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Post by sunshineshouse on Jul 28, 2014 19:00:53 GMT -5
Hi buttercup78,
I have been through this with cats and dogs both. I hope you will try some of the suggestions that work to keep the cat in its home. Fourteen years old is not very old for a cat, if it has no major health issues. Do check out the UTI possibility and the confining the pet to an area.
I hope you have your family - especially your son that brought the cat home - working on a solution with you. I consider my pets to be members of the family, and I hope my children understand that too, not that the pets are accessories or playthings. We have them for better or worse, to the end of their lives. It is expensive and a lot of work and responsibility. I hope that you can turn this into a positive teaching opportunity for your children, so should they decide to get a pet (once they have moved out on their own) they understand the difficulties that come along with it, not just the initial joy. Or they may realize that they don't want to take on the years-long responsibility, and better they learn that now.
I hope for a good outcome for all of you.
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Post by outfromundah on Jul 28, 2014 19:01:27 GMT -5
I recommend looking for The Humane Society near you, as they so run no-kill shelters, and also have excellent clinics. If you're on public assistance or have financial concerns, they usually give you a break for medical care. Friends of Animals also might be able to help with suggestions.
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Post by Di on Jul 28, 2014 19:25:20 GMT -5
I had to have a cat put to sleep several years ago. I took her to the local shelter and signed a release and stayed with her through the process. Not all shelters are the same
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Post by _Linda_ on Jul 28, 2014 19:58:12 GMT -5
Please call your vet and get the cat in before making any decisions. This could be a medical issue that can be treated. If it's a behavioral problem, there are meds that work wonders. Both my sister and I have had cats on the med amitriptyline. My cat had severe aggression issues and my sister's cat would pee on my niece's bed. Both cats responded very well to it. The trick is to give the med at the same time everyday.
I hope this helps.
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Post by buttercup78 on Jul 28, 2014 22:10:19 GMT -5
Thank you for all the compassionate answers, and as for the not-so-compassionate ones, I prefaced my request with an apology if it offended anyone. Circumstances change over the course of 14 years and the health of my children is more important to me than any animal, no apology for that. I came to this board because I have NEVER seen judgment or condemnation for any issue.
This is not a new problem, she has been doing it for many years and I doubt there is any way to stop it. With 8 people in a small house, there is no place to contain the cat(s). My husband has worked maybe 11 months of the last 24 and money is tight. As I said, the SPCA will not accept owner surrenders and I'm not going to lie and say she is a stray or something. I guess we will have to look into the cost of putting her down.
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Post by puppybox on Jul 29, 2014 12:01:29 GMT -5
I had to have a cat put to sleep several years ago. I took her to the local shelter and signed a release and stayed with her through the process. Not all shelters are the same shelter is a vague term, so yes they vary. I did not say shelters are inhumane. shelters are not. pounds are. a municipal pound is NOT a shelter. it is simply not accurate to call a pound a shelter. The SPCA is a shelter. The humane society is a shelter. their purpose is to rescue animals, whether they put animals to sleep or not. SPCA's also differ a lot, but they would not use an inhumane (without painkiller) kill process. Some have no kill policies. a pound is not there to rescue animals. it doesn't shelter them from harm. it is not a shelter. A pound is there to save the community from the presence of loose unwanted animals, by removing them from the streets. their purpose is to control the population of unwanted animals. They may be lovely or they may be horrible. but they have no mandate, duty or responsibility to be humane to the animals. Legally, in our society, there is nothing requiring it.
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Post by Di on Jul 29, 2014 12:52:25 GMT -5
puppybox. I guess I tend to use the terms interchangeably the County maintains a "no kill" shelter--exceptions made for sick animals. The city shelter does euthanize but it doesn't gas or starve animals and they try to get animals adopted and fostered. One shelter in our general area is closing next month because the local gov't the budget to the point where they would have to be a "pound" (using your definition) and the organization that runs it refused. They got all the current animals fostered. There are animal problems that need to be addressed in a caring and compassionate manner.
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Magenta
New Member
How many other squalor-sufferers have issues with animal waste? Cat or dog or other?
Joined: July 2014
Posts: 49
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Post by Magenta on Jul 29, 2014 13:18:48 GMT -5
My family had an emotionally-damaged and physically-abused rescued poodle, and my parents eventually put him down. He wouldn't stop urinating all over the house, of course, my parents had remodeling going on so no wonder he was so nervous, but they felt that was the best thing. It's difficult to make the decision I'm sure, but I do understand my parents choice. He wasn't getting better and this was before the puppy Prozac boom. It's a horrible thing to think, but we knew no one else could give the dog the same level of care we had, and his problems were deeply rooted in puppyhood trauma (when we found him he had burns all over his body and horrible dermatitis on his ears... but he was so sweet) that it was pretty obvious he couldn't get "better". Good luck.
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Post by Unswamping on Jul 29, 2014 13:55:18 GMT -5
buttercup78 i am sorry that you are having a difficult time with your cat. I am also sorry that you received some not so compassionate responses. This forum is a non judgemental and compassionate place, for the most part. Sometimes issues arise that are very emotionally charged for other members. My first reaction was probably not so compassionate so i didnt post any. I am an animal lover who feels that when someone takes on a pet, they are taking on responsibility for the rest of that pets life. That said, i am NOT judging you. I understand that things happen and situations change. You sound like you are overwhelmed, understandably so. This must be a difficult decision for you. Can you call your vet and/or spca and explain the situation, the age of the cat, the long standing nature of the problem, your financial situation and the fact that you cannot cope with this situation any longer. They may offer to take the cat and put him to sleep for no or low cost. I have been through tough financial situations where i could not afford food and litter for my six cats. I tried to surrender them and was not able to do so-i did find compassionate support and a place that was willing to supply me with food and litter so that i could keep my cats while my situation was resolved. That is really the resolution i desired. They would have taken them away if that was what i really wanted, they work with the best interests of animals in mind. So if you could make some calls to see what can be done. If they cant help you, ask them if they know who can. Be persistent. It was very difficult and humbling for me to ask for help but i did it. You can do this too. I will pray that you find a resolution that is best for you and your cat.
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Post by puppybox on Jul 29, 2014 18:02:00 GMT -5
It may indeed be possible to put one's animal to sleep in a decent manner at either a shelter or a pound, which may cost less than at a vet, but I think it would be key to be present for it to make sure it was handled quickly and as gently as possible.
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Post by Arid on Jul 30, 2014 2:45:21 GMT -5
From what I'm reading in another thread, a new baby is expected in the buttercup78 household. Therefore, it is even more imperative for her to be rid of this situation.
Pregnant women should **NOT** be dealing with litter boxes, cat messes, etc. because of the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. It is a *VERY* serious illness; no doubt that is what she was referring to when she stated that ". . . the health of my children is more important to me than any animal,. . ." That is a very valid concern.
Arid
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Post by outfromundah on Jul 30, 2014 9:10:44 GMT -5
Pregnant women should **NOT** be dealing with litter boxes, cat messes, etc. because of the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis. It is a *VERY* serious illness; no doubt that is what she was referring to when she stated that ". . . the health of my children is more important to me than any animal,. . ." That is a very valid concern. Arid That is a bit of a myth, actually. If a woman has been been living with cats and litter for years and years, the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis is likely already in her bloodstream and therefore, such exposure before becoming pregnant means the mother's immune system will protect the baby. If a woman is pregnant first and then exposed to cat litter and the parasite, that it is more dangerous. Not all cats will pass along the parasite, especially if they've lived indoors and never caught any birds or mice. One can also get toxoplasmosis from unwashed fruits and vegetables, and raw meat. A blood test can be done to see if the pregnant woman has it. See this page from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/pregnant.html
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Post by bittyboo on Jul 30, 2014 13:17:14 GMT -5
Whether toxoplasmosis is a risk for buttercup or not, if an infant is coming into the house, the situation cannot be allowed to continue. Infants become mobile very quickly, and an infant or baby cannot be allowed to crawl or walk around on floors that may be contaminated with urine and feces. It's bad enough when the children are older, but at least they can try to avoid stepping into or on it. Young children aren't that discriminating and everything they pick up, as well as their hands and feet,go into their mouths.
And chances are, the cat has soiled areas of the house other than her DD's bedroom and the attic. Those are probably just the most obvious.
I feel bad for the cat, I really do. But the situation as it currently stands cannot continue That cat must go.
Do whatever you feel you need to do, buttercup, and don't let anyone beat you up or make you feel guilty.
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Post by Arid on Jul 30, 2014 13:59:12 GMT -5
I do *NOT* see this as a myth, outfromundah!!
The very article to which you provided a link says the same exact thing that I did: pregnant women should **NOT** be dealing with litter boxes and cat messes.
My Master's degree and I stand by this statement . . .
Arid
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Post by Arid on Jul 30, 2014 14:01:31 GMT -5
bittyboo brings up an excellent point, too. Toxoplasmosis isn't the only illness to which a crawling baby would be exposed by ingesting cat feces.
Arid
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