I feel bad just posting this...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for those links and especially the Tanya site. It made me realize my cat has deteriorated more than I knew. Not raggedy to say it's time yet but I have a better idea of what to look for.

I checked out Chewy's but with shipping cost there's no savings there. I'll try calling some vets and shelters and see if I get any discounts. I feel like there should be a senior discount for older pets!

Chewy's ships for free if you spend more than $49. Just buy two months worth at a time.

I thought about that I'm worried about buying too much at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cats are not people. Pets are not people. You're not putting down your cat for fun, hobby or sport. You're doing it because the human side became a bigger priority. You gave the cat a long, good life. Take care of your family, hug your baby extra tight. You don't need the added stress right now.

Oh, and after you made your decision, one way or another, don't come back to this thread. It's just going to make you feel like shit.

Good advice.

I just love that fuzzy lump! She's been my buddy so long and likes my kid.

Sound advice though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cats are not people. Pets are not people. You're not putting down your cat for fun, hobby or sport. You're doing it because the human side became a bigger priority. You gave the cat a long, good life. Take care of your family, hug your baby extra tight. You don't need the added stress right now.

Oh, and after you made your decision, one way or another, don't come back to this thread. It's just going to make you feel like shit.

Good advice.

I just love that fuzzy lump! She's been my buddy so long and likes my kid.

Sound advice though.

PP here again, I have no doubt you love your cat. Nobody pays for prescription food for 6 years for a cat they're not crazy about. The cat has been with you longer than most friends, maybe even your spouse? I am not saying you should put the cat down, I'm saying you shouldn't feel like a bad person if you decide to do so. If you make that choice, given that you're considering what's best for your family, you should feel at peace with it. That's not to say you won't feel sad. Unfortunately, I think you'll feel saddened either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the age of your child may come into this. Assuming here not an infant.

If you put Fluffy down, your child learns that once someone is old and not contributing to the group anymore (here, meaning, consuming and pooping but not cuddling or interested in the other members of the group) that they are now expendable.

True, this is an animal and not grandma, but OP you always want to think about what behavior you model with respect to this issue. Because one day you might be old, not in pain, but just sort of there, consuming and not contributing, and your cash-strapped child might have to decide what to do with you.

This should not make the decision for you, but I do think it should be a factor in the decision.

You don't know my situation and my child will never be independent much less supporting me so save your snotty lecture.

Top PP here. Bottom PP, are you OP? You write as if you are. If so, can we go back to your original OP, which was "What do I do?" So I gave you a factor to contribute to your decision. If we all shouldn't advise you because we "don't know your situation," then why ask our advice? If that was you, OP, then you don't want advice, you've already made your decision and just want people to make you feel better. As in your title, "I feel bad just posting this..."

Well this is DCUM and if you ask for advice, as in, "What do I do?", you'll get advice! Or post the real thing, how about "I'm going to kill my happy lazy cat, help me justify it."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the age of your child may come into this. Assuming here not an infant.

If you put Fluffy down, your child learns that once someone is old and not contributing to the group anymore (here, meaning, consuming and pooping but not cuddling or interested in the other members of the group) that they are now expendable.

True, this is an animal and not grandma, but OP you always want to think about what behavior you model with respect to this issue. Because one day you might be old, not in pain, but just sort of there, consuming and not contributing, and your cash-strapped child might have to decide what to do with you.

This should not make the decision for you, but I do think it should be a factor in the decision.

You don't know my situation and my child will never be independent much less supporting me so save your snotty lecture.

Top PP here. Bottom PP, are you OP? You write as if you are. If so, can we go back to your original OP, which was "What do I do?" So I gave you a factor to contribute to your decision. If we all shouldn't advise you because we "don't know your situation," then why ask our advice? If that was you, OP, then you don't want advice, you've already made your decision and just want people to make you feel better. As in your title, "I feel bad just posting this..."

Well this is DCUM and if you ask for advice, as in, "What do I do?", you'll get advice! Or post the real thing, how about "I'm going to kill my happy lazy cat, help me justify it."

No sympathy from the devil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the age of your child may come into this. Assuming here not an infant.

If you put Fluffy down, your child learns that once someone is old and not contributing to the group anymore (here, meaning, consuming and pooping but not cuddling or interested in the other members of the group) that they are now expendable.

True, this is an animal and not grandma, but OP you always want to think about what behavior you model with respect to this issue. Because one day you might be old, not in pain, but just sort of there, consuming and not contributing, and your cash-strapped child might have to decide what to do with you.

This should not make the decision for you, but I do think it should be a factor in the decision.

Not OP. I love animals, have pets, and believe that one of the most important and difficult responsibilities of being a pet owner is to give them peace when it's time. It's hard to know when that is, but better to be earlier than later. OP's pet does not seem to have a high quality of life. Would continuing to keep the pet be best for the pet, or would it be best for the people? When it's time, let the pet go.

This same idea applies to Grandma. Our modern medical system extends life sometimes too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you mix the fancy food with cheaper food?

This works for my cat, but he is 5 and it isn't a huge problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems whenever there is a new addition to a family or finances change, the first thing people tend to think is, "Ugh! What are we going to do w/the family pet....??!"
When any dynamic changes in a family, it's always the family pet that gets the short end of the stick.

OP while your cat is old now, if she isn't living her days suffering from constant pain, etc. than I say let her continue living her life. It shouldn't be considered a privilege to live, it should be her fundamental right as a feline!

Can you cut co$ts in other areas of your limited budget?
Perhaps buying generic vs. name brands? Or collecting cans + glass bottles to recycle?
What about doing some part-time babysitting to earn some extra cash?

You can even hold a weekend yard sale.

Where there is a strong will, there will always be a way.

Good luck. ^^
O O
(( ))

OP here. Ugh, what a sanctimonious guilt trip! I've obviously put my cats needs as a top priority for years or she wouldn't be 21 and relatively healthy.

Get off your high horse. I have a child and some pretty stressful life situations going on. I'm trying to keep it together.

Ignore the pp. I had a cat that lived to be over 21 (it was a rescue cat, so we didn't k ow exactly), and I fed it special food and did saline boluses under the skin for her kidney failure -- that said -- no one should put themselves in financial jealousy to extend the life of an ailing 21 year old cat that sleeps 22 hours a day. Do what you need to do and don't look back. I love my animals, but they are not people. Your child comes first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It seems whenever there is a new addition to a family or finances change, the first thing people tend to think is, "Ugh! What are we going to do w/the family pet....??!"
When any dynamic changes in a family, it's always the family pet that gets the short end of the stick.

OP while your cat is old now, if she isn't living her days suffering from constant pain, etc. than I say let her continue living her life. It shouldn't be considered a privilege to live, it should be her fundamental right as a feline!

Can you cut co$ts in other areas of your limited budget?
Perhaps buying generic vs. name brands? Or collecting cans + glass bottles to recycle?
What about doing some part-time babysitting to earn some extra cash?

You can even hold a weekend yard sale.

Where there is a strong will, there will always be a way.

Good luck. ^^
O O
(( ))

OP here. Ugh, what a sanctimonious guilt trip! I've obviously put my cats needs as a top priority for years or she wouldn't be 21 and relatively healthy.

Get off your high horse. I have a child and some pretty stressful life situations going on. I'm trying to keep it together.

Ignore the pp. I had a cat that lived to be over 21 (it was a rescue cat, so we didn't k ow exactly), and I fed it special food and did saline boluses under the skin for her kidney failure -- that said -- no one should put themselves in financial jealousy to extend the life of an ailing 21 year old cat that sleeps 22 hours a day. Do what you need to do and don't look back. I love my animals, but they are not people. Your child comes first.

*jeopardy* not jealousy. I hate auto correct.

[Anonymous]

First of all, I would like to commend you on not giving up on your cat. I work in animal rescue and we see senior and sick animals dumped off on us almost every day. You have not abandoned your pet, and that is a beautiful thing.
We also take in cats who get sick, have adopters who's cats get sick and need special food.
There is a MUCH cheaper and even better alternative to Hill SD prescription food. And you can get it on Chewy's for cheap. And because it is made with more quality ingredients, she may need to eat less.
https://www.chewy.com/daves-pet-food-restricted-diet/dp/101614

I fed my own elderly sick foster this and it worked like magic.

good luck with your cat!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start a gofundme (gofundmycat). You'll be surprised how generous people can be.

I'd donate to help your cat, OP. Start one!

[Anonymous]

I didn't read this because I saw it said cat. You can get a free cat by putting some food on your porch

[Anonymous]

You really put $7200 into a cat for food?
Wow. That's a good start to an emergency fund.