Last resort for rehoming diabetic cat.

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DaltonS

Member Since 2012
I will say right off the bat that I am an existing member of FDMB. I am posting in anonymity because I do not wish to be judged for my feelings and current situation, or have things I've said in the past used against me. I am not scared, I just would like honest opinions from a neutral standpoint. Please try to understand.

I adopted a cat who was diabetic and have been taking care of him for over a year now. Lantus, Tight Regulation, home testing, low carb, the whole nine yards. Things have been going well as far as his diabetes is concerned and he is relatively well regulated. However on a more personal level we are not getting along and he is just not working well in this household any more. He is eating me out of house and home and the cost of medical supplies, ongoing vet bills, etc. is more than I can handle. He is not getting along with my other cat and knocked over the Christmas tree and clawed up the side of my couch and ripped my lace curtains today chasing her. He is not a bad cat but he is extremely high maintenance, demanding, and naughty when he doesn't get what he wants. He has ruined the carpet in the hallway of the apartment I'm renting with vomit stains and scratches from running up and down it all night with his claws out trying to wake me up. I cannot visit my family for Chrismas because I can't find anyone to SAFELY give him insulin while I'm gone. I know this is not his fault because he is "just a cat" after all, but this is just too much for me to handle in my life right now. I really really do not want to have him euthanized because he is more or less healthy and adoptable, but right now it is among my only few options. I would rather that than adopt him out to a home that will not treat his diabetes and have him die a painful death to DKA anyways.

Please, help. What should I do?
 
My question is why would you assume that he would be adopted out to someone who would not take care of his diabetes? Why do you assume it is you or death? I would return the cat to where you adopted it if it wasn't a private adoption (pretty much all shelter have a return option, for most it is a requirement) and let the cat have a chance at a good life with someone who understands what the demands are for taking care of him and will meet them.

Sorry if that comes of as short, it really isn't meant to be. Its hard to convey in type, but I never do understand the idea that a pet is better of dead than a chance at life with someone else. Unless the cat is extremely old and ill, there is no reason to think that he is better of dead than in a new home unless the new home is not made away of his needs.
 
Because he has been listed as up for adoption on multiple classified sites, Petfinder, and even local postings on pet store bulletin boards for 4 months without a single person calling or e-mailing in interest.

I did not get him from a shelter so returning him is not an option. The humane society will not take him alive. It is sad.
 
Just some thoughts, which you already may have tried.

Active play 10-20 minutes twice a day, may reduce stress, plus tire out a cat with lots of energy.

Vertical space and boxes to hide in may help cats get along better.

Feliway Comfort zone diffusers may help some with calming the cat.

High school or junior college students pursuing veterinary technology or veterinarian training, sometimes may be recruited to assist with diabetic cat care for the expeirence to put on applications or resumes, possibly for nominal cost.

Cat vs Cat is an excellant book on tactics for managing inter-cat problems. The author's site, with additional book descriptions is Cat Behavior Associates. You may find her books at a local library.

You may be able to couresy post the cat with DCIN, and the original placement group may be able to work with you if you ask them, rather than assume.

I understand about the costs - Spitzer's care drained what emergency funds I had set aside. I'm still trying to build back up and praying none of the other cats has anything serious happen.
 
Hi
I empathize with your plight, except when it comes to murdering him. This is wrong, no ifs and or buts. This kitty does not deserve to be put to death, no matter what the rationale is. Obvioiusly you are thinking irrationally because of stress. You clearly have a kind heart in order to do this at all, so don't let your ego (you are the only person who can do the shots right) or stress or wish to have it over with super fast interfere with your duty to handle it in a responsible, caring way.

I do understand how tough it is and what a sacrifice it feels like--we all do here--especially if you are not getting the love back and your other kitty is not thrilled with the situation.

You can get kitty a new home--that's fine! Think of yourself as just being a foster for the last however many months. That's ok. So the solution is....simply you need to find him a new home. It can be done. It may not happen as fast as you want it to, but it can be done. No one will judge you for just not being able to cope with all the DB mess--we ALL know how hard it is because we do give up a portion of our lives and schedules for it.

Sometimes it's just not the right time in our lives and that's OK. But its NOT ok to murder the kitty because you are being inconvenienced and are stressed out. It's ok to be stressed and to not want this, but you just have to put a little effort into finding a home.

IMMEDIATE COPING SOLUTIONS:

1: Xmas holidays: If you need to--drop him off at the vet for Xmas....dep. on where you live they will probably only charge you $15/day or somesuch to board him. Then you know he will be safe.

2. OR you can post here with your name and find one of us in your area who may be close enough to do it while you leave.

3. Or see if you can get a catsitter to come do it. Even though you are tightly regulating, another option is to lower the dose, even down to one a day....it may not be perfect...but he will be getting some insulin and even if his numbers are slighly higher than normal for 4 or 5 days--we all know that high numbers are not the immediate concern, it's the lower numbers. So underdose him rather than risk someone not doing it right.

4. OR you might consider taking him with you (are you taking your other cat?) I ended up taking my Fred everywhere. And storing insulin in a portable icepack as well as hotel fridges. After the first couple of car rides they get used to it.

NEW HOME SOLUTION
1. Go to DCIN and ask for help.
2. Post hear and ask for help. People in your area may be able to help spread the word.
3. Seek out local rescue groups in yoru area and ask for help.

In the meantime, set up a Facebook page for this kitty and put cute pictures of him/her up and add little posts about his experience in his foster home. Make it funny, appeal to people's sense of wanting to help.

You can find him a home. Just have a little patience and explore all your options.

Good luck and keep us posted!
 
He is extremely high stress, last time he had to stay a few days at the vet he would not eat. Neither of them are up to date on their vaccinations/etc. ($ issue) so I don't think any place would take them anyways...

I have contacted 2 pet sitters but they were both booked over for the holidays. I am going to call a few vet offices and see if they have any techs/interns looking to do some side work. I do not know if I will be able to afford it, rates start at around $25-30/day here (minimum of 10 days travel). My landlords are also going to be on holidays for 6 weeks which is really unfortunate timing. I am going to see if their house sitter would watch my cats as well.

I cannot travel with him. I don't own a car. I will be taking the Greyhound bus and they do not allow animals.

I live in a small relatively rural area and I doubt anyone is nearby me unfortunately. I am a few hours from Vancouver BC.

Trust me I do not want to have him put down either. That is the last thing I want to do. His diabetes is well regulated and he is a nice cat. I don't want to just "kill him and be done with it". But I cannot keep living on credit card balances any more. I don't want to watch him get sick and waste away because I can't give him what he needs. Money is running out for me, and time is running out for him. :cry:
 
First of all, please contact Venita at Diabetic Cats in Need. AT the very least she can help you with supplies while you are finding him a home. And presumably she can help with finding him a home. Also, don't we have a bunch of Canadians here? Have you looked at the list where people who have offered to help list their locations? I'm not sure where it is, but if you look around the site or links above in the forum you will probably see it.

As far as vaccinations, I understand. You do have a case though for WHY he doesn't have them--he is a sick vulnerable cat and not able to have them. Your other option..and this is 'off the record'...when I had to travel with my cat Fred who was 16--and no way am I giving him shots at that age and diabetic and kidney....I had my friend photoshop another cat's vaccination certificate--change the names and the dates. These days you probably could do it in Microsoft Word...this would be a way to get past that obstacle...and c'mon, this cat doesn't have rabies, so it's no biggie, all the house cats are overvaccinated anyway, law or no law.

You still have time to find a solution before Xmas...just reach out for help. You might even find a student who is in med school, or undergrad college student who wants to be...and neighbor kids? whom you could train. I did this once. It really is not that hard. And they could even call you AS they are doing the shots while you are away and you can talk them thru the steps if they need reminders...and they can tell you the number and you can advise on the dose. I have done this with several cat sitters. Because it's a young person they would probably be less than the typical vet tech or boarding fees...

If you need written up instructions on how to home test--step by step--and how to give the shot--I can email you something that I wrote up for my own cat sitters. You can edit it to fit your protocol...PM me if so.

!0 days of cat sitting is a lot, but presumably you also have someone coming for your other cat, right?

Also, I was thinking about this..I wonder if you should perhaps ease up a little bit on the tight regulation? Perhaps you just need to make it easier on yourself right now so it doesn't stress you out and you can focus on finding a home--after you go enjoy your time away. We all get so anal with our numbers, but if we step back and look at the big picture--the fact that we are treating the kitties at all is STILL helpful. If they are on good low carb food and getting some insulin...again probably safer with a lower dose while you are away...then they are still being treated.

ALSO, you mentioned a bunch of vet costs. I don't know if you're doing lots of fructosamine tests but if you are doing numbers at home, you really don't need those. Lighten up on how much you feel like you SHOULD do, and do enough to care for kitty, but give yourself a break, because you obviously need one.

Is there a Craigs ist in your area? Or a local college where there might be med or premed students? Friends of friends? I think for the immediate cat-sitting you just need to start putting more feelers out...and then have a more widespread plan for the new furever home---where kitty might need to travel somewhere else....Contact DCIN and expalin it all...this is the type of situation they help with all the time--and they ALSO raise funds specifically for people who are in financial trouble...don't be afraid to reach out for more help...there is a happy solution for you and your foster kitty.
 
You say you are an existing member of FDMB; I had hoped that most members on FDMB would know that DCIN http://fdmb-cin.blogspot.com/ is here to help with financial aid and supplies and in extreme cases with rehoming.

DCIN is currently on a rehoming moratorium, but if you read the message on our home page it says we will help in cases of emergency.

If you'd like to discuss options, maybe get some help with financial aspect of things, or truly need to rehome, please email me directly at Jennifer @dcin.info (remove the space before the "at" sign)

I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Hi there
I just thought of another potential source for help. Here in the US there are a bunch of new websites like this one: TaskRabbit.com https://www.taskrabbit.com/directory
People are vetted and do a variety of tasks--anything really--and for a reasonable price--they bid on the job that are posted. There are a bunch of them...and I would imagine that some of them reach in Canada or their are some Canada-specific ones...probably best thing to do is google for articles written about them in Canadian publications...Here are a few US articles

http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/task-r ... MOYdo6bGBU
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/20 ... taskrabbit

http://www.similarsitesearch.com/altern ... rabbit.com

Apparently I read there are some people making $40-50K per year picking up odd jobs on these sites...but you can def. hire people to do things for much cheaper than you might otherwise find the same thing..
 
I wish I was on the other end of the country right now so I could help out :sad:
 
I laid down for a nap this morning and didn't think to put the cat food back in the fridge... I woke up to my landlords knocking on the door to bring me a new heater since my old one died, and there was a huge streak of barf all the way down the hallway and an empty 12 oz can of food sitting in the middle of it. I had to throw a towel over it so I could open the door. It took me an hour of sobbing and cursing to clean it all up...

I have already been a huge burden on DCIN and don't want to be any more. I guess they could do a courtesy post if they want. It's not even as much about the money, but it is a contributing factor. Right now it's stress more than anything...

I do not feel comfortable having someone I don't know come in my house for so long, especially because my landlords will not be home. I am hoping that my landlord's daughter will at least feed him while I'm gone. It would be at least 10 days total, probably closer to 12-14 with a day or two home in between. I'll be calling her tomorrow to ask. Maybe she will be fine with it and it won't be a concern... but that doesn't solve the long term problem of needing a new home for him.

It's so hard to reach out for help because no matter how much I try to explain myself I still feel so selfish for not wanting him any more.... I know this isn't really his fault.... and I should have been prepared for the worst when I made the decision to adopt a cat...
 
It sounds like he could be having possibly pancreatitis episode. if he is vomiting everywhere he has something going on. I am not sure what to tell you. I would give anything to have my diabetic cat back I could not save her life despite all my resources.
What would you do if you ever had children? They throw up every where color on the walls and tear stuff up but they are your children. My cats have thrown up all over the carpet, my cats bed pooped on my bed, I won`t even go into it. Clawed up my leather sofa, who cares?
It sounds to me like maybe you have other things going on in your life maybe that need to be dealt with. I feel so sorry for the cat. You have free healthcare in Canada, could you possibly get some counseling for all the stress in your life? I know I going to get ripped for this try to get some help for the stress and anxiety. Its not the cats fault.

Terri
 
He does not have pancreatitis. He knocked an almost full can of food off the counter, ate it all, and then vomited it back up on the carpet.

But anyways, your response is exactly why I was hesitant to post on here to begin with. There has always been a certain air of constant judgement on FDMB. Thank you to those who gave (positive) input. I will figure something out myself.
 
I really don't think you need to feel selfish or guilty about not wanting this kitty. It's OK, you have been a foster. Maybe you didn't intend to be a foster, but that's how it is. You have done a good thing, you helped him in a time of need and helped regulate him. If you don't like him, you don't like and unless you are in a place where you could just let him be and then maybe in one year a bond would develop, right now that's the way it is.

It really does sound as if you have a lot of other stuff going on (financial or otherwise) and this is making you be on edge and be less tolerant of the cat. I think in normal un-stressed circumstances a little vomit is not that big of a deal. We all get used to it. But for your state right now it's just 'one more thing' that makes you think you can't have this cat for one second longer--it's understandable, although all I ask is that for this kitty's best interests, have a little more patience and see it out so that you figure out the Xmas thing, and then you also figure out the new home thing. Then you can not have to worry about it anymore, it's just a little bit longer. And in themeantime, like I said, figure out how to make EVERYTHING less stressful on yourself.

But again, try not to feel so bad about the cat and guilty yourself out about no wanting him. There are 2 perspectives on this. 1) The cat could be in a worse situation so him having a home and some care at all is still 'better' for him. But since you actually don't want him and he is aggravating you even though you acknowledge 'he's a good cat.' then 2) The cat is really better off being only a foster for you and having a chance at 'true love' with someone else. That's OK.

I have worked in cat rescue over the past 18 months and much of the battle is getting a foster at all, much less a furever home. If you are a temporary base on this cat's way to a happy secure loved life, thent that's still good and once you find him a home, you will have done your bit

I will say, I'm in NYC and many of the cats on Petfinder--esp. a diabetic--don't get any attention. I had my Sebastian on there for about 10 months and NEVER got one speck of interest (In contrast, I got about 40 people wanting to meet the Abyssinian I saved from the kill shelter who failed his first 5 interviews since he is a mean cat and growled and hissed at everyone that came over.) In the year that I"ve had him he is now much better, he lets me kiss his face and he will lick me sometimes--but he will still swipe at me and growl if he doesn't like something I've done! I'm now growing to love him because I see that he was just abused and he is slowly learning to trust again. For the first 6 or so month everytime I raised my hand to pet him he would go on the defensive--clearly he had been hit. One of my other cats did the same thing and she still cringes sometimes (heartbreaking). But JJs m.o. was to fight back, not cringe. Anyway ECID right?

I decided to keep JJ and Sebastian--even though I really did NOT want another diabetic so soon after Fred died (who was DB for 5 years) But here i am. I never did even try to find Sebastian--the diabetic--a home, but I'm pretty sure I could have--it just wouldn't have happened as fast as a non-diabetic (why I remind you to make this your goal to find a home, but just do it strategically and have patience and also ask for help.)

Anyway, but it is better for this kitty to find a good home and there is one--and the good news is that NOW is a really good time to adopt since this is NOT kitten season. So there is less supply.

But I think that you just need to make a concerted effort for a good home. There was a 12 year old cat I rescued from the kill shelter--Lexie.
I did a Facebook page for her: http://www.facebook.com/lexie.kittycat I was her foster (before I became a 'foster fail' and stopped being able to give them up, I did foster and find homes for 2 cats.)

Check it out, especially the posts from the beginning--you can copy all the text if you want. I actually created this--THEN I posted a first-person appeal FROM Lexie on Craigs List--saying how "I" (she) wanted a furever home and was currently in a place where the other cats were bullying her--* I made it funny-can send you the text if you want.)

Anyway, as it turns out, a woman who's cat had just died saw it and then saw her facebook page and fell in love with her--and came and adopted her. Lots of people go to Craigs List just to random search in the pets section when they have lost a pet. Often they feel like they are not ready to have a new one again since they are hurting still--but sometimes an appeal to help for a needy cat can tug at their heart strings.

You probably will do well finding someone who has lost a cat and is slightly older maybe and so doesn't want a young cat.

Here is the facebook page I did for the other kitty, Jessie. Good pictures are key and some personality. You are a good writer so I know you can talk f rom the cat's voice and make it sound appealing..

Oh also here is the one I did for my 3 cats that I ended up keeping because in the end I couldn't actually give them up.

http://www.facebook.com/jessie.kittycat

Looks like you can't see much of it, but here is some of it--make sure to read the posts and The 'About' section for each of the pages for these cats above. Some of this is simply marketing

http://www.facebook.com/kittieswhoneedl ... me?fref=ts

Also, if you do a good Facebook page with updated pictures, you can share that around, DCIN can share it around etc. The more photos the better, even some phone film footage if your phone or camera does it, would be good too.

And of course whomever takes him you can train about the shots--and send them here to FDMB for more support.

Keep us posted and PM if you need any of the text for that Craigs List note or whatever. Good luck and take some deep breaths--this is a stressful, sad, lonely, high anxiety time for everybody. The holidays are not nec. as warm and fuzzy and peace-on-Earth as they are built up to be. Think short term, then think long term. Be patient and take baby steps.

And to whomever posted above--I think babies and kids are much worse and much dirtier, so we are lucky those of us who have cats and/or kids that are no longer in the diaper/vomiting stage! But, sometimes cats can be a hassle if you are already stressed above other things. We need to help change the situation, not chastize.
 
Just read a few more of the posts above...Maybe there is someone on here who lives elsewhere in the country who could take him, and transport could be arranged. There are lots of transport kitty underground railroad folks who either fly, drive, take a leg of a trip and meet and transfer etc. So it might be that even an experienced diabetic person outside of your area could help.

But first marketing materials are needed---cute photos of this kitty--preferably with easy access on a sharable link like Facebook! Also cute interesting information about him--turn his bad points into funny, endearing ones. My cat in high school ate our Thanksgiving turkey that was on the table. My grandmother was PISSED! I thought it was funny (I was a vegetarian, did not care.) But sounds like the kitty getting into the big can of cat food was a similar sneaky episode. My JJ gets into every cupboard--he is the only cat who knows how to open them. I now have to put a rubberband around the handles of the ones where the garbage is because otherwise he will get in there and spill out all the garbage to lick out what might be left in the cans. Even still I will sometimes hear him in the night trying to open those cupboards, they bounce a little since they are on a rubberband! Pissed me off at first, now I just know that I can't leave anything out, little bugger. You can turn all the things you hate about this 'bad' kitty into a funny story for different posts on facebook. Maybe that will be good therapy too!
 
I have not heard from you via email, so I will post here.

You know us; you say you've been a huge burden on DCIN but I guess you don't know us that well. No kitty is a burden. DCIN is all volunteer, no one is paid a cent, we do this because we love the work.

As you said, we can do a courtesy post. We can get some exposure and if a home at a distance is found, we can help with transport. Please email me.
 
You're doing the responsible thing...you're stressed out and can't handle it anymore, you've tried but you feel that the kitty would be happier elsewhere. (and if you're stressed, the kitty's picking up on that too and reacting also....it just feeds on itself) Now just work on finding the elsewhere. If people are judgemental, just ignore it . You are being a good parent! Kitty needs a good home, and there's people on the board here who can help you and help you find the right assistance to find that home.

While it is less than optimal, if you can't find someone to give him his shots over the holidays, just having someone to come by and feed and litterbox is something.

Yup, new home doesn't have to be in Canada....there's people with big hearts who will transport, it just has to be lined up.

Caring for a sick animal is very stressful....especially if you're trying to do the tight regulation.....and if your finances are tight the stress of being short on money alone is enough to make a person lose it over any little thing.

It's good you're getting away for the holidays and will have a break from the stress. You'll be able to think more clearly and possibly find his forever home.
 
Here's the first place I found....not a shelter, but an organization in Vancouver that organizes foster families to care for the cats in need until adopters are found.

Have you contacted them? They may have foster families willing to foster your kitty until a proper home is found. They are no-kill and while their name sounds

like they just handle kittens, they do adults too, and special needs adults too....they have several that are feline leukemia positive....worth at least a phone call or

email : )

http://www.orphankittenrescue.com/about_us
 
Hey Macal
Thanks for the support, she needs it. And for this good find. I have also posted on Facebook to my fellow cat rescue folks to see if there are any contacts for the Western Canada area...
 
The fact that you are on this board and have worked with DCIN - should tell you that there are many people from this board who have knowingly and willingly fostered/adopted diabetic cats AND have taken good care of them.

I suggest you contact Jen from DCIN - she's already reached out twice to you on this post and have them help you with rehoming this cat. No, you won't necessarily know who the adopter or foster person will be and if DCIN is involved - they will know and have done all the preliminary to ensure it's a good home for the cat.

And honestly, if someone did answer your ad and you gave the cat to that person , you don't know them either. You need to take a leap of faith and put your trust somewhere - why not with DCIN? IF they are willing to help, why not reach out and take the help?

You asked for advice and help. Well help is being offered - take it!
 
Martica and Fred said:
Hey Macal
Thanks for the support, she needs it. And for this good find. I have also posted on Facebook to my fellow cat rescue folks to see if there are any contacts for the Western Canada area...
Click to expand...

Yes I think that the poster should contact additional groups, (shelters, adoption groups, private cat shelters in BC and beyond.....US and Canada) just like this one, networks will connect and travel. Just because agencies may not accept a diabetic cat does not mean that they don't know of somewhere else that will.......so reaching out is the best thing the poster can do. Hopefully fairly quickly. It sounds like the poster really needs some help.
By the time someone builds up the courage to ask for help, they've needed it for quite a while.
 
I'm not sure if she is checking here any more. I live in the Fraser Valley, so depending on where 'a few hours from Vancouver' she is, I might be able to help. If someone is in touch with her, please ask her to send me a pm.
 
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