on a mercy mission, need your advice...

[carole]

The guy was very easy to talk to and he was not offended by my enquiry, the wife arrived while i was chatting to him, but just went in to the house, sometimes men are better to talk to about these things.

Yes might mention to the vet next time i am out there, but i guess not a lot they can do really.

Did not see the kids, but they look like in their early 30's so kids could be quite young.

I have to wonder if Pixie has ever been to the vet , he mentioned he takes the dogs there, so who knows,i just gotta be a bit careful is all, but yes Pixie is still on my mind, i don't let things go easily i can tell ya.

[Randi]

Oh Carole, that's a difficult situation. The poor kitty must be suffering. Perhaps you can print out something about various health problems and give to him next time you see him. The fleas should definitely be treated now! The cat probably needs the ears cleaned, too.

I hope the owner will do something about it.

Thanks for caring, Carole.

[phesina]

Carole, could you perhaps offer to give Pixie the flea treatment as a neighborly, fellow-cat-lover gesture?

[Freedom]

When you do speak with them again (see, I KNOW youa re going to, this is really becoming a mission for ya! and that is a GOOD thing!), maybe remind them the cat can NOT have the fleas treatment they use on the dog; and maybe also that fleas can cause a cat to become anemic and die. I know this is true for kittens, I imagine for a senior kitty this could also happen.

You are thinking this through, making sure you aren't too "nosy," good job, Carole!

[Catty1]

I agree with Freedom. If money is a bit tight for them, you could say that you have the flea treatment for cats, and offer a "dose" to them. You could even demonstrate how to put it on little Pixie.

If she has fleas, she likely has worms too - and a treatment might enable her to gain some weight!

These people might become friends too - what a nice bonus!

[Karen]

Could you maybe buy an inexpensive flea color and slip it on her, or bring it with you one day and say "Oh, I just realized I had this, and thought Pixie could use it ..." It isn't like she's a kitten and would likely fight the collar or get a paw stuck in it ...

[carole]

thanks for the suggestions, have thought about doing this to, yes nothing has changed , saw her this morning again, outside as usual and full of fleas, i do have a spare revolution,well not really spare for my cats, but yes i would eagerly donate it for Pixie, it is very distressing to see her in that state, and terrible for her.

You know i was thinking if she has lived for 17 yrs with them, she must have had pretty good care along the way,my train of thought is now she is old, maybe she has peeing and pooing issues, and they don't want the expense of vet visits, keep in mind they have another cat and two dogs, so letting nature take its course and just keep her outside, sure he said she can get in and out of the garage window, but can she , she has really bad arthritis in back and i noticed the front as well, she is so wobbly on her feet, poor wee soul, i really think she has a lot going on , than just what he knows or says.

I am pissed that he said he would de flea her and hasn't, i kind of walked away feeling he is BS me, cat shelter say get SPCA involved, but i don't know what to do, if they do uplift her and they may not, she will be PTS,and maybe that would be the best for her, i just am so torn as what is the best thing to do,i am feeling stressed and i really can't let myself get that way right now.

I only wish i had some of you guys with me to approach him again, i am really nervous about doing so, it took enough courage the first time, but i did it for Pixie's sake.

[Karen]

Oh. Carole, I would be with you in spirit - and if I could I'd lend you my "lions and tigers and leopards" jacket for extra courage for you! Hey - just print out this thread, fold it up and keep it in your pocket, and we'll all be with you!

[carole]

thank you karen, what a lovely thought, i am still tossing whether i should just get the SPCA inspectors involved, then they will just chat to them, it is so hard, i don't want to be responsible for having her PTS,but then maybe it would be a blessing, but who knows,decisions, decisions, i will have to think on my next move, i don't want to make matters worse.

[rg_girlca]

My goodness Carole, this poor little girl. Having that many fleas will make Pixie anemic if she isn't already. Depends on her coloring, if her nose and paws are pink but have turned white, then this poor girl is anemic and needs to see a vet. I remember when I found Poppy and he was just riddled with fleas that his nose, pads, gums and even inside his ears were white instead of pink because the fleas were just draining his blood. You could literally see the fleas running through his fur. The vet said another 3-4 days and he would have been dead. Mind you he was just a wee kitten at the time, but still, I am sure poor Pixie is not doing well because of being flea infested, not too mention how uncomfortable she feels. Also, be very careful because you can bring the fleas home on yourself.

I don't know if you can get dishwashing liquid named "Dawn" where you are, but it works very well when you bath an animal with fleas, but it has to be the orginal blue colored one. When I brought Poppy home, I went straight into my bathroom with him and bathed him with Dawn soap and you wouldn't believe the fleas that came off him. I had to bath him 3 times to make sure I got rid of them all.
Let the pet owner know that if Pixie's flea infestation is not taken care of like, ASAP, then he will shortly find a dead cat and that she would have suffered because of it.

I pray the owner does take her to the vet because she definitely needs to be taken care of NOW!!!!!!

Thank you for caring and just think Carol, if the SPCA do get involved, maybe, just MAYBE then the owner will step up to the plate and do what a responsible owner would do and bring her to the vet. If Pixie is PTS because her body just can't take anymore, then at least she won't be suffering anymore and will be at Peace.

[carole]

THANKS, i honestly don't know what to really think here, because i have seen Pixie around for along time, it was not until recently i became aware that she looked ill, so also i am thinking to even live to 17 yrs she has to have had good care, both my cats had excellent care, (well not before i had them,) and they only lived to 13 and 15, so you have to wonder what is going on here, yes bit worried about getting fleas and bringing them home too, DON'T want that.

[carole]

Pm'ed you all with update.

[caseysmom]

Pm'ed you all with update.

Can you PM me, I was following but didn't comment.

[carole]

Caseysmom sent you a PM

[carole]

I have just read through all my posts and i have to say my opinion has really changed, there is now no doubt in my mind this cat is being neglected and i have pm'd you all with the update, will keep you all posted, thanks for you continued support, i won't sleep easily tonight, but a part of me knows i have now made the right decision, no matter how hard that decision was and it does not rest well with me, but it is the only thing i could do.