If your cat was dying, would you go on vacation? :-(

[sasvermont]

Kirsten, there is something wrong with your friend's thinking. I would find a new friend, for sure.

Sorry for being so blunt.

You are such a different person than your friend. You deserve much better companionship than your friend can offer. Really.

[Kirsten]

Kirsten, there is something wrong with your friend's thinking. I would find a new friend, for sure.

Sorry for being so blunt.

You are such a different person than your friend. You deserve much better companionship than your friend can offer. Really.

Well, luckily I have my PT friends who share my love and respect for animals (and one real-life friend, too ).

[Catty1]

Sorry to sidetrack - but pom, would an opinion from your vet help you decide whether or not to go for the visit? You and I and all of us know our babies better than anyone...but it's just a thought.

Kirsten - is someone looking after the cat while she is away? Poor kitty. I hate to think what her kids are learning about dealing with pets.

[Kirsten]

Kirsten - is someone looking after the cat while she is away? Poor kitty. I hate to think what her kids are learning about dealing with pets.

A neighbor is looking after him, as far as I know. But the cat is outside right now and obviously starts hiding (you know, the way cats do when they are really ill), so I think it's a very difficult situation for that neighbor to look after that kitty.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Not only would I not go, there was a time (or two) I didn't go to the hospital when I should have and mine were all healthy.

[happylabs]

I have a whole different thought on this and you all are going to hate me but "the cat is so miserable he can barely walk". I would have him PTS now. He obviously has no quality of life. Why prolong it? He will not get better, correct? It is the humane thing to do.

Yes, your friend is a horrible person.

[Kirsten]

Oh, thank GOD that he's at least at the vet's where he'll be getting the medical treatment he needs and will be looked after hopefully with love and kindness.

Yes, I was glad to hear that, too. Much better than being alone at home, or - even worse - somewhere outside.

I have a whole different thought on this and you all are going to hate me but "the cat is so miserable he can barely walk". I would have him PTS now. He obviously has no quality of life. Why prolong it? He will not get better, correct? It is the humane thing to do.

No, I don't hate you at all for that thought. I was actually thinking the same. It's the second time within 8 days that he had a fever of 106°F, which makes me believe that the virus is out of control. When my friend called yesterday, she said he'll be fine after the infusions, but IMO it's naive to think so.

How could I possibly have had a good time knowing that he was sick and wanting me there w/him?

Exactly!! If one of my girls would be that sick, or even dying, I would be crying all the time and would have no single moment of peace. But's it's probably like you said: Some people do not feel about their pets the way we do (here at PT).

I'll keep you updated!

[Randi]

There's only one answer to this question... OF COURSE NOT!!!

[pomtzu]

Sorry to sidetrack - but pom, would an opinion from your vet help you decide whether or not to go for the visit? You and I and all of us know our babies better than anyone...but it's just a thought.
(

Not sidetracking Kirsten - just an explanation here.

I value the vet's opinion, but that wouldn't ease my mind any. Myndi has kidney disease (not failure) and is on a special diet, and also has a heart murmur but it's stable and she takes no meds for it. She would be well taken care of by the family, but would be without humans around all day while son and DIL are working. She needs to eat, but both pups usually go on a hunger strike in protest for at least the first couple days that I am gone. So between the kidney issue, and the GI bleed that she had last year, not eating and being stressed out would not be good for her. Now you see why I am very hesitant to go and leave her.


And Kirsten - don't feel that you have betrayed your friend by saying anything here. Like CP said - we don't even know her. However, we all know you, and how much you value the health and well being of your girls, and your concern for other people's furkids too. We all stand behind your beliefs, and feel just as you do.

[Asiel]

No way would I ever leave a sick pet for a vacation. And the thought of having it pts so she can go is appalling to me. I guess I'm a real sucker for my dogs but I could never even go away for a whole day and leave a sick dog...been there, Everything got cancelled and we stayed home. I can barely handle watching a sick dog when I'm at home, let alone think of leaving on vacation.
I think your friend needs to do some heavy thinking on her decision....I really feel sorry for the poor cat.

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone for your kind words! Means a lot to me! I'm thinking about that poor kitty all the time!

Last night, my friend sent a message to my cellphone, telling me that it has started raining and that the kitty came back home, and that he "was fine" WTF! Guess it's these typical ups and downs that come with these fatal viral diseases. The day before yesterday, she told me that no one was allowed to touch him because he was so very much in pain. According to the vet, his brain is affected which leads to occasional limpness and stiffness, and sometimes he can barely walk, or get up. Sounds like nerve damage to me. And now she's telling herself "he's fine", probably only to be able to leave with a clear conscience! At least the kitty is inside now (I hope he still is!), so it will be easier for the neighbor to look after him!

And Kirsten - don't feel that you have betrayed your friend by saying anything here. Like CP said - we don't even know her. However, we all know you, and how much you value the health and well being of your girls, and your concern for other people's furkids too. We all stand behind your beliefs, and feel just as you do.

Thanks for saying that. Yes, I would probably try to stop the world for Luna and Lily if needed!
And I can see your dilemma re. Myndi very well. Hard to tell, but I probably wouldn't leave her then. Can't your brother come to visit you instead? Just a thought...

Not only would I not go, there was a time (or two) I didn't go to the hospital when I should have and mine were all healthy.

I understand that. When I applied for disability pension this year, I feared that they would send me to a rehabilitation clinic (which they do a lot here for chronical ill people). I would have refused to do that because I wouldn't want to leave my girls for 4 or 6 weeks! They're not ill, but 11 and 8 years old, and you never know how much time there is left, and I wouldn't want to waste any of that time by being separated from them. Also, I know they would be unhappy without me. Last year, when I had my rehabilitation after my back surgery, I went to a day clinic, driving 80 kilometres every day for the therapies, just to stay with my girls.


Another update: She just called me to give me the latest news. He's at the vet's now, running a fever of 106°F; he's getting infusions now and will stay at the vet's office as long as she's away. Glad she decided to take him in, at least he'll be looked after now and will get appropriate care.

[phesina]

Oh, thank GOD that he's at least at the vet's where he'll be getting the medical treatment he needs and will be looked after hopefully with love and kindness.