We made a very hard decision today. :(

Bear went back to the Humane Society where we got him today. I am so sad, but they can care for him better there than I was here. They have on staff medical care and cages in isolation. I have children, other cats, and a dog and I had to think of them too. Blue and Rex were reinfected and my dog is having runny poos too. My older son has been having tummy issues for a few days now too. I called the Humane Society (it is a no kill shelter) and they apologized for all we had gone through and asked me to bring him back. Their goal is to make him well again (since he was obviously sick when I got him) and then contact me for re-adoption.

When they saw him and evaluated him, the tech told me that I needed to be prepared because he may not ever get better - and they will euthanize an animal who can not recover.

I am used to having less than "perfect" animals - Blue is hyperthyroid and Rosco has been on allergy shots and meds all his life. When Sissy ate a lily stem, we pulled out all the stops and did what it took to save her life (she lived another 5 years! ) It is not the "dealing with giardia" that made this decision for us - it was how sick Bear is and how he is not getting better and I can't seem to keep everyone going at one time and everyone uninfected and homeschool my kids and continue to pay $1100 in two weeks to care for him (and the awful way it almost killed Blue). I am truly terrified for Bear - he has gone through this so hard and for so long now that I am worried the vet tech may end up being right.

My is broken. I have cried all day. I just wanted to share this news with you all since you were all so kind to help me when I needed it most.

Thank you both for the support. I was terrified to post about this because I just feel like a terrible cat owner now! I feel like I should have done more, sacrificed more, waited longer...but it had been almost 3 weeks on treatment with absolutely NO improvement...if anything, worsening symptoms. My other animals recovered and then relapsed. My kids are in danger of getting this parasite too! My husband was supportive of getting the cats (Rex and Bear). He has had animals that were his before and we have spared no expense to treat them. When Sissy got sick and later died, we spared no expense. When Rosco spent two years being treated for staph and later diagnosed with allergies and started allergy shots...we spared no expense. But we just can't do it like this - for a kitten right off the bat that we didn't even get to have and love first. I couldnt' bear it if Blue died because of something *I* brought in with Bear. No matter how many times I rationalize it, I just can't stop feeling like a heel.

What a great group you are here. Thank you so much for all the support and kind words at such a hard time. I am thankful to have found you all. Today was my and dh's 8 year anniversary and he spent the evening hugging me while I sobbed.

I hope Bear will get well and be coming home soon...but I am afraid to hope too much because of how sick he was and what the vet tech said. I am scared to get my hopes up (but I am hoping and praying!)

Thank you all! I am humbled.