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Post by outfromundah on Jul 30, 2014 17:43:36 GMT -5
My point was that it's probably already in an expectant mother's bloodstream, and therefore the unborn baby has immunity - but to be sure, there is a blood test. There is a sort of myth surrounding that issue. Many people get rid of cats out of fear of toxoplasmosis, when they and their families already have the antibodies present anyway.
My comment was just a tangent, anyway, not a criticism of the OP. About two years ago, I brought my 15-year-old cat to the Humane Society to put him to sleep - because I could not afford medicine for his thyroid condition, and he was very uncomfortable. I had almost lost my apartment and become homeless. I had to borrow money for my rent and was eating dinner at soup kitchens. It broke my heart that I could not help him, but I knew no one would adopt a sick, old cat who had also always been skittish and unfriendly. As the vet told me, cats on their own (in the streets or wild) would not live longer than six or seven years, so I should take heart that I gave him a comfortable, loving, secure home for much longer than the odds, especially since he was an antisocial cat. At the Humane Society, they let me hold him in my arms while they administered the shots. So, I have no issue with this solution for the OP and I highly recommend the Humane Society because they are very compassionate but understanding and down-to-earth about the kinds of problems pet owners have.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2014 19:30:26 GMT -5
seiously, let's not get into whether or not the cat needs to go, but how is the best way to handle the situation. That is the issue right now. Not causing more issues
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Post by bittyboo on Jul 30, 2014 20:15:29 GMT -5
I'm sorry if you think my response was intended to cause "issues'" hordfest. It was not. It was my response to the OP's problem.
If an infant is coming into the house, as far as I'm concerned the only way to handle the situation is to get the cat out of the house using whatever method is necessary. That could mean putting the cat down, taking it to a shelter or re-homing it. Whatever. Buttercup needs to do whatever she feels she needs to do and not feel guilty about it. That was my point.
Collective hand wringing, agonizing over the situation, and debating the "best" way to handle the situation doesn't alter the outcome. And having people heap shame and scorn on buttercup if she can't manage the "best" way to handle the situation doesn't work, either.
Buttercup knows what needs to be done. Unfortunately, sometimes we can't handle things in the "best" way possible. Sometimes you just have to do what must be done.
Infants and constant exposure to cat urine/feces don't mix. Cat urine, in particular, can cause some very nasty problems for small children.
Human children come first. Period.
That's my position and I'm sticking with it, whether it causes "issues," or not.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 8:15:35 GMT -5
Sorry, I wasn't talking about what you had said. I was just talking about getting into issues about keeping the cat versus not keepinng the cat and any guilt that buttercup may be feeling over that.
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Post by bittyboo on Jul 31, 2014 10:18:07 GMT -5
No problem, hordfest.
Since I was the one who said the cat must go, And you posted soon after I did, I assumed you were referring to my post.
I apologize for the misunderstanding.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2014 10:36:41 GMT -5
Its ok
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Post by danny15 on Aug 1, 2014 13:27:59 GMT -5
Mimi's advice is excellent.
If you use a crate you may want to put towels under it and keep it a foot away from walls or furniture. Even female cats can spray out.
You could see if there are any sanctuaries in your area that will accept your older cat. We currently have 9 cats (several who have problems with pee/poop/vomit) as well as dogs. Some sanctuaries with volunteers can accept more animals. These people can take in older animals who are unadoptable and give them the best life possible until it is time to humanely put them down in someone's loving arms. Frequently they have wonderful vets who donate meds and services.
You could explain the problem to your vet (and several vets in your area) and ask them if they know someone who would be willing to take her. Do be honest about your reason for giving her up. There are people who are willing to adopt older animals with issues and are able to put in the time and effort required to work on the problem. She could still have a long life ahead of her. Our cats generally live til 20 or 21 years.
If all your attempts fail find a vet who is willing to put her down and do hold her while she passes. Some vets are not willing to put an animal down as a matter of convenience.
Good luck.
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Post by messymimi on Aug 1, 2014 14:53:55 GMT -5
For whatever reason, Buttercup needs to deal with the issue of an elderly cat that is set it its ways and has been refusing to use the litter box for a long time.
The ways to deal with it are to find another home, if she can, to crate the cat and let it out only under supervision, or have it humanely put down because the first two options are not available or are untenable.
On the side issue of toxoplasmosis, we had cats from the time i was a young child, and i kept them through all of my pregnancies. Yes, i cleaned the boxes the whole time. Yes, i used gloves, washed my hands well, and talked to my Ob/Gyn who said that was fine, he'd never seen a case of a pregnant woman with toxoplasmosis in his 20 years of practice. Even Grandpa, the Ob/Gyn who is so obsessively orderly and tidy i call him Dr. Born Organized Clean, said it was fine, as long as i was taking those precautions and was washing my fruits and veggies and not eating raw meat.
So while i don't suggest you get a cat for the first time ever while pregnant, if you have one, and you are cautious, you can probably keep it (check with your own doctor). That isn't the problem in this case, Buttercup has a cat that messes outside of the box, which is not a good thing for anyone in the house, cat or person, toxoplasmosis or no.
Buttercup, you can only do as much as you can do, and as someone who has had to make the difficult decision to put cats down because of severe behavior and health issues, i will not hold it against you in any way if you have tried everything and you have to make that very difficult decision.
messymimi
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Post by soapyclean on Aug 13, 2014 11:05:55 GMT -5
Buttercup, my advice is going to be unpopular. A 14 year old cat who is going outside the box has problems. They may be mental or physical. A 14 year old cat is not rehomeable--not with those unsanitary habits. The animal is sick and is probably quite ready to "go on".
I feel you should take the cat to be euthanized. Anything else is expecting someone else to do it for you. As a pet foster, I had someone lie to me about the age of a cat I was to foster. They brought me a decrepit, dust farting, rail thin frail thing who had constant diarrhea and ate voraciously. I had the usual medical tests run with no answers to the problems. I had to make the decision and take the cat for euthanasia at the same time I was doing the same for my own beloved cat who was chronically ill as well.
I resented those people (heretofore had been friends) for dumping their emotional minefield onto me. It's truly not fair to do this to someone else, and it's not fair to the cat to spend its final days at the pound when it could go peacefully with its owner in the room.
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Post by angela on Aug 13, 2014 12:27:55 GMT -5
buttercup, just wondering how things have progressed with this situation for you. I hope you feel supported and empowered to make a healthy choice for your family.
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