carolynandlatte
Member Since 2009
It's been quite some time since I have been around. I lurk on occasion. Mainly, I have been VERY busy with my new job + 2 p.t. jobs and trying to balance a little bit of fun (climbing) along with it. I look forward to having 2 months off this summer, that is for sure!!! :mrgreen:
Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that I have started a new journey with a cat. It's been 2.5yrs since I lost Latte. I honestly never thought I could commit to another cat for their entire life again. Long term fostering was working quite well for me. That is, until Tippie came along. ohmygod_smile
When I agreed to another foster, I asked for 2 middle age cats. I was still working on living with vs living for a cat, and getting back to other things I enjoyed in life before Latte got sick. I thought 2 would take care of themselves a little more and have each other. They had the perfect 2 in mind for me. Last minute they asked me to get this cat who had been at the vet 2 weeks. She was blind in one eye and something was wrong with the other...but they did not know what. I will never forget the car ride home...thrashing, screaming. And then when we got home, she was absolutely TERRIFIED.
Tippie came around after a few days. She was so tiny I thought I would lose her in some odd, small space. She was extremely playful and uncoordinated. She ate 300+ calories/day. Her hair seemed long, not short (she had not grown into it yet). And, she was a little unpredictable...meaning she would attack out of the blue. We battled night time chewing and licking of my ears. Her one little eye was constantly dripping and gooey. MY estimated age was about 8 months. The vet later agreed that was more accurate than their initial estimate of 2-3yrs old. Much later, I realized this meant she would have been brought into this world right around the time I lost Latte.
On the one year anniversary of Latte's passing, Tippie and I moved to a new apt. A few months later, she had her blind eye removed. Her hair was getting shorter (she grew into it) and changed color (now brown/red/black vs jet black). Food consumption slowed down, but still playful as ever. I spent an unexpected 9 months unemployed, which allowed us to bond a great deal. She can still become aggressive, but not nearly as often. Tippie is a very sensitive and scared cat. Around me, she is generally VERY comfortable and lovey. Other people, unexpected sounds, starting the oven (because the smoke alarm may go off :lol: ), etc will cause her to hide for extended periods of time. If anyone else were to adopt her, they would never have a chance to see her in person beforehand.
As I mentioned, I was really struggling with the commitment. After Latte, I don't know if I could do the same for another cat once they got sick. Yet, how could I not treat an illness/disease they may have? I also know, a little bit of our freedom is gone once we have a pet. I just gained that freedom back and did not want to lose it. But here I was, caring for this cat like she was mine anyway. And really, after almost 2 yrs was I going to be able to send her off somewhere else?
The tipping point for me came when we brought her to the vet earlier this week. Tippie has always had this cough, which I thought was hairball related. It only happens about 1x/week, but nothing ever surfaces. She has had a few "rougher" ones lately. One which kind of scared me. The vet took xrays, reviewed her video, listened to her lungs and dx mild asthma. This is what I suspected. They also discovered a BULLET in her body (NOT a bb). Part of it is subq in neck/back area. The other part is near her trachea. I cried right there. I was in such shock. How could someone shoot this beautiful little girl. She was just a kitten. :cry: Right then I knew, she was not going anywhere else. It was just a matter of time when I would make the commitment. That time came pretty quickly, once the rescue did not feel it was necessary to treat her asthma, because it was mild. Nor, did they (or the vet) feel it was worthwhile to have a radiologist look at the bullet near her trachea to make sure it would not migrate. They may be right. But it did not FEEL right, or fair to her.
I signed the papers and dropped them off yesterday. It is official. Tippie is home. I was expecting it to be a joyous occasion. Strangely, it was filled with a great deal of emotion. As if I was finally moving on. I guess I thought I already had, but the rush of emotions told a different story. I was having flashbacks to the day I took Latte in, not knowing how I would care for her, or even understanding the depth of caring for a cat its entire life. Flashbacks to various life changes we shared together, and her end. In the midst of this all, I could see a new beginning. That new beginning w/Tippie is what made me realize I was officially ready to move on. Kind of scary.
I was not planning to every adopt a special needs cat due to both time and cost commitment. I don't know how this happened. But it is right. In my heart, I know she really does belong here and no where else. She has an appt with Latte's old vet at the end of March. I will have him review the xrays and discuss further tx and long term prognosis. I suspect once I talk with him, a lot of my anxiety will be at ease. He is very understanding of my need to be proactive, but also realistic and trustworthy of opinion.
So there you have it. Tippie- My little one eyed, 1.5 ear (TNR), semi-feral, polydactyl, asthmatic, herpes afflicted, gun shot victim...who is FULL of love and character.
Welcome home, Tippie!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/404381_10152570221145176_1037128279_n.jpg
[youtube]VGI9DGU-br4[/youtube]
Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that I have started a new journey with a cat. It's been 2.5yrs since I lost Latte. I honestly never thought I could commit to another cat for their entire life again. Long term fostering was working quite well for me. That is, until Tippie came along. ohmygod_smile
When I agreed to another foster, I asked for 2 middle age cats. I was still working on living with vs living for a cat, and getting back to other things I enjoyed in life before Latte got sick. I thought 2 would take care of themselves a little more and have each other. They had the perfect 2 in mind for me. Last minute they asked me to get this cat who had been at the vet 2 weeks. She was blind in one eye and something was wrong with the other...but they did not know what. I will never forget the car ride home...thrashing, screaming. And then when we got home, she was absolutely TERRIFIED.
Tippie came around after a few days. She was so tiny I thought I would lose her in some odd, small space. She was extremely playful and uncoordinated. She ate 300+ calories/day. Her hair seemed long, not short (she had not grown into it yet). And, she was a little unpredictable...meaning she would attack out of the blue. We battled night time chewing and licking of my ears. Her one little eye was constantly dripping and gooey. MY estimated age was about 8 months. The vet later agreed that was more accurate than their initial estimate of 2-3yrs old. Much later, I realized this meant she would have been brought into this world right around the time I lost Latte.
On the one year anniversary of Latte's passing, Tippie and I moved to a new apt. A few months later, she had her blind eye removed. Her hair was getting shorter (she grew into it) and changed color (now brown/red/black vs jet black). Food consumption slowed down, but still playful as ever. I spent an unexpected 9 months unemployed, which allowed us to bond a great deal. She can still become aggressive, but not nearly as often. Tippie is a very sensitive and scared cat. Around me, she is generally VERY comfortable and lovey. Other people, unexpected sounds, starting the oven (because the smoke alarm may go off :lol: ), etc will cause her to hide for extended periods of time. If anyone else were to adopt her, they would never have a chance to see her in person beforehand.
As I mentioned, I was really struggling with the commitment. After Latte, I don't know if I could do the same for another cat once they got sick. Yet, how could I not treat an illness/disease they may have? I also know, a little bit of our freedom is gone once we have a pet. I just gained that freedom back and did not want to lose it. But here I was, caring for this cat like she was mine anyway. And really, after almost 2 yrs was I going to be able to send her off somewhere else?
The tipping point for me came when we brought her to the vet earlier this week. Tippie has always had this cough, which I thought was hairball related. It only happens about 1x/week, but nothing ever surfaces. She has had a few "rougher" ones lately. One which kind of scared me. The vet took xrays, reviewed her video, listened to her lungs and dx mild asthma. This is what I suspected. They also discovered a BULLET in her body (NOT a bb). Part of it is subq in neck/back area. The other part is near her trachea. I cried right there. I was in such shock. How could someone shoot this beautiful little girl. She was just a kitten. :cry: Right then I knew, she was not going anywhere else. It was just a matter of time when I would make the commitment. That time came pretty quickly, once the rescue did not feel it was necessary to treat her asthma, because it was mild. Nor, did they (or the vet) feel it was worthwhile to have a radiologist look at the bullet near her trachea to make sure it would not migrate. They may be right. But it did not FEEL right, or fair to her.
I signed the papers and dropped them off yesterday. It is official. Tippie is home. I was expecting it to be a joyous occasion. Strangely, it was filled with a great deal of emotion. As if I was finally moving on. I guess I thought I already had, but the rush of emotions told a different story. I was having flashbacks to the day I took Latte in, not knowing how I would care for her, or even understanding the depth of caring for a cat its entire life. Flashbacks to various life changes we shared together, and her end. In the midst of this all, I could see a new beginning. That new beginning w/Tippie is what made me realize I was officially ready to move on. Kind of scary.
I was not planning to every adopt a special needs cat due to both time and cost commitment. I don't know how this happened. But it is right. In my heart, I know she really does belong here and no where else. She has an appt with Latte's old vet at the end of March. I will have him review the xrays and discuss further tx and long term prognosis. I suspect once I talk with him, a lot of my anxiety will be at ease. He is very understanding of my need to be proactive, but also realistic and trustworthy of opinion.
So there you have it. Tippie- My little one eyed, 1.5 ear (TNR), semi-feral, polydactyl, asthmatic, herpes afflicted, gun shot victim...who is FULL of love and character.
Welcome home, Tippie!
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/404381_10152570221145176_1037128279_n.jpg
[youtube]VGI9DGU-br4[/youtube]
What a glorious day this is!
