When do you intervene?

Has anybody here been in the position where a family member is not taking good care of the health of their cat?   How bad does it have to be before you say something to them, their vet, or even offer to take the animal?   In the situation I'm dealing with it's not bad enough that any official agency would charge her or intervene.    Just chronically not taking the cat for annual exams, not doing proper flea control, letting hot spots go for months, unable or unwilling to follow the vets instructions well on the rare times a vet is involved.    A part of me thinks I should offer to take the cat, but I'm already full up on cat responsibility with my own and it would be a hardship on me as well as my current pets - not much extra pieces left in the financial or attention pie. I have already said/done as much as I can without causing really bad feelings.  Still I don't know how much longer I can sit by?  

Hi Meowmusic, and welcome to TCS

It's so good that you have your relative's cat's wellbeing so strongly on you mind.  And it's such a tricky one, isn't it? 

Is it possible for you to offer to take on some of the major things (flea control, for example)? It isn't ideal, as it sets a precedent, but I'm thinking too about the welfare of the pussycat.  Giving him/her some reading on cats.. but you feel you've pushed it as far as you can go.

Let's see if some of our very clever TCSers can come up with some ideas.

In the meantime, good on you for caring, and please do let us know how you're going.

Sometimes, the best you can do is educate. the no annual vet exam thing I could overlook-unless the cat is having health issues or needs a vet's attention. Then there is no excuse. Dont get me wrong-yes regular preventative vet care is important, but some people just dont do this unless an animal is sick.

Flea control-education. Scare em-let them know of diseases and humans can get infected bites.

I am not sure there is much you can do but educate. Or offer to help them find a low cost vet? Crappy situation :-/ Sorry you are in it.

Hi Mani and Jenl!     I forgot to include in my first post that I live in another state so I know all of this by phone but haven't seen the cat in a long time.  I talked today to the vet clinic and found out the situation is worse than I thought - I may have no choice but to offer to take the cat and I'm not sure my relative will say yes - out of pride and attachment.   She'll only let one other local person in her house (Jane) and that person is unwilling to do much accept act in emergencies only - not go over there regularly to check on the cat or help with meds.   It's only through Jane that I even know that there are problems.    I can't go into specifics unfortunately because I'm afraid that would identify me on the remote chance one of those two ever reads this board.