When it rains, it POURS!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Archive]

moosmom

07-19-2003, 05:12 AM

It's now 6:07 a.m. on a Saturday. I'm posting because my cats got me up at 5 a.m. to eat and I had to medicate 3 of them. Why????

Well, let's see...Shortie's right eye is red, irritated and watery with the third eyelid partially showing. That's usually an indication of either she ate something she shouldn't have or it's irritated from a scratch or particle. She has this aversion to eating tape and there was the air conditioner box I tried to make into a little kitty house with tape on it. You guessed it, she ate the tape and now she's not feeling good. I've been putting Tetracyclin in it.

Then there's Mollie Rose, the Boogar Queen. She's on Interferon and Orbax and sneezing all over creation. She's been doing that for a while and everytime she starts, she gets put on the meds.

And last, but CERTAINLY not least is the elusive Lil Eli. He's been blowing out boogars too. The problem with him is that he's a little devil when medicating. I have to wait till I put his food dish down and grab him to shove doxycyclin down his throat. Otherwise he runs and hides. I'm going to get some liquid Amoxicillin from the shelter today which will make it easier to give.

I pray it doesn't go through my entire house or I'm screwed. I just started my job and haven't gotten paid yet (they hold back a week). I'm lucky in that I can get liquid Clavamox and that kinda stuff at the shelter if I ask. Otherwise I'd be up to my eyeballs in vet bills.

Now I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Carrie is doing okay. She wants to come out so badly but I can't let her out because of all the sneezing going on. If she comes down with this, I'm going to have to take her to the shelter till she gets better. They'll be able to put her in better isolation than I can. But I'm getting ahead of myself and am keeping my fingers crossed.

Uh, there goes Mollie now, doing what she does best....ARRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! Someone get me some paper towels!!!!! She's got this long green hawker hanging from her nose!!!!! I can't stand this anymore!!!

Kimlovecats,

Now I know how overwhelmed YOU felt!!

shais_mom

07-19-2003, 11:20 AM

YUCK!
poor You Donna!!
Thinking of you!

Sara luvs her Tinky

07-19-2003, 11:38 AM

POOR KITTIES...

Hope they are all feeling better soon....
:eek:

kimlovescats

07-19-2003, 12:14 PM

Hang in there, Donna!!! I still have a couple that go back and forth with snotty noses and goopy eyes! It can take a very long time for them to clear up from those nasty viruses! I've given them all their updated shots too, but that only helps so much!
If you need to talk, just PM or e-mail me!

Hugs to you and yours!
Kim;)

RedHedd

07-19-2003, 02:04 PM

Oh poor kitties! I feel so awful when they get the "sneezles" - I feel so helpless! I just wish I could blow their little nosies. Prayers going out your way that they get over whatever it is very soon!

jenluckenbach

07-19-2003, 02:50 PM

She's got this long green hawker hanging from her nose!!!!! :p
A little too graphic here. YUK!!!

I sure hope this passes quickly. And I DO know about when it rains, it pours, this month I had 3 cats also on antibiotics for various things. I've popped so many pills down cats I can do it with my eyes closed. :rolleyes: Kisses to all the kitties.

moosmom

07-19-2003, 04:23 PM

Sorry for being a little too graphic there. I was tired and just plain cranky. I was also a little annoyed. I feel like a mother chasing her children around with Kleenex trying to wipe runny noses. :rolleyes:

I got some Amoxi from the shelter and will be giving Eli that. It's MUCH easier than a pill. The trick is catching him before he starts eating. I have another bottle of amoxi that my friend's rabbit was taking. It's still good and has been refrigerated so I know I've got that too.

I'm lucky in that Carrie is isolated from them and hasn't gotten it.

Fortunately, Shortie's third eyelid is no longer showing but still red and watery. I think she got into it with Doogie and got scratched. I've got Teramayacin for that.

Pharmaceuticals are our friends!!!! :D

Thanks for the support everybody! ;) This too shall pass.

Lorraine

07-19-2003, 08:20 PM

Oh, poor little kitty's! I hope they feel better soon!:)

HayleyRosie

07-20-2003, 08:01 AM

I sure hope your kitties feel better really soon.

slick

07-22-2003, 06:04 PM

Someone get me some paper towels!!!!! She's got this long green hawker hanging from her nose!!!!!
EWWWWW, now I know why I never had children :eek: :eek: :eek: But come to think of it, I'd rather clean a snotty cat than a snotty kid......(no offence to all the Moms out there.....)
So sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed and I wish there was something I could do to help. Prayers that everyone gets better soon. And please take care of yourself too!!

moosmom

07-23-2003, 08:43 PM

Here's an update.

5 cats are now sick. It's just gotta run it's course. Shortie's eye problem was cured with Terramayacin and she's fine, unless SHE starts sneezing.

Maya Linn started sneezing tonight so I pushed some Amoxi down her immediately! She's easier to pill though so I might start her on Clavamox pills.

Carrie I am VERY worried about. She's not eating or drinking (her urine odor is VERY strong) even though she's on Amoxi. I think she may be dehydrated. I hope it doesn't turn into pneumonia. When I called the shelter, they told me that if I brought her in, they have no available cages and won't be able to keep her. When I asked them to define "keep" her they said they'd probably euthanize her because of her age!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: I asked them if they could find another foster home for her and they said there were none.

What am I gonna do?????? :( :( :( I could never LIVE with myself if that happened!!

Doogie is on Amoxi as well. I feel like I'm running a kitty hospital. Booger Medical Center :eek: :eek:

I'm trying to stay as calm and unnerving as I can while learning a new job. HELLLLLLPPPPP!!!!!

jenluckenbach

07-24-2003, 05:59 AM

Can you force feed Carrie? Mixing canned food (or baby food) with nutri-cal and water could help her stay hydrated until she feels well enough to eat on her own. As you well know, if they can't smell, they won't eat, so sustaining them until they WILL eat is what is important. When Amber had an URI she did not eat for days, and I too, worried. Hang in there, this too will pass. PM me if I can help with Carrie in any way.

moosmom

07-24-2003, 07:51 AM

I called the shelter this morning and talked to my friend Cathy, the vet tech that I work with there.

I told her what was going on with Carrie. She's not eating, not drinking and is depressed at what her @#$%$*& did to her. She is dehydrated and won't come out from under the bed.

Cathy explained to me that Carrie has lost her will to live. She misses her old life and is VERY unhappy in her new one with me, no matter how much I try to love her and pay attention to her. Since it has been over 3 days of not eating and stuff, she told me it would be in Carrie's best interest to bring her back to the shelter and let her go to the Rainbow Bridge and be happy. If I wait much longer, her kidneys and liver will start shutting down.

I am SO torn about this. I love this old lady and have tried EVERYTHING to make her happy, comfortable and at home. She's miserable. And Jen, I tried doing what you suggested and it didn't work.

I'm devastated right now and have to keep from crying at work. I feel like I failed Carrie as well as her scumbag family :( "(. I insisted that I be there when she leaves, as I don't want her to think I didn't care because I do.

Please don't hate me for letting Carrie go to the RB. I've only had her a week and love her so much and it's just eating at my gut to have to do this.

HayleyRosie

07-24-2003, 08:02 AM

Donna, We could never hate you for letting Carrie go to RB. Sometimes we have to do what we think is best for them. Remember that Carrie will be happy and healthy at RB. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I know this is very difficult for you.

Steffi N

07-24-2003, 09:23 AM

Poor dear Carrie. She is, simply put, dying of a broken heart. I know how much you love her and how much you have tried to give her a happy home for her last years. I can't bring myself to say "let her go," but that may be the greatest kindness now.
I hope your other kitties are getting better.

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-24-2003, 09:40 AM

Donna, I sent you an email, please let me know what I can do to help. :(

moosmom

07-24-2003, 12:29 PM

Everyone,

Debbie (Tubby & Peanut's Mom) was kind enough to offer help to get her to a vet. Unfortunately, the shelter has the last word, as I am only a foster home. When I called them today on my lunch hour, they said they appreciated it and everything, but they were going to do what was in Carrie's best interest and that is to let her go. I insisted on being there.

I'm sick to my stomach right now. I can't wait to get outta here and go home and hug her. I just want her to know how much I love her and that I am so sorry I failed her. :(

Now I've got 5 sick cats and one that's going to die. My heart hurts so much right now.

catland

07-24-2003, 12:52 PM

I'm so sorry at this sad turn of events. I can remember several years ago when my kitty, Lucy, became sick and was ready to cross to the RB bridge. She wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink, and I could see her slipping away.:(

There could be more wrong with Carrie than you can see and this might just be her time in spite of your care and efforts. You are not why she is letting go.

I'm so very, very sorry.:( :(

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-24-2003, 12:54 PM

Oh Donna, I'm so sorry I couldn't be of help. :( :( It breaks my heart, but I'm at least glad that you insist on being there with her so she doesn't go alone. :(

This terrible outcome makes me hate the woman that dropped her off even more. I hope she finds out how Carrie's life ended and that it's all her fault for being an idiot (hint, hint). :mad: The only problem with that is then the little boy will find out, and he will be even more devastated than when they brought her in. :( What a sad, sad story.

My only other thought was that maybe Carrie had some medical problem that the woman knew about but didn't tell the shelter. She (the woman) didn't want to spend money on vet bills, so she just turned poor Carrie into the shelter to deal with. Like you said, Donna, none of your others were sick until Carrie arrived, so maybe.....I don't know, maybe I just grasping at straws trying to make sense of this whole thing. :( http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Tears.gif

Hugs to you Donna, please try and be strong and know that Carrie will be happy at RB, and it's you she'll be waiting for, and that little boy, and not that idiot woman that turned her in. http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Tears.gif http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Tears.gif

Denyce

07-24-2003, 02:45 PM

You didn't fail her. The woman who dumped Carrie at the shelter failed her. And I think the others are right there might be an underlying medical reason for her decline besides sadness. What you are doing for Carrie is letting her go to a better place in the arms of someone that loves here. There is no greater gift.

Denyce

jenluckenbach

07-24-2003, 02:48 PM

That is true, she could have an illness that is bringing her down faster. I agree that sometimes an animal KNOWS when it is time to go and the one way they can tell us is by slipping away (not eating, in a lot of cases, is a very good sign). I am sorry this is happening, but I am glad that Carrie had you and will have you until the end. It is YOU she will wait for at the RB, of that, I am sure.

kimlovescats

07-24-2003, 02:59 PM

Oh DONNA.... I am so sorry!!!! You have been an angel for Carrie, and done everything that anyone could have done for her! I agree that Carrie most probably already had a condition that her previous "owner" knew about .... so don't beat yourself up about this! I'm just also so sad that your others are having to all be sick during this as well..... hang in there, it WILL get better, my friend! :( If you need to talk or anything, please e-mail me at [email protected] .

(((((HUGS)))))

Steffi N

07-24-2003, 04:29 PM

Those here who know more about cats than me are most likely right that Carrie has an underlying health condition as well as sadness. Please hold her very close and kiss her goodbye.

Miss Meow

07-24-2003, 05:55 PM

Donna, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say except I'm crying with you {{{hugs}}}

slick

07-24-2003, 06:42 PM

Donna: I'm so sorry that things have turned out this way. We are all hurting for you and I'm sending you a great big hug right now. Although it could have been possible that Carrie was ill I think a broken heart could have contributed to Carrie's depression. I really don't think there was anything else you could have done to make her happy.

Carrie: We all love you and Donna took you in when your family didn't want you. I know that are sad and you seem to be telling us that you want to travel to the RB. You will not be alone. Donna will help you there. When you reach the other side you will be loved and cared for and be young and happy again. It's the ones left behind that hurt the most.

Prayers to you Donna and to you Carrie for a safe trip!! God, I'm crying as I type this... :( :( :(

moosmom

07-24-2003, 07:21 PM

You guys are so wonderful! Your kindness is so special to me. But...I kinda have some good news.

When I took her into the shelter, I was sobbing. I begged my friend Heather to treat her. Heather took me and Carrie into the volunteer room. She sat me down and explained that sometimes when older cats are displaced from their original homes, they forget to eat. And the stuff they ARE fed is garbage. She took a can of Science Diet AD and starting hand feeding her. She lapped it up. She gave me 3 more cans and a bag of SD Adult food and another bottle of Amoxi. I went and got some Pedialyte for her dehydration. Heather told me to get some of that into her as well.

I spent an hour in the air conditioned bedroom with her hand feeding her and pumping the pedialyte into her. She wasn't happy getting the medicine but for the most part she's now full and I was able to get 4 cc's of pedialyte into her. She's resting comfortably.

I'm not giving up on her. I laid on the bed with her softly telling her how much I loved her and she began to purr

thank you all so much for your suppor> i'VE GOTTA GO NOW CUZ MY KKKEYBOARD ISCRAPPINGN OUT ON ME. i'LL BE BACK.

lovvve you guyyys!!!!!

slick

07-24-2003, 07:28 PM

You PT'ers just have a way of reducing me to tears so quickly!!! This time it's tears of joy!!! Now maybe with some food and water in her she will perk up and eat more. That's the best news I've heard all day!! Bless you Donna! The world is a much nicer place with you in it.....:D :D :D

Steffi N

07-24-2003, 08:34 PM

Love can work miracles. This is such happy news. Let's all hope that Carrie is on the mend.

Barbara

07-25-2003, 04:25 AM

I had followed this thread but it hurt so much to read it:(
Now there is hope and I hope sweet Carrie can learn that there still are people who care for her.
14 isn't that old for a kitty:)
Come on Carrie: a new life is waiting for you:)

emily_the_spoiled

07-25-2003, 07:34 AM

I was in tears as I read through the post and then I came to the surprise ending. I am sure that Carrie now realizes that there is someone here who loves her and wants her to stay. Hopefully this will turn out to be a wonderful "happily ever after story" :) :) :)

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-25-2003, 10:19 AM

Oh Donna! That is such wonderful, wonderful news!!! I expected to see the post where you wrote how Carrie was now gone, but instead I get this great news that she finally ate something, and you got fluids into her too!! Yippee!! Come on Carrie, you can do it. You're in a wonderful, wonderful home now, with someone who will never abandon you, so please, please PLEASE continue to eat and drink your pedialite.

Yippee! What great news to start the day with! http://www.emotipad.com/emoticons/Dance.gif

catland

07-25-2003, 10:29 AM

Oh my gosh. I expected to open this thread to sad news. Instead there is hope.:) Carrie is so lucky to have you as her advocate.

Now I wish the rest of your gang a speedy recovery.

moosmom

07-25-2003, 11:37 AM

Hi everyone!

I was up at 6 a.m. force feeding Carrie again. I feel bad because the only way I can get her out from under the bed is either with the broom or this morning :eek: by the tail enough so I could pick her up (I really felt bad about that one). I'm hoping she'll get used to me and start coming out again. She's still sneezing, though. Once I put a finger full (ouch!!) of food in her mouth, she began eating a little on her own. She didn't eat much, but I attribute it to her stomach shrinking from not eating for 4 days. I also was able to get 6 cc's of Pedialyte and her Amoxi in her. I then put her on the bed and laid there with her for a while talking to her. She's still not out of the woods yet, though. I've got every hope that she'll be my furrrrever under-my-bed old lady :D :D :D

I called Heather at the shelter to give her an update and she said that I might just have to put the food and water under the bed as that's where she spends all her time.

SOME people would ask me why I'm wasting my time on an old cat that has lived her life. When they ask me that, I just tell them that to me it's NOT a waste of time, but a labor of love.

Thanks everyone for your love, encouragement and kind words. I love you guys!!!!

AHEM, please note my new sig :D :D :D

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-25-2003, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by moosmom
SOME people would ask me why I'm wasting my time on an old cat that has lived her life. When they ask me that, I just tell them that to me it's NOT a waste of time, but a labor of love.

Those same SOME people are the ones we've all agreed here on PT to ignore when they start talking their idiocy. ;) :D

Carrie has by no means "lived her life!" I'm sure she has many, many good years left in her yet. Hopefully she'll realize how much you love her and decide to return that love first of all by eating and drinking, then by purring and being a sweet old lady instead of a grumpy one. :)

Steffi N

07-25-2003, 12:05 PM

I am glad Carrie is eating and is taking her meds and the pedialyte. We love you Donna and Carrie. Hope things are better for the rest of the furballs and MooShoo.

moosmom

07-26-2003, 07:20 PM

Update on Carrie....

She is now at the shelter in the ICU unit. I have been force feeding her for a week now and she just wouldn't eat or drink on her own. She was on her SECOND bottle of Amoxicillin. Her congestion is so bad that she can't smell anything. I called my friend Cathy this morning and she said to bring her in.

I asked Cathy honestly what was going to happen with her. She told me that they gave her medicine to increase her appetite and have put her on a nebulizer to help her with her breathing. They told me to call the shelter on Monday for a progress report. She reiterated what Heather said that sometimes when older cats get displaced like she did, they just get depressed and refuse to eat or drink.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she gets through this. At least I know that she is in good hands and are giving her a chance to recover from all this. Hopefully she'll get well and be able to come back home where she belongs. :(

I'll keep you posted.

emily_the_spoiled

07-26-2003, 07:55 PM

Donna,

We are all keeping out fingers and paws crossed here so that Carrie will be able to join you at home again!!!!

Cheryl, Emily, Tanner, Bigodeano, and Gay (the Gang)

Steffi N

07-26-2003, 08:27 PM

Please get better, Carrie, please. We need for you to live.

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-27-2003, 02:57 PM

Yes, please, please, please, Carrie, please eat something and drink something too. Please...??....

Thanks for the update Donna. I was wondering how she was doing, and hoping she was still progressing, but alas, no such luck. :( I'm so glad that they are at least giving her a chance, though. Maybe they can see that it's really that she's just sick and not that she's given up on life.

Poor Carrie, such trauma for a once beloved pet to be put through. Please get better soon sweetie.

AdoreMyDogs

07-27-2003, 09:07 PM

I hope to goodness that Carrie starts to eat. She is such a sweet cat, poor thing :(

Donna I hope your URI situation is under control and out of your house SOON! Sofar so good with Minion.

HayleyRosie

07-28-2003, 05:40 AM

We are praying that Carrie gets better really soon and can come back home with you.

kimlovescats

07-28-2003, 06:36 AM

Oh, Donna.... you've done all you can do...... I hope and pray that Carrie will make it through this!

((((HUGS)))) to you both!

moosmom

07-28-2003, 07:20 PM

:( :( :(

I went to the shelter today to pick up Leslie's new kitten. I called the shelter 3 times today to get an update on Carrie. The last I heard, she was doing better. I was very encouraged. Today, no one had any answers.

When I got to the shelter, I was told that they "pulled your cat". When I asked what that meant, Heather said Carrie was put down. I was not only shocked but furious :mad: :mad: :mad: and devastated. Why didn't someone call me??? I would've picked her up after work and brought her home with me!!! She didn't deserve to die.

Heather's justification??? "I was up to my eyeballs in kittens and needed the cage space." "No one is going to adopt a 14 year old cat."

Carrie certainly didn't deserve to die because of their @#$%^ cage space problems!!! I wanted her!!!

I am officially done at the shelter. I am keeping Fawnie (God only KNOWS what they would've done to her!) I know they are overwhelmed there. But I was willing to foster her!

:( :(

Today just plain sucks. I will be making MY donation in Carrie's name to a different animal organization. It's the least I can do for a precious old furlady who wasn't given the chance to prove how much she could love someone.

I'm SO sorry Carrie. I tried. Please forgive me for not being there when you were forced to the Rainbow Bridge. I DID love you so!! :( :( :(

kimlovescats

07-28-2003, 07:26 PM

Oh NO, DONNA!!!!!! How awful! Oh, honey, I am so sorry!!!:( :( :( :( :( You did all you could do for sweet Carrie ... may she rest in peace.

slick

07-28-2003, 07:27 PM

Oh Donna that so sad and very heartless on the part of the Shelter. Your heart must be aching so badly now but rest assured that Carrie must have known how much you loved her. I agree that she should not have been put down without calling you and making alternate arrangements. Would you consider speaking to the head person, if there is one?? If nothing else, but to explain now badly you feel that Carrie had to pass over with you.

You did not deserve this Donna and Carrie certainly did not deserve to die yet. Hugs to you Donna and headbumpies to you Carrie. Have fun at the RB!!

Tubby & Peanut's Mom

07-28-2003, 07:32 PM

Oh Donna! I'm so, so sorry they did this to Carrie, and to you! How could they when they knew she meant so much to you, and that you were willing to foster her...forever if necessary! I sure hope you told them exactly what you thought of what they did before you left, and I'm so glad you're not going back to such a heartless place. :( :( And I'm so glad you got Leslie's kitten out too.

Oh dear, sweet Carrie, I'm so sorry your life ended in such a heartless way, but I do hope that you knew you were loved and Donna tried did her best for you. RIP sweetie. :( :( :(

Steffi N

07-28-2003, 07:34 PM

Donna, this is too terrible for words, just heartbreaking. How could the shelter do such a thing. Poor Carrie. WHY didn't Heather call you, she must have known how much Carrie meant to you. You did give Carrie love for the last days of her life. It is a pity you couldn't have continued fighting for her.

Rest in peace sweet dear Carrie.

Denyce

07-28-2003, 07:39 PM

I am so very sorry. :(

This was just so incredibly unfair. It sounds like your shelter there is about as caring as the one we have here in Centre Co. I know that it doesn't help a whole lot but you know what????? The fates and the balances of the world have a way of catching up with someone as heartless as this Heather. Someday the fates will bite her in the postierer region. Unfortunately she probably won't ever figure out the reason why and will just whine and wail about "why me" Ok I am babbling now...*sigh*

Carrie is in a better place and you did all that you could for her. I am just so sorry your heart is breaking now. Neither of you deserved what happened.

Denyce

jenluckenbach

07-28-2003, 08:10 PM

I am so sorry Donna.

Nomilynn

07-28-2003, 09:05 PM

I'm so sorry you had to go through this ordeal. I think that when Carrie sat on the bed with you and purred, she knew right then that you loved her and that was her way of thanking you. You did the best you could, and you are so wonderful for that.

RIP dear Carrie

moosmom

07-28-2003, 10:54 PM

I was in such shock, I just picked up all the paperwork, the kitten and left. My friend Cathy was pissed because she said she wanted to tell me. I doubt very much that the director is going to care what my opinion is.

I will miss all the cats there. I had some favorites. I'm SO glad Bob2 got adopted before all this went down. He was my main squeeze.

I pray for all the other "senior" cats there. May they never have to meet the fate that Carrie did just because of their age and the lack of cage space (a$$holes). :(