Feeling like a bad cat mommy

Eileen,

Has Diva had a check-up lately?  I ask because I had two cats years ago who developed behavioral problems and stopped using their litter boxes, and when the vet checked them out we discovered that they both had thryoid problems.

Just a thought...

Jean

Jean:

I took her to the vet when this first started, along with a stool sample, and the vet said she was healthy ... the stool sample was fine, no parasites. Now, I didn't have blood drawn. This is something that Jeanine, her "other" mommy, is going to do. I may ask Jeanine to take her earlier because I am going out of town next weekend to see my family and will be gone for nearly four days possibly ... I can't lock her in the bathroom for four days or have a friend deal with cat poop all over the house. That's not fair to anyone.

I know all about thyroid problems ... had two cats with them, and both were losing weight. Diva is not losing weight, or gaining weight. She is 7 years old, her weight is stable, there are no outward signs of health problems. If there are inward signs, well, maybe Jeanine's vet can find them. She runs a cat rescue and is a nonprofit, so can get it done more cheaply.

My "old cat" (she is 16) has started not using litter box. I think her health is really failing but I cannot tolerate this!!!!!!!!!!!! I will probably have to have her put to sleep in early January. I guess I will have to try the shut her up in the bathroom thing too. It breaks my heart because I have had her since she was itty bitty (6 or 7 weeks). wahhhhhhhhhh

I understand your feelings. Diva is only 7 years old, though, and much too young to euthanize. And locking her in the bathroom didn't work ... she opened the door! She's such a clever cat ... one of the things I love about her.

It's hard to part with our furbabies when they get sick and old, I know. I had to put two cats to sleep when they got so sick, Kittle and Cinnamon. Cinnamon was nearly 19 when I let him go ... he was hyperthyroid and had chronic renal failure. I did all I could for him to keep him alive and well, but in the end, there was nothing left for me to do but to let him go. That was the humane thing to do, and I'm sure it will be the same for your cat. It was for Kittle too, who was diabetic and hyperthyroid and died before Christmas 2000. I had him and Cinnamon (they were brothers) since they were kittens, and they had followed me from Montana to South Dakota to Georgia and on to Michigan, where they finally died, from 1984 on.

My little girl has always been a perfect pet until the past year and I have taken her to the vet who wanted me to let her go then (maybe I should have?) but I just couldn't bear it. I guess I hoped we could give her more time. Apparently not Her sister did this just before she passed away too. Yes they were litter mates. No more pets ... it is too heart breaking when they get to this stage.