So my cat was diagnosed back in January and we've been managing fairly well since then. Only one hypo and testing as much as we can with work/life commitments. However we have an impending trip in 8 weeks as it seems our options are narrowing with what to do with our beloved cat.
He has a history of aggression after falling out of a second storey window when he was 18 months old and has a tendency to "snap" (think puffed up, yowling, arches back, lashing out, massive eyes) if something unexpected happens. He's only outright attacked me twice in 10 years and my partner once but there's been bites those times.
when we moved to this house we've tried him on every remedy, Zylkene, Feliway, petcalm nothings really worked. As he's aged he's gotten calmer but recently with the diabetes treatment the aggression has come back. Probably from the persistent ear pricking testing and him becoming constipated which we've solved with oily fish and some olive oil on his food from time to time.
I did a "trial board" as a cattery run by an ex vetinary nurse and it ended in disaster. He's been at thy cattery before but when she went to inject him at 7pm he went crazy, screamed, tried to attacker her and get away up the pen walls then peed on everything.
She immediately rang me and asked me to come and get him the next day, which is understandable. I picked him up and he was still in a state and I had to go away that day so I left him with food in his timer bowl and subsequently he missed 3 doses. She recommended I do not board him anywhere else for his and the cattery staffs safety. There are however three other catteries nearby I could use.
I've rang and emailed my vet but haven't had a response yet so I started him back on his usual dose of Caninsulin. I've asked my vet if they could board him at either of their practises and my next step would be asking if a vet nurse could make home visits?
If you were me what would you do?
I can't stay at home forever, I sometimes have to board him for work commitments (I work in entertainment) he's very sensitive and hides from anyone who comes into my house. I have no family in my county and none of my friends would be willing to do two doses a day. Before the pandemic we boarded him roughly 4/5 weeks of the year. There are no pet sitters/cat in a flat visitors in my area which is quite rural. I'm in northern UK.
My trip doesn't cover pet illness under cancellation reasons and I stand to loose over £1000 if I don't go. I just don't know what to do as I was supposed to be visiting family in Canada this autumn too. I'm at a total loss what to do.
Other suggestions I've had are having him fostered (I don't think you can do this just for a holiday!)
Have a neighbour do it (what if he attacked or hid from them for the full two weeks and he didn't have any insulin)
Take him off insulin and board him anway (dangerous and irresponsible)
Rehome him. (No. His chances of being rehomed at 9 with aggression and diabetes are slim to none)
Have him put to sleep (no!! He's still healthy and loving to me but several friends and family have suggested this sadly)
I adore my cat, he's been with me since he was 6 weeks old and his agressive nature has never really bothered me but it's started to make life very difficult.
what would you do if you were me?
He has a history of aggression after falling out of a second storey window when he was 18 months old and has a tendency to "snap" (think puffed up, yowling, arches back, lashing out, massive eyes) if something unexpected happens. He's only outright attacked me twice in 10 years and my partner once but there's been bites those times.
when we moved to this house we've tried him on every remedy, Zylkene, Feliway, petcalm nothings really worked. As he's aged he's gotten calmer but recently with the diabetes treatment the aggression has come back. Probably from the persistent ear pricking testing and him becoming constipated which we've solved with oily fish and some olive oil on his food from time to time.
I did a "trial board" as a cattery run by an ex vetinary nurse and it ended in disaster. He's been at thy cattery before but when she went to inject him at 7pm he went crazy, screamed, tried to attacker her and get away up the pen walls then peed on everything.
She immediately rang me and asked me to come and get him the next day, which is understandable. I picked him up and he was still in a state and I had to go away that day so I left him with food in his timer bowl and subsequently he missed 3 doses. She recommended I do not board him anywhere else for his and the cattery staffs safety. There are however three other catteries nearby I could use.
I've rang and emailed my vet but haven't had a response yet so I started him back on his usual dose of Caninsulin. I've asked my vet if they could board him at either of their practises and my next step would be asking if a vet nurse could make home visits?
If you were me what would you do?
I can't stay at home forever, I sometimes have to board him for work commitments (I work in entertainment) he's very sensitive and hides from anyone who comes into my house. I have no family in my county and none of my friends would be willing to do two doses a day. Before the pandemic we boarded him roughly 4/5 weeks of the year. There are no pet sitters/cat in a flat visitors in my area which is quite rural. I'm in northern UK.
My trip doesn't cover pet illness under cancellation reasons and I stand to loose over £1000 if I don't go. I just don't know what to do as I was supposed to be visiting family in Canada this autumn too. I'm at a total loss what to do.
Other suggestions I've had are having him fostered (I don't think you can do this just for a holiday!)
Have a neighbour do it (what if he attacked or hid from them for the full two weeks and he didn't have any insulin)
Take him off insulin and board him anway (dangerous and irresponsible)
Rehome him. (No. His chances of being rehomed at 9 with aggression and diabetes are slim to none)
Have him put to sleep (no!! He's still healthy and loving to me but several friends and family have suggested this sadly)
I adore my cat, he's been with me since he was 6 weeks old and his agressive nature has never really bothered me but it's started to make life very difficult.
what would you do if you were me?
