(no subject)

[raincitygirl]

Oh dear. I should’ve pretended I wasn’t home when my neighbour knocked on my door on Remembrance Day, carrying that pathetic bag of bones in her arms. If I’d known what was coming, I would’ve done so.

Harlequin has not been euthanized after all. I emailed the SPCA this morning to offer to put $100 towards her treatment in between Neighbour bringing her in and her owner washing her hands of her, and to thank them for looking after her when her owner wouldn’t. My assumption was that they’d euthanized her, because she seemed at death’s door when she was with me overnight. Apparently getting actual veterinary care for the first time in several YEARS did her a world of good and they think she’s on the road to recovery.

This is a disaster of epic proportions. I should have just gone on assuming she’d been put down, and not tried to confirm it. I do not need another cat. I especially don’t need an elderly, FIV-positive cat who will be totally uninsurable. No matter how sweet her disposition is, and how she ignored YMW’s temper tantrum when she appeared. If I adopted her, she’d cost me money, and probably have to be put down within a few years anyway, thus breaking my heart. YMW would probably sulk for weeks on end before learning to live with her. And I’d have to scoop the cat litter twice as often.

I kept my own counsel with the nice lady at the SPCA, and did not blurt out, “Well, when she’s finished recuperating, if you put her up for adoption, give me a call.” But it took an effort not to say it.

Comments

[ancarett]

*hugs*

I understand. You did a good thing giving shelter to Tiny cat and checking up on her. Trust the SPCA to keep on helping her out.

[out_there]

Plus, you might find yourself on the wrong side of the neighbor if she finds out about it.

[raincitygirl]

I would definitely have found myself on the wrong side of the neighbour on the strata council for the building. But it's a moot point, as it happens.

Unfortunately Harlequin had to be put down on Friday afternoon, which lets me off the hook of needing to make a decision. Apparently she was doing really well until late Wednesday night, when she took a dramatic turn for the worse. But the staff in the animal hospital side were busy treating her and didn't get around to telling the front office staff that she was worse. While she was definitely FIV-negative, they ran more tests on Thursday, and got the results back Friday. Terrible case of liver disease, 6 - 12 months to live, and likely to be in more pain as it developed further.

She had perked right up for a while, probably due to the IV fluids and painkillers after not having seen a vet for several years. But that was just treating the symptoms, and eventually the underlying disease kicked back in. So poor Harlequin is no more, and I'm kind of sad. But at least she spent her last week in a place where they looked after her properly and valued her affectionate temperament, instead of dying outside in the cold and the rain.

[out_there]

But at least she spent her last week in a place where they looked after her properly and valued her affectionate temperament, instead of dying outside in the cold and the rain.

Exactly.It's much better that she didn't die in pain and miserable conditions, poor thing.

[madripoor_rose]

We can't take care of all the little critters in the world, however much we might want to. You do what you can, and you've already done more than most would here.

[raincitygirl]

Unfortunately Harlequin had to be put down on Friday afternoon, which lets me off the hook of needing to make a decision. Apparently she was doing really well until late Wednesday night, when she took a dramatic turn for the worse. But the staff in the animal hospital side were busy treating her and didn't get around to telling the front office staff that she was worse. While she was definitely FIV-negative, they ran more tests on Thursday, and got the results back Friday. Terrible case of liver disease, 6 - 12 months to live, and likely to be in more pain as it developed further.

She had perked right up for a while, probably due to the IV fluids and painkillers after not having seen a vet for several years. But that was just treating the symptoms, and eventually the underlying disease kicked back in. So poor Harlequin is no more, and I'm kind of sad. But at least she spent her last week in a place where they looked after her properly and valued her affectionate temperament, instead of dying outside in the cold and the rain.

[madripoor_rose]

Aw, sorry to hear that. Nods, at least her last days were comfortable.

[loligo]

As someone who's taken in cats that I probably shouldn't have, I support you in deciding what's right for you.

[raincitygirl]

Thank you very much. I just picked up a voicemail from the SPCA saying that she's FIV-negative after all. Life is a rollercoaster ride sometimes! Now I must THINK most furiously. And tomorrow gather further info on what actually caused her illness. I don't even know if they'd accept my application, if I did apply to adopt her. The lady in the voicemail seemed to think she'd be easy to find a home for, being so sweet-natured.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't usually go for placid, quiet animals. I like cats with sparky, difficult personalities, and hers wasn't sparky or difficult, at least not when she was with me. She was mostly just stoic, except when she jumped on my lap and started purring when I petted her.

Sigh. Life is weird.

[raincitygirl]

Unfortunately Harlequin had to be put down on Friday afternoon, which lets me off the hook of needing to make a decision. Apparently she was doing really well until late Wednesday night, when she took a dramatic turn for the worse. But the staff in the animal hospital side were busy treating her and didn't get around to telling the front office staff that she was worse. While she was definitely FIV-negative, they ran more tests on Thursday, and got the results back Friday. Terrible case of liver disease, 6 - 12 months to live, and likely to be in more pain as it developed further.

She had perked right up for a while, probably due to the IV fluids and painkillers after not having seen a vet for several years. But that was just treating the symptoms, and eventually the underlying disease kicked back in. So poor Harlequin is no more, and I'm kind of sad. But at least she spent her last week in a place where they looked after her properly and valued her affectionate temperament, instead of dying outside in the cold and the rain.

[marymac]

Someone will be looking for a sweet little old lady cat, don't worry. I know this because the shelter I help at just gave away the last of the current haul of little old lady cats to a little old lady human. She departed being worn as a scarf, all attempts to detach and coax into carriers having failed.

[raincitygirl]

LOL! I can just visualize that quite vividly. I'm glad to know there's a market for sweet little old lady cats out there.

Unfortunately Harlequin had to be put down on Friday afternoon, which lets me off the hook of needing to make a decision. Apparently she was doing really well until late Wednesday night, when she took a dramatic turn for the worse. But the staff in the animal hospital side were busy treating her and didn't get around to telling the front office staff that she was worse. While she was definitely FIV-negative, they ran more tests on Thursday, and got the results back Friday. Terrible case of liver disease, 6 - 12 months to live, and likely to be in more pain as it developed further.

She had perked right up for a while, probably due to the IV fluids and painkillers after not having seen a vet for several years. But that was just treating the symptoms, and eventually the underlying disease kicked back in. So poor Harlequin is no more, and I'm kind of sad. But at least she spent her last week in a place where they looked after her properly and valued her affectionate temperament, instead of dying outside in the cold and the rain.

[marymac]

The best bit was that her son was deeply offended at having the nice carrier he'd bought her shunned. "I got it specially! I put a sheepskin blanket in it! You're encouraging bad behaviour!"

Poor Harlequin. But at least she went out loved and cared for.