill and she’s only 2 but she’s new to our family and a handful.
I didn’t tell you any of this to sway you one way or another, it’s just my experience. Good luck!
This is such a tough situation! I’m really sorry you guys are going through it.
As much as I joke about selling the animals to the gypsies, and as much as I think about how it would be easier without them, I just couldn’t do it. But that’s me, and we have only one cat and one dog, both of whom are in better conditions than your cats.
Any way your mom can take in one or two (or four) of your cats to make it easier on you guys? Or another family member?
mary — Thanks for your comments. I know it was hard on you with Sam and I appreciate your words of experience. I am thinking of taking the “twins” and Duzee back in to see the vet for testing. One of them is drinking and peeing a LOT so we’re thinking it could be diabetes. If that’s the case, I don’t know what we’ll do. I’m nervous enough about having the topical meds around, I can’t imagine having insulin needles.
caramama — Unfortunately, mom and dad haven’t given up any of the NINE cats they have presently. Although, one of them may be on his way out soon. He hasn’t eaten in a few days and mom is thinking he might have something serious but is afraid to take him to the vet to find out.
Maybe you can sneak your cats into the basement at your parent’s and just head home
. Would they even notice with NINE others? lol
Glad to know your little guy doesn’t have any asthma symptoms. Ours has gotten bad coughs since his very first winter that last and last, so he’s back on breathing treatments
. No cats for us since he’s allergic to them, though everyone but the man wants one. We love it when the neighbors little sweeties come sit on our yard. Sometimes they linger so we can pet them!
Hope Christmas dinner goes well. I’m keeping ours simple (I do Christmas Eve) this year…
I may be up your way tomorrow–George (don’t you love the pseudonym?) needs jeans from one of your outlets. So much to do, can’t believe I just realized this tonight!!!
Love ya!