How can I leave my girls for such a long time? :(

[Catty1]

Kirsten - you know you can vent here any time.

Do you have a friend from work, or a tech at the vet's, who might look in once in a while? It seems sad that you don't mention any friends nearby.

I don't know what your faith is...but whatever your higher power is, please turn them over to his or her care. If the worst happens and Lily escapes? I am sure she will be retrieved...perhaps the caretakers can have a large blanket or towel in case, to toss over her (less scary that way).

Dearest Kirsten - I hope you can trust in 'turning this over'...if you derail your own health because of your dear girls, that will not be good for you or them.

Remember that time you communicated with pictures, with Lily? Have a 'talk' with your girls, imagine pictures of where you are going - and show them you getting healthy and happy! Show pictures of them, getting fed and patted by your mom and your neighbour's husband - and show them staying behind the barrier and not going out!

You can do this visualization even when you are away.

HUGS.

[Kirsten]

Yes, it's sad, but I don't have any friends nearby. They all moved away, or are busy with their families now; I'm always on my own. And my illnesses - and some bad experiences with so-called friends - made it hard for me to go out and make new friends. Sadly, I live a very lonely life these days.

I have no religion, but if there's any higher power, I'll ask it to protect my girls. I have also printed out my favourite photos of them, and will sure try to "communicate" with them. Maybe it works, who knows?

That's all I can do, I fear...

Kirsten

[phesina]

Oh, Kirsten, I wish I could just pop over to Germany.. I'd come and stay with your girls!

[Medusa]

Kirsten, I think you and I are alike in many ways. I, too, had to leave my beloved cats and a dog behind when my husband and I separated. I was without them for nearly 2 years. When we were first separated, I cried every day and cried myself to sleep every night but, eventually, I had to come to terms w/our being separated and trust that God would take care of them. And it was so. Also, like you, I can count the number of friends that I have on one hand, except, of course, for my PT family. Fortunately, I do have a good catsitter but her mother and I had been friends for 20 years and, after all those years of verbal abuse from her, I'd had enough and told her so a few months ago. I haven't heard from her since. No apology, nothing. Seeing that her daughter is my catsitter, I worry that she may decide not to watch my kitties for me any more, (so far, she has been wonderful) which would inhibit my visits to my son until I could find someone else that I can trust. However, I know how the Law of Attraction works: what we give our attention to expands. So I've chosen not to focus on the possibility of something negative happening and instead to focus only on the good. My pets were all fine while we were separated and yours will be, too. You will only be separated by miles. Love knows no distance. Trust. All is well, Kirsten.

[Emeraldgreen]

I know you only have a few days to figure this out but I think that if you are able to find a solution that provides you with comfort and peace, it will be so worth it. I don't know much about the trip you are taking but from your posts, it seems that you will be seeking healing of some kind and if you are stressed with this, it might make things difficult for you.
Do you have boarding places in your area, or better yet, in the area of the hospital that you are going to? Some boarding places are just for cats and have great facilities that have rooms that cats from the same home can share and scratching posts and windows to watch birds etc.. Your cats might miss home but they would be safe without the possibility of escaping.

I was also thinking that maybe you could find a pet sitter that you could pay. You might find some advertised up at some animal hospitals or pet stores on their bulletin boards. I know it would be scary to leave them in the care of a stranger but perhaps your animal hospital can recommend someone that they know and trust. It might cost a few hundred dollars but could be well worth it if you know that your cats are being well cared for.

Lastly, is it possible for your cats to go and live with your mom for 6 weeks? Maybe she has a room that they could have all to themselves for this period of time? Or a basement area?
Just some thoughts.
I hope things go smoothly for you.