maybe i did things the wrong way....

[Flamingo]

You have to realize that as your cat ages it is like dealing with an older senior citizen human. They feel bad, no energy, have their good and bad days, but cats cannot talk and tell you what, if anything is wrong, and that right there is a big thing. Arthritis could slow him down which is a normal thing in an aging dog or cat. His "straining" as you mention could be that but could also be that he feels he has to urinate and can't and could be a urinary symptom, not constipation. Our present cat had a horrid urinary tract infection when he was two (now age 7) and he was in that "straining" position almost all the time until we figured out what was actually wrong with him. He has been on cat urinary food since and we have had no further problems.

Having an older pet is hard because they all get to the point where they slow down, get ill more and basically there is no health insurance available for them as there is for humans (well, there is but it costs an arm and a leg). A cat to live to age 13 is a marvelous thing and it's obvious you took good care of him and he gave you marvelous companionship in return; when you find out what, if anything, is actually wrong with him, you may have some tough decisions to make and I feel for you case we have been there many times.

[liz417]

Hi bk4sky,

I'm so sorry about your cat, as a fellow cat lover, I too have spent $$$ on trying to save my cats. They become your family (currenlty, I have 4 cats and 2 dogs). Anyway, the previous posters all had great ideas, first I would call your attorney and TELL him you are unable to make the payment, mine was really nice, I was suppose to make 3 monthly installments by July 31st and I just can't, they'll understand...trust me. They told me to just make the payments when I can and that would obviously push back my filing date.

Right before I filed, I was maxed out on every card and one of my cats got into a fight (?) and his ear/side of his face was very puffy and leaking...I cried because I couldn't take care of him and take him to the vet...that's when I realized I needed to file BK. I looked on line (Mr Cat mentioned this), type in the cat's symtomns and you'll find a home-remedy. I did just that and my "chewy" is just fine!

Hang in there, things will work out! Be strong!

P.S. FIRE YOUR VET!!! OBVIOUSLY HE/SHE DOES IT FOR THE MONEY, NOT A LOVE FOR ANIMALS!!!

[liz417]

. We had an 18 year old cat that never got bigger than a kitten. Was some foreign type, and was just as frisky as a kitten. One day it was just walking to its bed and keeled over Dead on the spot. No symptoms at all. Heart attack I guess. 'Hub

My dream come true! They are soooo cute when they are kittens! Hub, you'll need to find out what kind of cat it was for me...

[bk4sky]

well i called a few other vets and they are all cold hearted SOB's that refuse payment plans.....what are you supposed to do let the damn animal die? im so furious right now. Last night BF knew i was really upset and scared about today so he explained to his mom what was going on and had to get a credit card off his mom for sabastians visit today. well i called my regular vet back and i made the apointment for 10.15am, and i asked again about a payment plan, cause i really dont want BF having to foot the bill for this. they said the only thing they would accept is a postdated check for payment in full....i said" look, ive spent thousands of dollars and have been bringing sabastian there for years ya think maybe you can help me out a bit? and she said that i would have to speak with the office manager when i get there. so ok maybe they will work something out considering ive spent fortunes there. its hard when you have a sick pet. my lawyers office isnt open yet but im going to try him back at 9am and explain the situation. ill keep you all posted. i know one thing once sabastian is gone, im not having any more pets, i just cant afford the emergencies like this. and even if BF didnt get the credit card, and the vet wouldnt have worked with me i wouldve wrote a postdated check and if it bounced owell, i would deal with ther consequences later....i think any other pet "mommy" would do the same thing for their baby.

and i already called my SUP cause im sure ill be late for work, thank god he loves me and is very understanding, and i promised to make up the time.

[momof5]

My Basset Boy has been sick this week for the very first time in his 4 years. He's been on a diet of boiled hamburger and rice. While I love my guy very much,I have a monentary figure in my head that if he ever got sick would be my limit. $500. That may sound a tad coldhearted BUT I realize he is an animal and Vets just dont live by the same standards as human physicans. No matter how much they love animals they still love their money.Your experience with your area vets is not that uncommon. None around here will do payments and most charge an astronomical fee for just the visit, not including any treatments. A Vet could keep a person going for thousands and thousands of dollars (happened to my Mom a couple of years ago) and the animal still may be at its time. Often these treatments lead to other issues which in turn cost more money. Sometimes by loving our pets we need to realize that the best for them when they are seriosly ill isn't always the way our heart feels.

Good luck today! I hope your kitty is better.

[bk4sky]

My Basset Boy has been sick this week for the very first time in his 4 years. He's been on a diet of boiled hamburger and rice. While I love my guy very much,I have a monentary figure in my head that if he ever got sick would be my limit. $500. That may sound a tad coldhearted BUT I realize he is an animal and Vets just dont live by the same standards as human physicans. No matter how much they love animals they still love their money.Your experience with your area vets is not that uncommon. None around here will do payments and most charge an astronomical fee for just the visit, not including any treatments. A Vet could keep a person going for thousands and thousands of dollars (happened to my Mom a couple of years ago) and the animal still may be at its time. Often these treatments lead to other issues which in turn cost more money. Sometimes by loving our pets we need to realize that the best for them when they are seriosly ill isn't always the way our heart feels.

Good luck today! I hope your kitty is better.

thank you, and i do understand what you are saying, my kitty is now 13 and i think today im putting a 500 cap on it.

good new is: i called my atty at exaclty 9am, and he answered and was such a sweetheart. he said he got my email but didnt have time to pull my file. he understood about my cat and said for this month if i just send 100 that will be fine! so at least i have 150 to put toward the bill. omg i really cant believe how nice he was!!!!

[momof5]

How is kitty? I hope everything went well today!

[liz417]

Hi BK4sky,

I'm glad everything worked out with the lawyer and vet (he's still a cold-hearted SOB). As a fellow animal lover, (I have 6), I know what you mean when you say that if/when this one passes on, you won't get another one...yeah, right! Hang in there.

Your BF sounds like a keeper too....

[bk4sky]

well everything went well. i took him to the vet and yep he sure was constipated badly. they had to do a few things plus some pet enemas and they wanted to keep him half the day to make sure the enemas worked, cause if they didnt they would have had to sedate him and go up and get it out. but they didnt have to go that far. the total was $250.00. BF put the bill on his CC, then i paid for all his food, he needs a mix of prescription urinary food, to keep his urinary tract clean, plus hes on food for bladder stones hoping to dissolve them, and now i also have to get him fiber treats to ensure no more butt blockages. im just so happy hes ok. hes home now and happy

[AngelinaCat]

Hi bk4sky: I am so glad your kitty is better. I agree with Liz too; your BF sounds like a keeper to me also.

Liz, our little 18 year old had some Oriental background--either Siamese or Burmese, although she was a black Tortieshell, very much like the picture I am using for my Avatar. But she was very long and tall, and very small-boned--and 'talked' all the time. You could actually carry on a conversation with her. It was very hard on both of us when she passed. But seven weeks to the hour that she passed, the little girl in my avatar's picture came to us. I firmly believe she was sent.

[cwillie]

I'm glad your cat is going to be okay. My cat died two months ago at the age of 17 and I still miss him. He didn't seem to be sick or in pain. Just acted "different" and of course, old. On a humorous note though I guess, he died in his litter box laying down just like he was sleeping. Anyway, good luck to you.

[arkienurse]

Glad everything worked out for Sabastian today

[arkienurse]

Hi bk4sky: I am so glad your kitty is better. I agree with Liz too; your BF sounds like a keeper to me also.

Liz, our little 18 year old had some Oriental background--either Siamese or Burmese, although she was a black Tortieshell, very much like the picture I am using for my Avatar. But she was very long and tall, and very small-boned--and 'talked' all the time. You could actually carry on a conversation with her. It was very hard on both of us when she passed. But seven weeks to the hour that she passed, the little girl in my avatar's picture came to us. I firmly believe she was sent.

I love your avatar. My kitty is a tortise shell also, only grey. She was such an ugggly kitten we knew she would have to be beautiful as an adult. I changed my avatar so ya'll could see her. We brought her in as a kitten, along with her sister, who was a calico. My vet says she has an unusually small head for her size, but she is 10 pounds.

[liz417]

I love your avatar. My kitty is a tortise shell also, only grey. She was such an ugggly kitten we knew she would have to be beautiful as an adult. I changed my avatar so ya'll could see her. We brought her in as a kitten, along with her sister, who was a calico. My vet says she has an unusually small head for her size, but she is 10 pounds.

Hi there,

Your kitty is so pretty! She looks like she's wearing one of those "half-masks"-I think it represents "art"...do you know what I'm taking about? Anyway, very, very cute!

[arkienurse]

Hi there,

Your kitty is so pretty! She looks like she's wearing one of those "half-masks"-I think it represents "art"...do you know what I'm taking about? Anyway, very, very cute!

yes, someone on another forum said her face reminded them of the Ying/Yang symbol. But understand, she had none of the solid yellow on her face or neck when we took her in, just grey mottled with orange hairs. Now her feet are solid grey, each in varying amounts. And the yellow half face, as well as yellow and white under her chin. And her personality-- has to accompany us to the bathroom, especially when I first get up. Tolerates my 5 year old better than I do. Drinks from the faucet. Gets on my head at night and purrs if I dare to let her food bowl run empty. Then last week, around midnight, she jumped up next to me and meowed in a voice I have NEVER heard her use before. I checked on the 5 yr old, she was fine. Then I noticed a strong smell of nail polish. My 15 yr old had her door shut and the smell was definitly coming from there. I opened the door and was nearly overcome by the acetone smell. She had accidentally knocked over nail polish in her sleep. The fumes were so strong I made her sleep in the living room for the rest of the night. Probably she would have been ok, but I credit my kitty with waking me up before she passed out or anything. That meow was definitly a "hey, somthing is wrong in my world, wake up!"