? oh what a pickle

[Sara and Snoopy's mom]

I'll be cat sitting a newly diagnosed cat for 3 days
I had the cat with me for 3 days about a week ago, to see if I could test her BGs but that did not go well, extremely anxious cat, totally freaked out.

now the owners will be away and I'll be staying to feed her and give her shots

this will not be easy because she has full run of a 3 story open concept house. The only rooms with doors that can be closed off (except the bathrooms) are all rooms she's not allowed in normally (I guess she's allowed in the master bedroom during the day but I'd want to keep her out of there at shot time as there's a king size bed and I'm too old to crawl under that to get her out LOL)

in a single room she's very easy to give the injections. I am told she pees in fear if you pick her up.

so I'm not sure how this will go. I may have to shoot her while she's eating....?

when she was at my place, confined to one room, no hiding places, she was eating half her main meal and then took a break and came back for more, so maybe I can break up her meals that way and sit on the floor with her when she comes for the second helping...


any suggestions welcomed!!

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

An intriguing toy. One that seemingly moves on its own but very near to you. Preferably loaded with nip.
One of the youtube videos of birds or squirrels at a feeder.

 

[Sara and Snoopy's mom]

An intriguing toy. One that seemingly moves on its own but very near to you. Preferably loaded with nip.
One of the youtube videos of birds or squirrels at a feeder.

at first I thought you'd posted in the wrong place LOL oh this cat is afraid of everything, had no prey drive at all that I've ever seen and is not at all food motivated either.

she shows no interest in any toys at all.

she's been sick a long long time. She mostly sleeps. She's 13 yrs old.

The only time I've seen her do more than sleep or eat is when I had her at my place for 3 days, she slept in the litter box she did come out to eat, as an unregulated diabetic, she's hungry! I never saw her drink and she would not use the litter box if I was in the room (she'd hide in it though, but not do her business)
BUT the one time she did more than this, is when her human came to get her and bring her home, she jumped up on her lap and licked her hands furiously. She was walking back and forth on her lap, even with someone she trusts and is used to, she never really relaxes... she's always on the look out for some threat.

it's sad to see a cat that anxious.

thanks for the ideas, though, those would be great for most cats!
this cat is a big fraidy cat :/

 

[Melinda and Kitkat]

Just wondering if the owners explained their procedure for testing and shooting? I'm sure you've discussed this, but it might help us help you with a starting point. (knowing she will not likely react to you as she does for them, but hey? May give some insight??

 

[Sara and Snoopy's mom]

Just wondering if the owners explained their procedure for testing and shooting? I'm sure you've discussed this, but it might help us help you with a starting point. (knowing she will not likely react to you as she does for them, but hey? May give some insight??

oh well.... how to put this?
first off, they don't plan to test. they really don't want to give insulin either.
What they tell me varies on how upset they are that they even need to deal with this at all, but basically they describe the husband chasing the cat down, which seems totally unnecessary to me since the cat is bonded to the wife and will go to her easily (?!?!?) then the cat pees all over the place out of fear, and they get angry, and then the wife holds the cat and the husband gives the shot...?
maybe?

the wife shows almost no interest in the cat's medical needs. Cat has/had IBD and infected teeth, and she's had abnormal BGs for about 18 mos now (she gets prednisolone but on a very inconsistent basis as far as I can tell... the story changes every time I talk to the wife) The vet wanted the cat to have a dental 2 yrs ago because by all accounts, she believes the IBD is under control and the reason the cat sometimes refuses food is due to her painful mouth.


at this point, they express a great deal of resentment towards the cat so I only hear about how hard this is for them and frankly I have a very hard time being sympathetic. The cat is sick and it's not her fault. The cat is now diabetic and the wife knows this is her fault but seems to want to take it out on the cat.
It's a very difficult situation.

I'd walk away from it all except that I borrowed money from this couple a year ago and haven't paid it all off yet. I'm basically going to work off the rest of what I owe them. They have been very kind to me. I wish they were kinder to their cat.

I didn't want to get into all of this, partly due to the fear that they'll find me 'badmouthing' them online (although that is extremely unlikely as they truly take no interest in the cat's health) But also because just writing it all out gets it out of my head where I pretend that this otherwise very sweet couple isn't really as neglectful of their cat's needs as it seems. No matter how I spin it, the reality of the situation is not good and it makes me sick to my stomach tbh.

 

[Melinda and Kitkat]

Oh no!!!! I feel so bad for this sweet little kitty! And I am sorry that you are indebted to them and having to deal with this. I'm at a loss. I sure wish they would consider rehoming her........

 

[Sara and Snoopy's mom]

Oh no!!!! I feel so bad for this sweet little kitty! And I am sorry that you are indebted to them and having to deal with this. I'm at a loss. I sure wish they would consider rehoming her........

They won't.

oh you and me both. I'm at a loss as well.

At least I have seen that the cat is bonded to the wife in some way. She's the only one who can handle her, but for some reason refuses to do the shots herself. It would be SO easy for her... the cat walks all over her lap and licks her hands. There's no reason to have the husband hunt the cat down the way she describes. I'm totally baffled by them.
They are otherwise nice people, they really are.
Some ppl have strange ideas about animals. They apparently see them as not being able to feel or suffer, it seems. I don't know

I don't get it.