Just wanted to post a couple pics of my big baby Tiger. He's about 7 years old, and very needy. He whines like he's gonna die if I'm not petting him, and he's practically shredded my bedsheets. I wouldn't trade him for the world. :-)
One more from today...he's an indoor/outdoor cat, but with the temps falling, he's decided once again that looking at the outside is just as good as being in it.
hi all, I haven't been on much, but I hope that somebody can give me some guided advice...
I have two wonderful boys (cats) who are 4 years old. Starsky & Hutch are brothers and very close. I love them very much. However, I felt that my daughter might benefit from growing up with a little one of her own. My boys are a bit less playful than she'd like... so...
A friendly mom from my daughter's school recently told me that her cat had had a litter. I thought about it a lot, being unsure about the impact it would have on my boys, but last week, I went in and brought a little lady home on Christmas day.
This is where the trouble started. I discovered that she shakes a lot (tremors) and tires easily. She also can't completely close her mouth. I went to the vet today who told me that her jaw hasn't formed well and she'd need to lose a few teeth a the bottom to be able to live without pain.
That isn't the biggest problem of course. The tremors could be cause by diabetes, a neurological issues/birth defect or a vitamin decency etc. At first glance the vet thought she was a sad, sad case that needed to be put down, but the little kitten has spunk and is very sweet. She *wants* to play and have fun. She immediately purs when you pet her.
She will go to the vet on Monday for urine and blood-work. If they can't find the issue then they can continue checking with MRIs etc, but the problem is that this will cost a lot... I did not expect this to happen with a kitten. Usually I can save up...
I feel very uncomfortable attaching money to a life. I love cats. I really want to do a lot for them and I do not want my daughter's heart to be broken, she's 6. However, I do not have the money to dole out thousands of euros.
My daughter named the kitten Starlight. I really want to help her and keep my daughter happy. If anyone has any advice, I've love to hear it. ty. ❤️
Hi @moonbeam, sorry that your kitten is having troubles. Just wanted to say that i feel that the Universe brought her to you for a reason, and the Universe will help you find a way to help her. Please don't give up on Starlight. (Says the guy with more cats than common sense.)
Can you post a picture of her?
In 2008, we adopted a little grey tabby female from a nearby farm, to be a companion for our daughter (who was 8 at the time). She was about 6 weeks old when we got her. by 3 weeks later, we had to put her down. Long story short, she would just not wake up from naps and sleeping. Multiple trips to the ER vet, at each one they told us to put her down. After many of these episodes, we just couldn't go forward with her. She was a lovely kitty (named Violet), very smart. When I think of her now I still tear up. We still don't know what was really wrong with her, but all the vets agreed that sometimes a cat will be born with brain abnormalities that are not easily diagnosed. We could not afford to try to figure it out at the time and the end result would have probably been the same.
Fast forward to the last couple of years, where I've spent about $20k on medical pet care. These were all adult animals and I had already invested so much in them that I did my best to extend their lives comfortably as best I could.
I have a couple of suggestions, really two paths you can follow:
1. The kitten is suffering, and putting it down may be a mercy. Use the opportunity to talk to your daughter about the cycle of life and death. Use whatever spiritual practices you enjoy as part of the process. Let her be present for the euthanasia, and if there are vets that would come to your home to do that, that's the best way.
2. Get a second, healthier kitten immediately, as a back-up. Male. Different litter. Do your best to make the first kitten as comfortable as possible, and if and when necessary, euthanize it then. Set yourself a monetary limit and don't go beyond it, no heroic measures.
Good luck, hang in there and keep us posted.
@moonbeam, there are no coincidences in life, and believe it or not, one of my dearest friends is a very talented tarot and rune reader. I am going to ask her to do a reading for *your* Starlight. I will let you know tonight (or possibly tomorrow) what she says.
@unk-p, thank you so much ❤️ I've been hoping against all hope that she's going to be a bit better soon.
My mother was the same with cats. We had 7 at our small apartment when I grew up. So I was instilled with cat-love, much like you ?
@laura-f, thank you so much for your story. How horrible to go through:-( For your daughter as well. ?
I didn't got for a male cat, due to my older cats being male, but you are right about the hard choices. I do not want to let her suffer. I hope that there is an easy fix although that option seems far-fetched... All my senses say it is a neurological defect... she is happy when playing and being petted though.
In an addition to health problems of Starlight, her sister just died in a freak accident. She got stuck between a window and frame. Her owners didn't see until it was too late. Talking about the universe and paths, I cannot help but think her sister was trying to get to Starlight:-(
No decisions yet. Monday she'll be at the vet all day and hopefully Unk has some more advice as well. Will keep you posted. ❤️
Not sure if this will work, but here is a picture. She looks a bit unhappy, but most of the time she seems content if we pat her and play with her. She has her own blanket; soft and warm, but sometimes she tries to find a flat surface like this chair to lie on.
To me that looks like a cat in pain. She's adorable, though. I hope your vet can figure something out.