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post #31 of 40
10/27/10 at 2:24pm
Hi, I'm so sorry that you are going through this, thankyou for helping I worked at a care home for many years and I studied and got a degree in understanding alzheimers and demantia. This sounds to me like your neighbour is only in the early stages, I am sorry but anyone with full blown alzheimers would not be able to drive, she would not be allowed. You live next door to her so you know her better than anyone, I will agree with you Carolina, she may have just decided to keep the one kitty. Please everyone do not take this the wrong way but some people know how to work it and "play" on it. From the studies that I did, anybody with alzheimers has phases where they can remember and then they can't and most can remember things from the past more than anything. I have worked with over 100+ people with alzheimers on a daily basis.x
post #32 of 40
10/27/10 at 2:29pm
Definitely keep an eye on Gracie this winter. It sounds like your neighbor could easily forget again and go back to keeping her outside, oblivious to the cold weather.
post #33 of 40
10/27/10 at 4:22pm
The bottom line: Thank God for you, Carolina. You will not let Gracie starve, dehydrate or be without her medications. You are an Angel.

It doesn't really matter what the woman's motivation is, aside from it makes an interesting debate. What matters is she no longer wants to have anything to do with Gracie's care.

So again I say, Thank you God, for providing Carolina to care about Gracie.
post #34 of 40
10/27/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
Ok.... I literally grabbed the Bull by the horn today
I have been working for the last 3 1/2 hours on "Project Gracie", and it sounds like we got it working now!
I went to my neighbors house, and asked her if she minded me taking her to the vet... she said no, I could take her... So I told her - let's call the vet now, since I am here, to find out about her medication. Got the vet on the phone, and as I already knew, she is supposed to be on Methimazole for life, in the am and pm; she hasn't taken since April. She is also overdue on her Senior Panel since last month. On her last Senior Panel, the only health problem was hyperthyroid, hopefully that is still the case... I went to the vet, picked up her prescription, some pill pockets, and gave it to her - she ate it like a good girl!
The vet told me I can only take her in with the husband's authorization, so my neighbor called her husband, but he didn't want to discuss the situation in front of her and told me to call him in private, tomorrow on his cell phone - I will do so.
Also, in discussing the situation with my neighbor, I explained to her how Gracie really needs to be inside, how it is better for her, healthier, etc... And I made a deal with her - if she lets her be inside at ALL TIMES, I will come 2x a day and give her the medication and feed both of them... So, in the morning and at night I will be feeding my cats and make a neighbor run to feed and tend to her cats too, so that way she is not overwhelmed...
I also found out they are both eating Cat Chow, and out of wet food. Also, The other kitty has been pooping on the floor. There is only one litter box, inside of a closet...
I then took my neighbor to the pet store, bought a bag of Chicken Soup to the Cat Lover's Soul Senior food, to which I am already slowly transitioning them, and some good senior canned food for one kitty and kitten canned food for Gracie, who is sooooo skinny...
I also got a second litterbox, and Cat attract litter. Got home, got a Feliway diffuser and refill... Went to her house, cleaned and disinfected her old litterbox, switched the litter, setup the new litterbox, and fed the kitties.
The other kitty immediately went to the second box, which I placed outside of the closet; hopefully this was the problem...
She looked overwhelmed with the two kitties in her house, and when she asked me what to do, I told her: Nothing - tomorrow you just open the door for me in the morning... and then at night... You just keep loving them and no matter what, do NOT let her outside again, EVER!
She promised me she is going to stay in now at all times!
I am SO happy!!!
post #35 of 40
10/27/10 at 6:54pm
Bless you, Carolina! I REALLY hope she remembers to keep her inside! But no matter WHAT happens, you are Gracie's angel!
post #36 of 40
10/27/10 at 7:10pm
You dear darling woman, you.
post #37 of 40
10/27/10 at 9:51pm
I am giving you a HUGE virtual
post #38 of 40
10/28/10 at 3:53am
Wow! What can be said? That is just a wonderful thing you are doing.

Maybe when you are over there, you can put up a sticky note reminding her not to let the kitty out. We found those helped us with my mom.

You are a true advocate for the cats.
post #39 of 40
10/28/10 at 8:21am
Thread Starter 
I went there this morning to feed the kitties, and Gracie was still inside... This is the good news... The bad news is that my neighbor said she doesn't know if she wants to do this anymore... She said she doesn't know if she can keep her inside... She sounded SO overwhelmed...
I asked her why, she didn't know how to explain... So I explained to her that if she stayed outside, in the cold, with no medicine, the worst would probably happen, and if she didn't want her, we needed to find her a home.
I calmed her down, and asked her... do you remember I am coming here everyday to feed and take care of them? Yes... Did they fight? no... How were them at night? Fine... Did they give you trouble? no...
So I started discussing solutions with her... Shelter - she is aware she would be killed, and she would never let that happen. She doesn't want to put her to sleep either. Her husband taking her to the office; she will ask... I told her that WORST case scenario, I will bring her in, but she will have to be kept legally under her name, as I can not have 4 cats. I told her she will have to keep giving her the shots, and the vet will be still under her name (it goes to the city, and it is against the law).
I asked her if it was ok with her for me to go ahead and look for rescues to find her a home - if she could stay in until we find her a place... She said to wait some days to see how she (my neighbor) adapts to the situation... She wants to think about it better... She doesn't want to put her out anymore or give her away... My goodness!
God... the poor thing... I told her I will make it really easy for her... But am I making it easy?
I am really thinking about bringing Gracie in at thin point...
post #40 of 40
10/28/10 at 1:25pm
One of the first symptoms my mother had was a disinterest in her pet dog and refusal to pay for basic medical care ("too expensive"). My sister eventually took complete care of the dog. Being overwhelmed at what use to be no big deal is another symptom. First, taking care of a pet; next, taking care of herself. The only constant about Alzheimer's is the inconsistency; assume your friend will change her mind several times. If your friend says Gracie isn't her cat, agree with her maybe, and say how wonderful it is that she is taking care of her. Or agree with her and foster the cat.
If the husband can't or won't help, then social services (Department of Aging of what ever county you live in) needs to be called NOW. It may take several weeks/months for them to get to your friend, what with budget cuts and supply/demand of case workers.
www.alz.org has a message board which may help you deal with your friend and Gracie. Some assisted living facilities allow (indeed, encourage) residents to have pets; perhaps Gracie could be placed at such a facility.
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