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

[moosmom]

Kirsten,

I only wish I was closer. I could sure use a vacation from my humble dump and would GLADLY fly to Germany to stay with your babies. Unfortunately, can't afford the airfare let alone GAS!!!!

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers while you're away.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Kirsten - have you looked into something like this?

http://www.housem8.com/locations.html

[Barbara]

I think after all the kitties will feel best when they stay at home. I know your heart will break- but a cat heart is much more solid.
They will go into a different mode and love you even more when you come back and feel better
And nothing will happen- I am sure your feeders will know how much it means to you and take care.

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions! And thanks for offering your help with the costs for a cat hotel, or a cat sitter. Thank you very much!

phesina, moosmom... I wish you'd live closer! I know you would do everything to help Luna and Lily through these difficult times.

Medusa, I'm very sorry these things happened to you! Hopefully your cat sitter decides to continue to do the job, and isn't too much influenced by her mother. And it must have been so hard to leave the pets with your hubby when you seperated. Two years is such a long time!!

I think I cannot give Luna and Lily to a cat hotel because it's a while ago that they got their rabies and feline leukemia shots (Lily's always feeling so crappy after them, and Luna had lumps in her fat tissue twice after such a shot, so I decided not to have them vaccinated every year, as they are indoor cats). But I would never expose them to other cats without a 100% protection. Besides, the cat hotels won't take them because their last shots are too long ago.

It would also be too risky to bring them to my mother's house. It's just a small house in the forest, and they have the restaurant there, and the doors are always open. They could escape. And they have Emma, who would probably accept no other cats but Peggy and Emma. And Luna is terribly afraid of dogs.

Like Barbara said, usually it's the best for cats to stay in their familiar environment. I totally agree, but I'm still a bit worried about my neighbor. She's acting so weird lately, and from what I've heard, I'm the number one on her personal hate list now - for whatever reason!

My mother was here today, and she agreed to be the ONLY caretaker as long as things haven't calmed down with my neighbors. Luna and Lily like her, and she likes them, and I think all I can do is to try to trust her (which is always difficult for me when it comes to my girls; I guess I'm one of the persons who have problems to give up responsibilities and leave them to others ).

Now I have only one day left with my girls, and it's so hard to believe that I will be without them for such a long time.

But I'm just thinking... the clinic is only 80 kilometers away from my home, so... if I miss my girls too much, I could visit them for a couple of hours at the weekends!

Kirsten

[phesina]

Oh, that's great, Kirsten, that your mother will be taking primary responsibility so you don't have to depend on those flaky neighbors.. and fantastic if you can get home for a couple of hours on weekends to see the girls!

You will miss them greatly, and they will miss you greatly, but just think how much happier all of you will be when you come back in much better health!

God bless, Kirsten. We will all be thinking of you and the girls and praying for you and the girls throughout this time that you're separated.

Love, {{{{{HUGS}}}}}, and ~~~~~PURRS~~~~~,
Pat, Peony, Sydney, Poppy, Elmer, and Priscilla Angel who is making a special trip to Germany to keep watch on you all

[Kirsten]

Thank you! Yes, I really hope I feel a bit better and healthier after the treatment, so that I'll be able to find some new perspectives. For such a long time I'm feeling so ill now, and even now that I'm on sick leave for a while, I'm still so exhausted and feel ill... and the heat wave that's coming now doesn't make it better.

I have already packed, and now I'm spending the last hours with my girls. It's a strange feeling, I don't feel at home here anymore, just as if a part of me has already left. I've never been away from home for such a long time. I wouldn't mind to leave at this point because there is not much that keeps me here - except for my girls, of course!! Too bad that I cannot take them with me!

I'll email my adress to Karen, so if anyone would like to send messages (which will always be welcome, of course! ), feel free to contact her.

I don't know if I have internet access there, but if I have, I will stop by.

Hope to ttys, I'll miss you all!

Kirsten

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Take care sweetie - look forward to seeing you again very soon