boarding Noah next week/freaked out

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Noah & me (GA)

Noah & me (GA)

Member Since 2016
I cannot keep my emotions out of this. Maybe later we can edit this and move it to Think Tank. Sorry for the length.
Next Wednesday we fly from Toronto to Vancouver, take a ferry to Vancouver Island, then a rental 8 person van another six hours. This is all due to family stupidity. Noah has to be boarded for seven days. He has some form of cat PTSD, has never been crated, his cardiomyopathy and enlarged heart means every day is a miracle. He is the last of a family of six and our only yellow and white cat, a beautiful soul.
Like most of you I have not spent a single night out of this house for years. Nigel was easy because he loved the car and knew my sister's cottage. Noah needs to be wrapped in piddle pads and towels and his vet visits are planned well in advance.
Now I have learned my lesson regarding making the staff understand what they can and cannot do. Noah's brother Andrew went to emergency years ago and I did not make them write down my demands for his overnight stay. There's a reason some staff work the night shift and these same idiots dragged a nervous cat with days to live out of his crate at 2AM to check his blood pressure. Andrew had to be restrained even for vaccinations; he freaked out, had a stroke and cardiac arrest and died when we weren't there. So basically they murdered Andrew, then wrote us a "So sorry" form letter.
This is what I've done for Noah;
- I checked the room he'll be in for space, noise, slamming doors and dimmable lighting.
- They may be able to use our enormous dog crate if there are no other cats in the room.
- If you pick Noah up keep him close to the floor and make it quick.
- Poke his left ear only (valid medical reason) and lay him on his left side for injections. No scruff.
- He won't eat in front of you, just leave him alone.
- Don't fuss over him, he'll never trust strangers so don't tell me "I'm good with animals".
- It's okay to use a U100 syringe with U40 insulin, it's grade 4 math. The U40's that come with Caninsulin in Canada are as big as your wrist.
- Maybe the doctor knows but the techs have NEVER heard of bouncing or the Somogyi effect.
The most difficult thing. If anything happens do I want to know? I'll already be miserable amongst a group of cat-haters, things can't get any worse.
That's it. If anyone has any other ideas I would greatly appreciate it.
I'm sorry for the drama, I know it's not about me and most of you should be used to it by now.
Just sending Noah some hugs would be a big help. I'm a mess, need to log off for a few days.
Thank you everyone.
 
I don't have any advice, and just want to say that I truly hope everything will work for you. I can only imagine the worry you must be feeling. I'll say a prayer for you and Noah.
 
You are incredibly thorough and caring. Very intelligent planning ahead. You are doing your absolute best for Noah, please try to settle or he's going to pick up on that and I don't think that's what you want. What would you tell someone else in a similar situation. A huge hug to you, sending calm, peace and love.
 
I am sorry that you have to do this. I totally understand the freaking out/emotion. It sounds like you are taking care of everything you possibly can, and beyond that, just try not to worry yourself to death. (I know.. easier said than done.) :bighug:
 
That’s what I was gonna add...send some things that smell like home, it does help some, that’s what I’ve done in past, so sorry you are going through this, sending lots of :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:, maybe his own food and water bowl too
 
Type out a list with

What times to feed how much and what food (you provide food)

Type in all caps bold print what ear to test

If Noah doesn't like to be touched put on the list

Stress no unauthorized treats

List any meds he is not to receive

If he's particular about litter provide it and stress to use it only

I mean spell everything out. Have two copies, you and facility sign both copies. You keep one and they get the other. It should be attached to his cage door.

Make it clear and concise, to the point. Go over it with them.
 
Love-Paula aka Woodsywife said:
Type out a list with

What times to feed how much and what food (you provide food)

Type in all caps bold print what ear to test

If Noah doesn't like to be touched put on the list

Stress no unauthorized treats

List any meds he is not to receive

If he's particular about litter provide it and stress to use it only

I mean spell everything out. Have two copies, you and facility sign both copies. You keep one and they get the other. It should be attached to his cage door.

Make it clear and concise, to the point. Go over it with them.
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That’s what I did, a 2 page list, I even went as far as asking them to take a pic of bella everyday and send to me, yeah I’m nuts but it made me feel better to see him
 
Would they let you have a camera in his room? My sister has a little camera set up at home, and she can use an app on her phone to check up on her cat whenever she wants. She can even speak to him through it if she wants. (She does not normally do that out of concern that it would be upsetting to him to hear her but not be able to find her.)
 
Bring the staff cookies or doughnuts! They will remember who brought them & be reminded of Noah! Bring his basket if it will fit- even tipped sideways ... aaahhh ...wishing you & Noah all the comfort I can give from afar. I do hope you try to relax... enjoy your time with dw!
 
My son & fiancé have a camera set up in their home & it works well. I care for him on short trips but not daily. He’s not diabetic or any other health issues. You’d have to tape it in place & I wonder if that would be allowed in a place of business.. privacy laws, etc. It’s very small & not that expensive, there’s an app for it & you can turn it on any time. It has a motion sensor so it also comes on when he is moving. It will record too.
My son sent me the video of Bogie smacking me- every time & named them Smackdown..round 1, round 2, ... etc. And my reactions! It was funny, I try to pet him & he’s a meany. I even bring him special treats but he just wants his mom & dad.
 
Awwwww Dickson!! Big hugs for you and sending all the peace and love along with calming vines possible. You trust these people you said. So trust yourself too. You've done all you can. Give him some extra loves from us all. Breathe...
 
When I had to board my diabetic cats, I wrote very explicit instructions for the vet staff. The things I included were that they had to test before EVERY shot with my meters, no exceptions. (Yes, I wrote "every" in caps, bold and red in my instructions). There were not to give insulin if the value was less than ### (fill in your own don't shoot number) or change the insulin dose. NO EXCEPTIONS UNLESS I WAS CALLED FIRST. (Yes, that was also in my instructions.) I had two diabetic cats being boarded at the same time and they each had their own meter. I am happy to say they completely followed my instructions. Even the vet got a chuckle about my detailed instructions.
 
You've iterated my biggest fears of leaving my babies. But the #1 anxiety producer for me is your..."If anything happens...do I want to know?"

Ummmmm...

Errrrrrrr...

Hmmmm.

I truly hope that my thinking out loud doesn't make this worse for you, I am hoping it might help.

Whether I am around cat lovers or not, for me it boils down to one question: Is there anything I can truly do from wherever I am? I think there are 4 scenarios:

1. THE worst case: Necropsy and individual cremation with cremains returned, get a paw print and fur clipping if possible.
2. Medical crisis (life or death): It depends on which cat. Our wishes for 19-year old Miss Sara with CKD is different than for our < 10 year olds with no known issues (or even for Whisper who is healthy other than the diabetes), but we state what that is. It is similar to the kind of form we have to sign when leaving a cat at our state university vet school for treatment if we aren't right there with them. That is, do they not attempt resuscitation at all, or do they take all means necessary?
3. Medical "issues": Not trivial, but also not life threatening.
4. Minor medical issues

For #1, I *think* that I've decided that I give those directives, and I don't want to know until I get home. I'll tell you why later.
For #2,follow my directive without calling me. If #2 becomes #1, tell me when I get home. If #2 resulted in successful resuscitation (if that was my choice for that cat), then follow #3 .
For #3, once they are STABLE, call me.
For #4, just treat don't call (thinking of things like URI, giving appetite stimulant if not eating, things like that).

Obviously there can still be areas of uncertainty between #2 and #3, but fortunately my vet knows us very well and I would trust her to treat as I would if I were there.

So a quick story: When I was in college I had just gotten my first cat. I went away for spring break, leaving him for the very first time ever. My mom was going to come to my apartment once a day to take care of him. My car was crap, so she let me take her car to the beach (3 hours away). 24 or so hours later, she calls to say..."my key to your apartment is on the key ring that you have with my car key." So the only two keys to my apartment were both with me at the beach. He was still just a tiny kid, 3 months old, and I was frantic. There wasn't even anything medically wrong with him, I just worried about whether he had knocked over his water bowl or eaten all his food already... I literally packed up, jumped in the car, and drove back,probably going a little too fast, and I hydro-planed during a thunderstorm while on the intrastate, was taken to the hospital with whiplash, and wrecked my Mom's car. And this was without anything serious being wrong!!!

So now, decades later, what if there really was a medical emergency (or worse)? If within driving distance -- I wouldn't trust myself to be safe, and if not in driving distance then I think I might truly have a heart attack or at the very least a full-blown panic attack. That is what is behind my not wanting to know if there is really nothing that I could do.

Am I conflicted about it still? Yes. But I think it works for me...for now. I might change in the future, and if so I am thinking it would probably be to not even tell me for #3 either, until after I get home. But I do trust my vet and my mother (assuming she isn't traveling with me) to act on my behalf or I might feel differently about #3 .

But let's shake this all off -- You will all be in my heart and my mind while you are away. This is all worst case, and it sounds like you have far exceeded most folks due diligence. Know that. You have enough family dynamics to deal with while you are away such that Noah will be the luckier of you to be left behind being waited on hand and foot :p

Best,
Sandi.
 
You are doing all you can and as I am often reminded by loved ones I can't control everything--then they get "the look"

When I saw you said "no scruff" it reminded me of my Rico, he HATES being scruffed and gets worse-

I agree with @Becky & Baby Girl Kitty buttering up the staff is usually a good way to insure extra good care. Try to relax hunny- I know it is hard but your doing all you can...the rest is up to God (or whatever you believe in):bighug:
 
You need to divorce the idiot side of your family. I did "divorce" the idiot side in my family, and Theresa's family as well, a long time ago.

I'm sorry to hear about Andrew, and how you lost him. That is tragic. I hope Noah does well. I have met some great vet techs. I have also met some vet techs that were basically one step away from flipping burgers at the local burger place....if they were that lucky. I hope you get some good ones assigned to Noah.
 
Sending calming vines for Noah while he is being boarded.

Leave detailed notes - bold and highlight the important points. I have for every trip I have done. Left them on the fridge for the cat sitter to see.

I try to have as much pre-done as I can. Stuff I don't want messed with.

Too bad we are so far apart...I would come over and help with your crew.

I have a trip in 2 weeks to Nashville....really scared to go like every trip but I need to decompress every once in awhile or I would go bat poop crazy. Plus it is a work trip and my birthday.


I wish it was going to be a relaxing trip for you.


:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
We have some experienced cat carers in this thread.

In July 2016 we left Leo with a higher end facility. He had his own 3 foot x 6 foot room with a window. We got back from Calgary/Banff after 10 days and Leo was 1.5 pounds lighter. Plus they had full time vets there. Friggin idiots. I guess if we left him longer he would have just wasted away and died from insufficient insulin/food. At least they didn't hypo him.

Then to add to that crud, 8 year old Scoobs (not diabetic) got sick and died within 5 days. I still miss him. So yeah, I understand the trip anxiety. That's why we have not had a joint vacation since 2016. We never even have gone back and looked at the vacation pics, too many bad memories.
 
I don't have any words of advice, but I totally understand where you are coming from. I even think I get a little PTSD when I leave my cat for a little trip. I left on a trip once years ago and my other kitty was dying when I returned. I was only gone for 2 nights. She had LOTS of food and water. She died of other causes, but it still stresses me out even thinking about it.
I have a great cat sitter (her kitty also has FD). On my most recent trip--I still cried on my way to the airport, and felt guilty the whole time. All I could do is worry if she was okay.
 
Lisa and Witn (GA) said:
When I had to board my diabetic cats, I wrote very explicit instructions for the vet staff. The things I included were that they had to test before EVERY shot with my meters, no exceptions. (Yes, I wrote "every" in caps, bold and red in my instructions). There were not to give insulin if the value was less than ### (fill in your own don't shoot number) or change the insulin dose. NO EXCEPTIONS UNLESS I WAS CALLED FIRST. (Yes, that was also in my instructions.) I had two diabetic cats being boarded at the same time and they each had their own meter. I am happy to say they completely followed my instructions. Even the vet got a chuckle about my detailed instructions.
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Really?!? They followed your instructions?? Prior to finding my kitty sitter I wrote and essay with bullet points on shot rules and AMPS and PMPS number rules. The vet at the facility argued with me on the way I based whether, or not I gave insulin (This was when Gracie was a newbie). I ended up not taking her. I felt uncomfortable with the vet.

Also, they wanted a $1500 emergency deposit in the event of "what if".
 
Teenuh said:
Really?!? They followed your instructions??
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Well that's what they told me. And they had a log book. I had given them a variable dosing chart, since Leo was ramping his insulin demand because of the acromegaly.

Anyhow, I'm not going back there. And we may not have a joint vacay until Leo is gone. Vacations are kinda fun, but kinda just tiring. I would like to go to a white sand blue water beach (which is not Galveston or the Gulf).
.
 
Teenuh said:
Really?!? They followed your instructions?? .
Click to expand...
Fortunately I have a good relationship with the practice. It was mainly directed towards 1 new vet that my cats had been recently assigned to. She did not want me to hometest and the dose she prescribed was too high. Considering it was the owner of the office that taught me how to hometest on my 1st sugar kitty and Witn and Spot were my 3rd & 4th sugar kitties, the all of the other vets knew that I know about caring for them. With the new vet, I told her I disagree with her instructions and I continued to hometest.
 
For a vet to tell you to "not hometest" is just stupid advice. Hometesting gives us valuable on-the-spot information about blood sugar. At least you were already experienced. I have done some of the welcome threads here and it is just amazing that some vets are still advising owners to not test at home.
 
God, I remember how this feels.

Every time we went away, I was terrified and sure Dweezy would die despite our regular cattery lady being really dedicated and experienced with Diabetic cats.

Also, whenever he had to go to the emergency hospital, he would FREAK OUT in terror and no one understood.

Sigh.
 
And here thought I was alone in anxiety level leaving my cats in the care of someone else...lve even had ppl make fun of me for it calling me a worrywart...the thing is it is true...but worrywarts cover the bases!like you have...Becky had great idea about a camera...this would really be awesome if you could nust see Noah somehow...also buttering them up is an awesome idea that works wonders...strawberries...fruitbaskets...anything ...if you havent left yet?....thx for saying what you said to me in Honey's thread...brought tears to my eyes for real.after all my self doubt about Bubbles...you really made my day...thank you...and hope all goes perfectly well for Noah!
 
I had a trip to Sweden already booked (and was the photographer for my cousin's wedding) so there was no way I could get out of it. I found out TWO WEEKS before this trip that Grey was diabetic. I freaked out, I paid whatever it cost to board him for 3 weeks, and it was so hard for me to enjoy my trip :(

I had up to 5 friends on the Visitor List that were allowed to come hang out with him in his room, and they would all Facetime with me so I could see and talk to him. I talked to the vet techs almost everyday and I'm sure they thought I was crazy but they fell in love with him too. I just recently got my records from the office and there are pages of detailed notes on what they fed him and all that stuff. But I'd never been so happy to come back home, I felt like he got sick and thought I'd abandoned him. It was the WORST feeling. He ended up being just fine and had no issues while being boarded. So I would suggest friends/family visiting, and I also requested for the vet techs to give him "Extra playtime/attention" They dictated the doses and dosing schedule since he was a newbie sugar kitty. I wish you the best!!! Keep us updated!! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
JennRoss86 said:
I had a trip to Sweden already booked (and was the photographer for my cousin's wedding) so there was no way I could get out of it. I found out TWO WEEKS before this trip that Grey was diabetic. I freaked out, I paid whatever it cost to board him for 3 weeks, and it was so hard for me to enjoy my trip :(

I had up to 5 friends on the Visitor List that were allowed to come hang out with him in his room, and they would all Facetime with me so I could see and talk to him. I talked to the vet techs almost everyday and I'm sure they thought I was crazy but they fell in love with him too. I just recently got my records from the office and there are pages of detailed notes on what they fed him and all that stuff. But I'd never been so happy to come back home, I felt like he got sick and thought I'd abandoned him. It was the WORST feeling. He ended up being just fine and had no issues while being boarded. So I would suggest friends/family visiting, and I also requested for the vet techs to give him "Extra playtime/attention" They dictated the doses and dosing schedule since he was a newbie sugar kitty. I wish you the best!!! Keep us updated!! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
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So glad it went well
 
You all have covered everything I was thinking of. But don't remember reading one thing that you don't want to include in the instructions. You should do what I do everytime I board my pets. Call and check up on Him. Don't tell them you are going to call just do it and not the sametime every day. I work for a vet and board at work and got told by one of the receptionist why do you call everyday. My comment back was I am paying for my pet to stay there and I have a right to do it. I knew the girls hours so I called every time while she was there more then once a day during her shift. You should be able to call as much as you want and when you want is what I am saying.
 
I'm not sure if this has been said already, but last year when we went overseas, we left a letter giving our authority for the cattery lady and 24 hour hospital and our normal vet to do whatever they had to do, should an emergency arise (which it then did. DKA) regardless of cost and we left our credit card numbers on the letter.

Our cattery had told us a terrible story about someone whose furbaby needed veterinary help while she was away, and the 24 hour hospital refused to do anything as apparently the owner was late with previous bills. The cattery lady said SHE would pay up front as she knew the owner well and knew she would pay her back, but they still refused as there was no written authority and the owner was in a different time zone, sleeping and missed the calls, and the cat ended up dying.

Everyone involved was shocked and appalled, as was I. After that, written authority is always given, just in case.

Hopefully of course all will be well, but just one more protection / back up.
 
@Noah & me (GA) , Are you also bringing Noah's Hypo toolkit just in case he does hit a low for some reason so they are well prepared to handle it?

Have you considered hiring a professional pet sitter to come into your house twice per day to care for Noah? I work part time for a pet sitting company in my area & we follow the strict instructions of the pet parents to a tee, we send updates after each visit etc and it's way less stressful for the kitty to stay in their own home. If I lived closer I could help you out but I'm a couple hours away in Belleville. When I've cared for diabetic dogs or cats I always texted the preshot readings to their parents so they would know regardless of the number & I would even take a photo of the glucometer as proof, not because they asked for it but to help them feel better & so they would know I was doing what they asked me to do. One pet parent in particular had written instructions that if the preshot was this number than give this dose, but if it was between these numbers than give this reduced dose, etc, to keep her furbaby safe.
 
I started with the @---- thing but there's too many of you, so....
Got back after midnight last night so we're both still beat (eight flights in six days), this won't be very poetic. Thanks Luanne, we did have an absolutely great sitter for the five cats we left in the house. Daily updates, three clean water bowls, cat dishes all washed, all the cans recycled. They even remembered to set the alarm. Years ago we hired a woman who somehow "just couldn't make it over here" to do the absolute minimum; food, water, litter. We live in the burbs, not a remote farm so for a pet sitter to be so stupid as to not call any other pet sitter or a friend is unforgiveable. We also had nine cats at that time, good thing we were only gone for 36 hours and left out huge bowls of kibble and water.
Noah had to be boarded. He has had some form of trauma or PTSD since he was a kitten. He was born in this house and his three brothers were great, he was not the runt of the litter, we don't have kids that pester cats, no loud music, no door slamming. He lived in our bedroom and walk-in closet for three years so if a stranger comes in the house he'll be behind the furnace for an hour, it's that bad. A stranger chasing him with a syringe would not work. After 14 years this was his first ever night away from home and I haven't been out of the house for almost four years. A month ago I wrote a thread about being on good terms with a second vet and it was that vet that boarded Noah. They were fantastic! He got a double wide crate and they actually read what I wrote about Somogyi to the point where the head vet asked if he could keep the copies I had made for him anyway. They followed my instructions to the letter, we also bought his own litter, dishes, blankets and bed and he was the star of the show. The vet also congratulated me for using a meter because no matter what he tells people they just don't get it. :( And Noah did not need a piddle pad for the car ride home, there's a first time for everything. :joyful:
For everyone else here,
Isn't this what social media is meant to be? We don't care what kind of shoes you wear or what a nice car you have. We care about each other and our cats (and Sharon's chickens) and there is no back stabbing. And I actually followed through on the lines in my signature! (I always try).
Cynthia isn't on here but we both thank all of you so much.
@Jill & Alex (GA) For Jill and all the other board members who make this possible and so often trust us not to burn down the house while they're not watching, thank you. There's a longer story coming (what a shock) but I need a nap. This was not a vacation, it was stupidity and someone else's guilt.
I wish I was here when we still had Nigel.
@Tracey&Jones Don't forget everyone, Tracey's birthday is almost here. She'll be 29 this year and wears extra medium (women's size). :rolleyes: :smuggrin: o_O
 
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