Anyone need roommate? Shot in the dark

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mialia

mialia

Member Since 2018
This is obviously nonstandard here, but I've got to try! It is definitely in line with helping care for a diabetic cat.

I live in Palm Springs but can easily move. I have four cats, one diabetic. I am also a single woman airline pilot. The thing about this valley is that it is VERY hard to find roommates. Right now, I have a great roommate who is Type I herself and has been tremendous but she is moving and my 'roommate wanted' ads are going unanswered. The valley is almost all retirees and snowbirds.

My current roommate pays hardly any rent in exchange for her help with the cats. I'd be looking to recreate this elsewhere. It's not a money issue so much as needing a cat lover who is comfy with diabetes and where better to look than here? I'll happily cover more than my share of rent.

I'm really struggling and as such, so are my cats. This is a bad situation right now for all of us. I'm desperate.

My job is based in Seattle (I can also hold Portland) but I can commute from anywhere with a big airport - prefer Pacific or Mountain time zone. I'm from Salt Lake City originally.

In case this doesn't get removed, I'm a single woman in her 40s, no kids, mostly nerd when I'm home (and snuggle fuzzies). Quite introverted. I own a home (which I would rent out if I move), credit rating over 800, obviously stable job and a big part of my job is maintaining an excellent background check. No drugs, no smoking, sometimes a glass of wine while I watch New Girl with a cat in my lap.

My four fuzzies: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pQjjLMLVK9CpXm3PA

(husky not included)
 
Wow interesting proposal. Hope you find the right roommate. You could ask on the fdmb Facebook page as well.

Are you interested in rooming with a single person or can it be a small family of say 3? (Not me... I have someone in mind but not sure if they would be interested.... A friend who currently lives in FL with her long term boyfriend and their son but wants to relocate to Seattle and has diabetic cat herself that's in remission. She and her bf are about 40, her son is about 4. Both are huge animal lovers.)
 
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I don't know anyone who would be willing to take in four cats, but I'll definitely keep my ear open. How many days are you home vs away? (to get a sense of how much the roommate would be responsible for the cats).
 
Families are fine!

Trust me, I know four cats is a tough sell. It would be easier if I had a place and found a roomie instead of being the incoming one. If I had a down payment, I’d buy and do that. I’m home a minimum of 12 days a month
 
Not asking is already a no. Sorry I can't help but can empathize. I am just outside of Seattle and single with extra BR and BA but already have 2 cats and that is the max for this place. Good luck though. I had 4 myself when I had a bigger house That was a full time butler job in high demand from 4 big personality cats! Somebody may know somebody to make this happen.
 
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Are there any colleges in your area with a vet or vet tech program? If so, maybe you could put a flyer up there or let them know you’re looking for a roommate via the professors? Maybe also ask at your vet or other nearby vets if any of the techs are looking for a new place? I would think the idea of lower rent in exchange for pet care might appeal to them. Just a thought...

Good luck!
 
SuziB said:
Are there any colleges in your area with a vet or vet tech program? If so, maybe you could put a flyer up there or let them know you’re looking for a roommate via the professors? Maybe also ask at your vet or other nearby vets if any of the techs are looking for a new place? I would think the idea of lower rent in exchange for pet care might appeal to them. Just a thought...

Good luck!
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There isn’t much here that isn’t for retired folks. People between 20 to 60 don’t exist, sadly. I did ask my vet (only three here) and no dice. I Am definitely having to strongly consider moving.
 
mialia said:
Families are fine!

Trust me, I know four cats is a tough sell. It would be easier if I had a place and found a roomie instead of being the incoming one. If I had a down payment, I’d buy and do that. I’m home a minimum of 12 days a month
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If you post your situation in the fdmb Facebook page I can tag her in it as she's a member on there but not here. Oregon is probably where she wants to move to.
 
mialia said:
Done, thanks!
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I don't see your post. Did you write on this group?
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Barbara & Uncle (GA) said:
How's he doin'?
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Literally just got off the phone and I'm bawling. They think he might be hyperthyroid but I can't afford anymore. I'm at nearly 5 grand for two months and I'm already not making enough to cover rent. So I had to decline further testing.

He's doing ok otherwise. He has a UTI. His blood sugar kept dropping so they didn't give him insulin last night but then he went up so they gave him his shot this morning.
 
I'm so sorry you got this news while you are away working. So much going on right now.
Uncle had hyperthyroidism long before his diabetes DX. Many people control it with a very inexpensive drug called Methimazole if I'm remembering right.
I guess one step at a time here. Keep him safe at the vet, clear up the UTI and go from there
 
Barbara & Uncle (GA) said:
I'm so sorry you got this news while you are away working. So much going on right now.
Uncle had hyperthyroidism long before his diabetes DX. Many people control it with a very inexpensive drug called Methimazole if I'm remembering right.
I guess one step at a time here. Keep him safe at the vet, clear up the UTI and go from there
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You all reminded me of care credit, so I called them back and am having them run the tests. My normal vet would be cheaper but I won't be home on a weekday for several weeks and taking him on another drive to our vet would add stress to us both.

This is just so much going on. And all his symptoms of hyperthyroidism are reflected in another of my cats, so I may have to deal with that, as well...

I just need a win.
 
CareCredit saved my behind and maybe my cat. When Uncle was first diagnosed with FD, the results had come back late in the afternoon on a Saturday. The vet working at that time asked me how Uncle was feeling and I told her he didn't eat any breakfast and was curled up laying in the grass not looking too good. She told me to take him to the ER immediately because she suspected something called "DKA". I had NO IDEA what she was talking about, or feline diabetes etc.
I go to the ER and they tell me it could be between $4000 to $8000 to leave him there. They said he would have to be there for at least 4 - 7 days and 2 different specialists were going to have to come in for evaluations.
I cried and cried and thought I had to put him to sleep right then and there because I didn't have the money and I didn't know what was going on or any other options.
The desk person came over to me and told me about CareCredit and since I qualified I left him with the ER. Turns out he didn't have DKA, just regular old high numbers diabetes and constipation.
They figured out a starting dose and he was back at home with me in two days :cat:
 
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Barbara & Uncle (GA) said:
CareCredit saved my behind and maybe my cat. s :cat:
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That's terrifying! I'm glad it turned out ok. 17 years is a great amount of time with a loved fuzzy. <3

The vet was great. They'd also made a mistake on my estimate by about $600, so they reduced it to my estimate. I haven't stopped crying tonight between the roughness of this situation and all the great people helping me. So he had high blood pressure, which I didn't know, but he was on meds for it so the vet was treating it. I probably just didn't hear the diagnosis because I was hearing so much more. He might be hyperthyroid. He has a UTI, higher liver enzymes, and diabetes of course. I am not ready to accept this is it, though. Whole body connected. He's still fighting and seems overall healthy. They said his heart and lungs seem great. He's eating a ton but that's likely the hyperthyroid. We get that under control, and he'll gain weight. Which will help his liver not be dehydrated. UTI is being treated. No vet so far has given me that tone of voice I've heard way too many times in my life.

Someday, he'll cross that rainbow bridge and I will be devastated. I've had so many pets but none that have touched my heart quite like him (not to say I didn't love them just as well, just differently). I blame myself because I fed them dry food for so long, because of my job, instead of wet food - despite being well read enough to know better. I could have potentially avoided all of this. I also moved twice last year and the stress for all of them was tremendous.

My heart is hearting tonight and I'm scared to bits because each day seems to bring a new complication. Virtual hugs definitely appreciated.
 
It's so hard not to blame ourselves but we have to find forgiveness and also realize some things are out of our control. Uncle was on a raw food diet all his life and he still got diabetes, so there's that!
You took four lucky kitties into your heart and home and did your best with the given situation and still are.
Diabetes, UTI, Hyperthyroidism are all treatable/ manageable.
When you get back, hopefully you can have a good discussion with your favorite vet and get an objective perspective for treatment options. Getting rid of the UTI will probably lower Carbon's insulin needs.
There are quite a few kitties here who are dealing with more than diabetes.
When you have the all the test results and assessments you can run stuff by folks here.
SO much cat health knowledge on the board
:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
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