Breaking Through, Travelling On

[Deleted User]

Totally agree with all the different comments about cats:)

I adore my cat but feel so responsible for him and his wellbeing that lots of things we planned to do have been put on hold. He was a feral stray kitten who arrived in our garden at about 6 weeks old in a pretty poor state. After a lot of time, attention and money he is a prime specimen of a happy, healthy and pampered cat, even though he still hunts poor defenceless creatures:eek:. Although he is a home 'bird', sleeping upstairs often on our bed, and loves nothing better than a cuddle, he isn't the sort of cat to put in a cattery if/when we are away from home. He needs to roam free. Sadly, we don't know anyone who could 'sit' him or just pop in and feed him if we left him 'home alone'. Not that I could do that, he loves our company and affection too much. So we never both go away together at the same time:(. Our cat is only 7 so has many years ahead.

We'd previously had a cat for 20 years that we absolutely adored but she was more amenable to catteries and we went away on lots of holidays and breaks when we had her. When she died we decided that we wouldn't have another cat (which was a wrench as we love having them in our life) so we could be free in our later years to do all the things we wanted to do without the guilt of leaving a cat. Of course, this plan was scuppered when our 'boy' discovered us, moved in and took over our lives.

So be strong,KC. I know it's hard for you to resist appealing felines but you've worked long and hard for your much-anticipated retirement and after your health problems and other things you really deserve the time and peace of mind to do what you want without encumbrances or guilt:kisses3:.

Alchemilla

As someone encumbered by animals...I think the joy they bring outweighs the inconvenience.

Its a personal decision of course.

Cheery_Daff

We rescued two tiny kittens when I was about 11 - my grandma lived opposite the vet surgery and people were forever leaving things in boxes on the doorstep in the middle of the night and she'd always take stuff in til the morning at least (and often for years afterwards :rotfl: )

Those two kittens (on top of the dog and cat we already had, plus a rotation of gerbils etc) plagued my poor mother - one had to have a kidney out, the other one ruptured its stomach lining, one fought with our older cat etc etc. They also shredded the carpet and the sofa - so much that she started a 'when the cats are dead' fund in the bank to replace the furniture and go on lots of holidays :rotfl:

I think she felt quite guilty when the final one died at 18 :eek: but I think she quite enjoys being unencumbered now :rotfl:

Karmacat

Awww, thank you all! Its good to get that feedback.

Al, I totally agree about animals bringing joy. I'm a cat person, but people who see me with dogs think I'm a dog person - I adore animals, all animals, I really do, and they all bring joy to my life, just especially cats.

The thing is, I'm already having to draw on savings just to exist, at really quite a low level of expenditure - even cat food, let alone cat veterinary bills, would have to be paid for from savings. That's not a discretionary spend I want to make. I think I'm quite a lot older than you, I think ... we're in really different places. It's also upsetting not to be able to look after them the way you want to, because you (I) feel so ill which happened a few times with my early viral attacks.

I saw the neighbour's cat over the road last night, the new mum that sparked this, and went over - but she was in full hunting mode and ignored me I love cats being cats

Cheery :wave: just seen your post as I went to fetch some emojis yes, I can understand your mum's feelings she did really well with all that lot to look after!

Karmacat

Right, I've done a you gov survey, and checked emails. So today:
- therapy work later on today
- got to return a phone call.
- couple of bits of official post to deal with
- bloggy plug-ins to do, I'm a little bit ahead of myself there, which is great - might mean I can spend August getting up to speed on content, not structure, hurray.
- "weeding", otherwise known as pulling grass out of the border at the front of the house

Alchemilla

KC not meaning to pressure you to have one, just to say don't deny yourself if its what you want.xxx

Karmacat

Of course, Al - I'm focussed on my priorities, that's all - and right now, managing the runup to retirement is more important than having my own cat I have cats in my life, never fear :j

Also been managing plugins to blogs ... good grief! Takes forever and I have to find visuals I want to use for my own image. I know what I can do for the cats, actually, that'll work well, just need to find the right one for the other too ... I've got a pic of me at Stonehenge that could work well ...

Better have a walk round the block to think about it ...

Cheery_Daff

Nice time to be outside if it's as sunny there as it is here KC! :j

Goldiegirl

I'd love to have a cat, in fact, we are both cat people


If we did, we'd probably get one from the local cat shelter. They send people round to make sure the home is suitable for a cat ( Imagine the mortification if you were deemed unsuitable :eek:)


But what holds us back is holidays. We are hoping to have some longer holidays over the next few years. In fact, in February we'll be away for 5 weeks.


I just don't think it'd be fair on the cat to go into kennels for such a long time.


My friend is going to keep an eye on our house while we are away, but I couldn't expect her to feed the cat for 35 nights, so a kennel would be the only option.

[Deleted User]

Goldiegirl

That's our predicament with our cat, we just don't think he'd settle in a cattery and how could we enjoy our holidays if we are forever worried about him? So we just don't take holidays now:(

I do some volunteer work for a local animal rescue centre and one of my jobs is to 'vet' the homes of people who come in to offer a home to a cat. I hate doing it really and have had to report back that one or two have been unsuitable. It's a horrible job:( but I have to be objective and honest. Some of the rescue cats have had a terrible start in life and deserve a wonderful home (not necessarily as far as being a top-notch house is concerned, but where they will get the proper attention, care, love and security that they need). I then have to do a follow-up visit after a couple of weeks to make sure the rehoming is 'working' and that the cat and its new family are happy together. I've never had to remove a cat so far, thank goodness. That would be awful for the owners especially if children have become attached to it.