Dire Straights with Shaak, HELP with what to do?

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

Okay, I am falling apart here. My son and my housemate have come to me and said it has been since December that Shaak came out of remission. She is not regulated yet, a big part of that is because I can't be awake for enough hours at a time (due to sleep apnea) or in the house for long enough due to Dr appointments and taking kids to classes to give the higher doses to get her back in remission, she is going to have to go below 100 to heal, and when below 100 I will have to be able to afford to test her as much as four times an hour for hours at a time, this is not something I am well enough or have enough money to do at the moment. One of the major issues with this whole scenario is as a result she is peeing all over the floor and this has been going on for months, I am on disability due to many reasons, two of which are Bi Polar and arthritis in my back, hands, feet, hips, and knees, and elbows even. My son and housemate have always had to take care of floors due to this, cleaning of them. They have now come to me and said they think it is time to let go, either turn her over to an animal facility or pts. My son and housemate say they love her but they want her to go away, they can't stand the smell or dirtiness of the floor anymore, that is unsanitary and unhealthy and probably a good reason why I have gotten so much sicker over the last few months. I love Shaak as much as I love my children. I don't know how to express how much I love her, we have a bond, I can't take away her life when she just needs to get regulated. I do think if I got help to clean up the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom floor it might help the situation, they refuse to clean the floors anymore trying to force my hand. I have been told by my psych Dr that I might be eligible for help in the home and I need to take to my case manager about it. I have called her a few times and she has not returned my callo. I am calling again now. I need help, I need help to get house taken care of and also being able to afford supplies to regulate her. I am hoping once June 1 gets here when my son sees his dad for the summer I will be able to with the help of my new CPAP machine and free time to be able to test multiple times a day and if I can find a way to come up with the money to get her regulated and hopefully back in remission. I don't know if I am posting all this to ask for help or just to get it off my chest, but I am so depressed and falling apart that all I can manage due to depression is to drive car back and forth to school and appointments. Anyway, this is my current state of being. Thank everyone for their many prayers for Shaak and our family, I am sure it is one of the reasons I am still functioning at all.

 

[Squeakycats]

I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family (including Shaak) are going through this. I don't have any great suggestions at the moment, but I'm sending you lots of hugs! Is it possible that someone else could help with transporting the kids to classes? Could Shaak temporarily live in a smaller area of the house, and you could put something down over the floor--like put a shower curtain down and put some of those "pee pad" things on top of it? Or even just a shower curtain and washable sheet, and some cozy towels or washable beds to curl up in? I had a cat who was incontinent who had to stay in an area with a tile floor until he was feeling better; I put up a baby gate (rather than close the door) so we could still see each other and I could talk to him and check on him. I think it upset me more than it did him.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

I'm so sorry to hear that you and your family (including Shaak) are going through this. I don't have any great suggestions at the moment, but I'm sending you lots of hugs! Is it possible that someone else could help with transporting the kids to classes? Could Shaak temporarily live in a smaller area of the house, and you could put something down over the floor--like put a shower curtain down and put some of those "pee pad" things on top of it? Or even just a shower curtain and washable sheet, and some cozy towels or washable beds to curl up in? I had a cat who was incontinent who had to stay in an area with a tile floor until he was feeling better; I put up a baby gate (rather than close the door) so we could still see each other and I could talk to him and check on him. I think it upset me more than it did him.

I like that idea, but I would need about eight shower curtains and it wouldn't solve the problem really, the main issue is the health and sanitation of the apartment, so the pee would still be there. I paid a huge deposit when we moved in here 10 years ago and recently told manager what Shaak was doing, the manager said he is not concerned with our floors, when we, if we ever move since we have lived here for so long they would replace carpet and hard flooring anyway, in fact they said we are due to let them replace some stuff right now but no use in doing it till Shaak quits peeing on floor, they are coming in and fixing some cabinet doors that have gotten really loose, and they have replaced our sink and tub faucets recently, plus new air conditioner and shower head. I have been worried they would evict us because of Shaak but he said it was not a problem for the owner or him. The baby gate sounds good but there are four of us in a two bedroom apartment with one hall, two bedrooms, our housemate is 68 years old and he would not be able to step over baby gate, neither would I actually. However, as sick as she is she still jumps on counters and tables so she would probably just climb over the gate. Her going OTJ last year gave her spunk back and even though she is not OTJ now her energy is still there, she has quit playing again though, I get upset when I see all her toys laying there and she just ignores them.

 

[Teresa & KitKat]

Has Shaak been seen by a vet recently. My cat Buddy who is diabetic was peeing on the floor, which he had done in the past. Buddy had a UTI, that would cause a cat to pee on the floor.

 

[JanetNJ]

I like that idea, but I would need about eight shower curtains and it wouldn't solve the problem really, the main issue is the health and sanitation of the apartment, so the pee would still be there. I paid a huge deposit when we moved in here 10 years ago and recently told manager what Shaak was doing, the manager said he is not concerned with our floors, when we, if we ever move since we have lived here for so long they would replace carpet and hard flooring anyway, in fact they said we are due to let them replace some stuff right now but no use in doing it till Shaak quits peeing on floor, they are coming in and fixing some cabinet doors that have gotten really loose, and they have replaced our sink and tub faucets recently, plus new air conditioner and shower head. I have been worried they would evict us because of Shaak but he said it was not a problem for the owner or him. The baby gate sounds good but there are four of us in a two bedroom apartment with one hall, two bedrooms, our housemate is 68 years old and he would not be able to step over baby gate, neither would I actually. However, as sick as she is she still jumps on counters and tables so she would probably just climb over the gate. Her going OTJ last year gave her spunk back and even though she is not OTJ now her energy is still there, she has quit playing again though, I get upset when I see all her toys laying there and she just ignores them.

As long as the smell is not cleaned up properly she will continue to go outside the box. even if you don't smell it, they can smell it. The right cleaner is ESSENTIAL. I had a cat who frequently peed outside the box, so I totally understand the stress it's causing the family. We finally came to an understanding, and for the last 3 years of his life peed on a dog training pad put outside of each box. For all accidents (and this also includes throw up) I use Anti Icky Poo Unscented. It is incredible stuff and I kid you not gets every odor out. (I bought the quart size spray bottle, then the refills by the gallon...) https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Max-Unscented-Remover-Gallon/dp/B002YQF9IQ/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

You're cats numbers really aren't that bad that she has the diabetes to blame. I think it's the lingering scents in the house and a behavior issue.

My next suggestion would be to change litters to Dr. Elsley's Cat Attract. It's expensive, but hopefully once you get her using the box again you can go back to whatever you usually use. https://www.amazon.com/Precious-Cat...ning/dp/B000PKY7YA/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20 If you have to, confine her to the room with the litter box for a day. Any time you see her use it, praise her! I had to do that for my cat a long time ago... after a while he would jump in the box any time he saw me even when he didn't have to go, then run to the kitchen for a snack... it was actually pretty funny. They learn quick.

My last suggestion is Feliway plugins. These are for helping with stressed out cats, which with her diabetes, and all those people living in close quarters, I'm sure she is. I know they are pricey, but they really could make a difference. The initial diffuser is a lot, but if it works, the refills aren't too bad with a six pack being 60... so that's $10/month supply. https://www.amazon.com/s/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20

no need to test four times an hour when she's under 100... why do you think you need to? unless there's a long time until nadir, 60-100 are perfectly safe numbers. keep checking the supply closet section for people giving away/selling unneeded supplies.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

Has Shaak been seen by a vet recently. My cat Buddy who is diabetic was peeing on the floor, which he had done in the past. Buddy had a UTI, that would cause a cat to pee on the floor.

Not since January, but I don't have the money to take her and I was denied care credit due to unpaid medical bills, I am stuck, I would love to have that checked though, I didn't actually realize that was a sign of UTI, I mean I did, but her other two UTI's she peed on the bed all the time, never on the floor, I kept plastic cover on mattress and disposable pads on top of bedspread, frustrating, but not all over the whole house, and none of her puddles are small, they are all huge amounts of pee, I was thinking with UTI she would be incontinent but she isn't this time, the last two times she would simply pee laying down on bed

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

As long as the smell is not cleaned up properly she will continue to go outside the box. even if you don't smell it, they can smell it. The right cleaner is ESSENTIAL. I had a cat who frequently peed outside the box, so I totally understand the stress it's causing the family. We finally came to an understanding, and for the last 3 years of his life peed on a dog training pad put outside of each box. For all accidents (and this also includes throw up) I use Anti Icky Poo Unscented. It is incredible stuff and I kid you not gets every odor out. (I bought the quart size spray bottle, then the refills by the gallon...) https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Max-Unscented-Remover-Gallon/dp/B002YQF9IQ/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493935199&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=anti ickly poo unsented

You're cats numbers really aren't that bad that she has the diabetes to blame. I think it's the lingering scents in the house and a behavior issue.

My next suggestion would be to change litters to Dr. Elsley's Cat Attract. It's expensive, but hopefully once you get her using the box again you can go back to whatever you usually use. https://www.amazon.com/Precious-Cat-Attract-Problem-Training/dp/B000PKY7YA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493935385&sr=8-1&keywords=dr. elsey's cat attract If you have to, confine her to the room with the litter box for a day. Any time you see her use it, praise her! I had to do that for my cat a long time ago... after a while he would jump in the box any time he saw me even when he didn't have to go, then run to the kitchen for a snack... it was actually pretty funny. They learn quick.

My last suggestion is Feliway plugins. These are for helping with stressed out cats, which with her diabetes, and all those people living in close quarters, I'm sure she is. I know they are pricey, but they really could make a difference. The initial diffuser is a lot, but if it works, the refills aren't too bad with a six pack being 60... so that's $10/month supply. https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=feliway diffuser

no need to test four times an hour when she's under 100... why do you think you need to? unless there's a long time until nadir, 60-100 are perfectly safe numbers. keep checking the supply closet section for people giving away/selling unneeded supplies.

I think I will try animal pee pads and that litter, unfortunately at the moment I can't afford to buy it. Also would like to get feliway and anti-icky poo sounds good too.

 

[Teresa & KitKat]

I meant to say Buddy had not peed on the floor in the past, so when he started peeing outside his litter box on the floor, I was shocked. Is there a humane society where you live, sometimes they have vets on staff that will see animals for a lot less than going to see a vet.
Everything is too expensive.

 

[Dusty Bones]

Is Shaak eating the correct food; low carb and wet? This is key, no high carb dry or wet food ever! Sometimes just changing their food to something like Fancy Feast or Friskies in pate style that is low carb will get them to snap out of it and back into remission. That's a quick and easy fix otherwise it's time for insulin which isn't too bad if you can afford something like Lantus, you just test and inject twice a day 12 hours apart.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

Is Shaak eating the correct food; low carb and wet? This is key, no high carb dry or wet food ever! Sometimes just changing their food to something like Fancy Feast or Friskies in pate style that is low carb will get them to snap out of it and back into remission. That's a quick and easy fix otherwise it's time for insulin which isn't too bad if you can afford something like Lantus, you just test and inject twice a day 12 hours apart.

Shaak has been eating FF chicken Feast for over a year, lowest carb FF has. She is back on the juice since December after being OTJ since March. I can't afford lantus, actually I can't really use a Depot insulin with my schedule, can't afford it anyway, no way to be home at times needed for injections and BG'S, or awake with my sleep apnea. I fall asleep unexpectedly for a couple of hours all the time, to give her good low numbers and guide her. She eats 8 times a day, every three hours, so I am pretty sure she would not bottom out but I just can't take her low when no guarantee I can be available if she were to hypo.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

I meant to say Buddy had not peed on the floor in the past, so when he started peeing outside his litter box on the floor, I was shocked. Is there a humane society where you live, sometimes they have vets on staff that will see animals for a lot less than going to see a vet.
Everything is too expensive.

Humane Society will only help if I give Shaak over to them.

 

[Dusty Bones]

If at all possible I would try to take her to the vet to see if other issues caused her to drop out of remission like tooth infections or UTI. I know you can't afford it but maybe find a vet that will take payments just for a quick check up.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

If at all possible I would try to take her to the vet to see if other issues caused her to drop out of remission like tooth infections or UTI. I know you can't afford it but maybe find a vet that will take payments just for a quick check up.

I will call around and see, I tried it last year with my husband's cat but no vet would take payments, I even asked if they would do it as a gesture of Goodwill. No takers. Ab few people suggested I do a go fund me campaign but I will not do that. So many people scam system and I don't want anyone to think badly of me asking for money from the whole internet. I will call Dr's again though to see if any of them would be willing to take payments. Thank you. All good suggestions.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Sorry Cathie, I've read most of your posts from the first day and I know you're in a really rough spot. We have a floor steamer, less than $100, and it works great. I can even use it on our hardwood floors. I know how much you love Shaak and I don't want your heart broken. You've got enough legitimate medical problems you could always try a Go Fund Me. It's not pity, it's called compassion. There's a huge difference. I'll be thinking about you and Shaak all night.

 

[FelineFriend]

Sending you lots of love, hugs & purrs. Hopefully some of the ideas others have had will help.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I am on disability due to many reasons, two of which are Bi Polar and arthritis .

Oh thank you Cathie. Just for once we can say Bipolar and not have it be a dirty word. All these commercials about "Talking about it" ( a lot of BS) which is one sure way to clear the dinner table. It's not contagious, you're not nuts, you're not a Witch. I just cook and clean and people think there's something wrong with me. Honesty my butt! Sorry, I know it's about Shaak, it was just really bugging me.

 

[StephG]

I buy "Chucks" on eBay. They're medical pee pads. I get a case of 300 for $30. MUCH cheaper than the puppy pads but the same thing. My civvie won't pee in the litter box. Ever. He does poo in it though ever since I changed to regular non scoopable clay litter. I know how frustrating and upsetting it is. He pees on my bed or couches when he gets a urinary tract infection.
Maybe you can find a vet that will do a urine test on a sample you bring in instead of a full checkup/visit? I think the full check up is the better idea but you've got to do what you can afford.
I think the go fund me is a good idea. It's not like you're asking for 25k for an in ground pool!
Maybe the humane society would be willing to barter for some help at the facility? From your post I see you're very limited physically but maybe they have some light duty tasks that could be done?
I hope you find some solutions soon.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Hope that made sense Cathie. What I meant was people still think anything "wrong" with your head, other then your eyes or ears, is something we can't talk about. Years ago I tried Prozac for a bit, never worked for me. If I told someone I was trying a serotonin reuptake inhibitor that would be fine. Tell them it's Prozac and they think you're loony. I have OCD, borderline ADHD and the way I act people would think I was gay. On my last softball team I changed my ordinary black shoelaces to fuchsia colored ones. Holy crap, it was an all male team and one of the guys wouldn't sit next to me anymore. I know it's painful being single with a disabled child and trying to fight the system. If you had PTSD Shaak would qualify for a therapy animal. Instead you have to argue and plead for everything. Someone please, I just need some basic help. This is not the society we were promised in the 60's. Dentists get a tax break if they drive a truck, people with two kids get a house on 2 acres but if you're not a trust fund baby you're out of luck. I still think you should look into GoFundMe, there's no part of your story you can't prove. I wish you love and peace. We've had incredibly bad luck here, the vet sent us flowers, so I know what pain and frustration is.

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

Did you lose someone? I did not see a thread anywhere? actually I do have PTSD, is there a way I can get help for Shaak from that, I never have registered her as a therapy animal because I hate paperwork. My Psych Dr has told me I could have her registered as a therapy animal.

Hope that made sense Cathie. What I meant was people still think anything "wrong" with your head, other then your eyes or ears, is something we can't talk about. Years ago I tried Prozac for a bit, never worked for me. If I told someone I was trying a serotonin reuptake inhibitor that would be fine. Tell them it's Prozac and they think you're loony. I have OCD, borderline ADHD and the way I act people would think I was gay. On my last softball team I changed my ordinary black shoelaces to fuchsia colored ones. Holy crap, it was an all male team and one of the guys wouldn't sit next to me anymore. I know it's painful being single with a disabled child and trying to fight the system. If you had PTSD Shaak would qualify for a therapy animal. Instead you have to argue and plead for everything. Someone please, I just need some basic help. This is not the society we were promised in the 60's. Dentists get a tax break if they drive a truck, people with two kids get a house on 2 acres but if you're not a trust fund baby you're out of luck. I still think you should look into GoFundMe, there's no part of your story you can't prove. I wish you love and peace. We've had incredibly bad luck here, the vet sent us flowers, so I know what pain and frustration is.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Did you lose someone?

It was just incredibly bad timing. Four cats and my Mom in one winter, two more cats the next year and what really hit me hard was losing the last two, Noah's Dad Jacob and two weeks later Noah's last brother Nigel. It was after we lost eight cats that the vet sent us flowers. Most of that pain is gone now but this is about you and Shaak. I really wish I won one of those stupid powerball lotteries. I might buy a new Subaru and a little acreage but there's enough charities already for ingrown toenails and people who got stung by a bee. It just burns my bum to know you're not exaggerating and you're really trying as hard as you can and all I can do is watch and wish you the best. Maybe the weekend will bring some sunshine.
Now Cynthia's brother is sick, he doesn't know how sick he is, he needs 24 hour care but his wife is sick too and we're hiding the worst parts of all this from Cynthia's Mom who is 90. Boy, life really sucks sometimes. Will you give Shaak a little head rub for me?

 

[Cathie and Shaak Ti (GA)]

It was just incredibly bad timing. Four cats and my Mom in one winter, two more cats the next year and what really hit me hard was losing the last two, Noah's Dad Jacob and two weeks later Noah's last brother Nigel. It was after we lost eight cats that the vet sent us flowers. Most of that pain is gone now but this is about you and Shaak. I really wish I won one of those stupid powerball lotteries. I might buy a new Subaru and a little acreage but there's enough charities already for ingrown toenails and people who got stung by a bee. It just burns my bum to know you're not exaggerating and you're really trying as hard as you can and all I can do is watch and wish you the best. Maybe the weekend will bring some sunshine.
Now Cynthia's brother is sick, he doesn't know how sick he is, he needs 24 hour care but his wife is sick too and we're hiding the worst parts of all this from Cynthia's Mom who is 90. Boy, life really sucks sometimes. Will you give Shaak a little head rub for me?

I am so sorry you lost so many friends in such a short time. Loss is so hard, emotionally and physically.
I have often imagined what charities I could start if I won a lottery, if you put a million into a decent yielding account you could operate small charities with what your interest is each year. Heck, the way it is now with 100's of millions of dollars being one in one fell swoop you could put 5 million into an account and definitely operate off of interest each year. I see so many suffering people and animals and I just want to help them all. I do know that hopefully Shaak lives many more years, but when she is gone we have decided to not adopt any more animals, we just don't have the money to protect them if they get sick. We are going to volunteer at shelters as often as we can, I really think that is a good choice for us.

On happy news, I got my CPAP Machine today and will begin using it tonight, I am hoping a lot of the health problems I have will be helped now.

 

[StephG]

we have decided to not adopt any more animals, we just don't have the money to protect them if they get sick. We are going to volunteer at shelters as often as we can, I really think that is a good choice for us.

We have decided the same thing. But we are considering fostering for a rescue since they usually cover the medical costs and it opens up a spot for another animal in need. That will hopefully be years down the line. Our dog is still young... Only 5 years old so we'll have her to consider when fostering.