Feeling overwhelmed by my cats

cprcheetah

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Why is it they all seem to get sick at the same time?  I have 3 of 5 right now that are dealing with something or other.  Can't they all just be healthy?
 

goholistic

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Why is it they all seem to get sick at the same time?  I have 3 of 5 right now that are dealing with something or other.  Can't they all just be healthy?
 I couldn't even imagine having more than three cats, let alone more than three with concurrent health issues. And, yes, it does seem to all happen at the same time.
 

scarlett 001

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Why is it they all seem to get sick at the same time?  I have 3 of 5 right now that are dealing with something or other.  Can't they all just be healthy?
Ditto. I have 6 cats (5 senior) and in a really short time period, 3 of them have had serious issues diagnosed (pancreatitis, cholangitis, bladder stones). Oh, and one other cat who is now okay went into anaphylactic shock and respiratory distress during routine dental (nearly died) in October. Even just one of these diagnoses/issues would normally have me flipping out, but to have a relentless list of serious issues is stressing me out, making me panic, and my heart is breaking. I have no idea how I am going to get through the next few days, months or years. I have so much homework to do about these various issues so I can ensure I am treating them the best possible. Sigh.

I do feel overwhelmed...
 

goholistic

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Ditto. I have 6 cats (5 senior) and in a really short time period, 3 of them have had serious issues diagnosed (pancreatitis, cholangitis, bladder stones). Oh, and one other cat who is now okay went into anaphylactic shock and respiratory distress during routine dental (nearly died) in October. Even just one of these diagnoses/issues would normally have me flipping out, but to have a relentless list of serious issues is stressing me out, making me panic, and my heart is breaking. I have no idea how I am going to get through the next few days, months or years. I have so much homework to do about these various issues so I can ensure I am treating them the best possible. Sigh.

I do feel overwhelmed...
OMG. I'm having anxiety just imagining having 5 senior cats. I really do feel for you. I was actually going to post on this thread today to say that not only am I am feeling overwhelmed by my cats physically and mentally, but financially, as well. I've spent so much money in 2013 - two dentals/extractions, test after test after test for both Boo and Sebastian, Sebastian's hospitalizations, prescriptions, supplies for supportive care, supplements, special [expensive] food, etc. I'm seriously thinking I'm going to have to get a weekend job.
 

scarlett 001

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You don't want to know the finances. My savings have been depleted. To save my cat's life from respiratory distress after anaphylactic shock was $6000 (you don't want to know the daily charge for oxygen), and the dental leading up to that episode was $1500. Another cat had a $1200 dental a month later. And in the past 2 weeks, I've spent something along the lines of $3000-$4000 (have not totalled the bills yet) having endless regular and emergency appointments, many xrays, 2 urgent ultrasounds on 2 cats, bladder surgery, numerous geriatric blood panels, medications and so on and so forth.

I knew that things would be difficult as my cats aged (they were all about the same age when I adopted them), but to have so many happen/be diagnosed in a short period is just terrible luck - one would normally expect a bit more spacing to regroup in between diagnoses and such. I do not even know who to focus on, what to research and my finances are in tatters.  
 
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cprcheetah

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You don't want to know the finances. My savings have been depleted. To save my cat's life from respiratory distress after anaphylactic shock was $6000 (you don't want to know the daily charge for oxygen), and the dental leading up to that episode was $1500. Another cat had a $1200 dental a month later. And in the past 2 weeks, I've spent something along the lines of $3000-$4000 (have not totalled the bills yet) having endless regular and emergency appointments, many xrays, 2 urgent ultrasounds on 2 cats, bladder surgery, numerous geriatric blood panels, medications and so on and so forth.

I knew that things would be difficult as my cats aged (they were all about the same age when I adopted them), but to have so many happen/be diagnosed in a short period is just terrible luck - one would normally expect a bit more spacing to regroup in between diagnoses and such. I do not even know who to focus on, what to research and my finances are in tatters.  
(((Hugs))) I feel for you.  I am blessed to have the benefit of my father (retired vet) and able to get a nice discount at the vet I work for (for things my dad doesn't have access to), but it still adds up.  My hubby is not happy with all the money DeeJay has cost us with the specialized testing and stuff that there isn't a discount on.  I am so sorry for everything you are going through.  I tell my hubby that because our cats are our only kids, that it's the equivilant if we had skin kids that needed health care etc. 
 

scarlett 001

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Tonight, I just feel sad. I have had my Dad visiting and been running around vet clinics non-stop for 2 weeks. I am alone, the house is quiet and it is hitting me hard in terms of what I have to face ahead.  
 

cprcheetah

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Oh goodness!  It's not just the cats that are overwhelming.....just found out there is a possibility my chihuahua has diabetes.  She's 8 years old and has had so many freaking health issues at one point she was on 8 different long term meds.  I switched her to raw and cut out all but 1 pill.  She had a glucose of 235 this evening at my dad's and that is with her not eating anything for 24 hours.  So now I have that to worry about in addition to my kitties. 
 
 
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scarlett 001

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Oh goodness!  It's not just the cats that are overwhelming.....just found out there is a possibility my chihuahua has diabetes.  She's 8 years old and has had so many freaking health issues at one point she was on 8 different long term meds.  I switched her to raw and cut out all but 1 pill.  She had a glucose of 235 this evening at my dad's and that is with her not eating anything for 24 hours.  So now I have that to worry about in addition to my kitties. 
 
Wow, talk about not catching a break.
  I feel the same way.

I was just cuddling my new kitten (he is 9 lbs and only 6 months old, not fat just dense muscle and size) and realized that I've not had a moment to really bond/connect with him yet. It was supposed to be such a happy time.  
 

goholistic

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I couldn't even imagine having other species of animals, even for the simple fact that they're so totally different physiologically and biologically. Those who have pets AND kids to care for...forget it. I don't know how people do it.
 

scarlett 001

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To add to my health care confusion, I have a horse - and for quite a few years I had two horses!! I've had a host of lameness issues with both of them in the past 5-6 years. Then one horse died of a urinary blockage and caught me totally off guard - my heart broke into pieces.
 

cprcheetah

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I couldn't even imagine having other species of animals, even for the simple fact that they're so totally different physiologically and biologically. Those who have pets AND kids to care for...forget it. I don't know how people do it.
Ha Ha, so very very true.  I don't have human kids, just my fur kids.  It can be tough even just having the dog with the cats.  They are definitely different.  I wish my dog would litter train like the cats LOL.
 

cprcheetah

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To add to my health care confusion, I have a horse - and for quite a few years I had two horses!! I've had a host of lameness issues with both of them in the past 5-6 years. Then one horse died of a urinary blockage and caught me totally off guard - my heart broke into pieces.
I never even knew/thought about horses getting urinary blockages.  Do they get crystals and stones like dogs and cats?  I am so very sorry for your loss, and everything you are going through right now.
 

scarlett 001

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I never even knew/thought about horses getting urinary blockages.  Do they get crystals and stones like dogs and cats?  I am so very sorry for your loss, and everything you are going through right now.
I had not realized this either. I had him looked at by a vet, and it appeared that he did have some bladder stones. I was hoping to buy a bit of time while I learned about this issue in horses (I knew nothing about it in horses), and in particular how horses respond to bladder stone removal surgery and what things I could to so they did not come back if we did surgery, plus whether it was fair to put him through the surgery (surgery is complicated on horses, as is aftercare as the horse does not live in my house the way that a cat does - my horse was a very senior horse by this time). Then my horse blocked overnight at his stables and by the time he was found in the morning, I had to make a rush decision to let him go. That was in 2012 and to be honest, I sometimes think that I have not really accepted that he is gone. I was just watching a video of him tonight (in my melancholy mood) and was crying for a bit.
 

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I know I'm late, but thank god I found this thread. I thought I was the only person who's suffering from these things and that I'm weird.

You see, I also adore my kitty a lot, he's my shadow, he follows me everywhere, sleeps beside me etc.

However, recently I've developed this anxiety that whenever something is wrong with him, like sneezing coughing diarrhea would makes me panic. One time, I talked with a psychologist, and he told me that I'm perfectionist, I like things to go as I plan, and this is why I get stressed "tbh this idea about myself hunts me everyday haha".

Back to my cat, he suddenly one day developed this diarrhea and since I'm a medical student, I need to research and connect his symptoms to figure out why, after a long time it turns out he had chicken intolerance and a sensitive stomach.

Then after three months he developed a presistent cough, that makes me feel stressed/guilty seeing him suffer like that. After visiting the vet, it turns out he's asthmatic. Tbh, at this point, I'm afraid he will be diagnosed with another condition. Cause my stress levels are very high right now. Idk just want to vent a but on the internet about what I'm going through...
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi G Gingeercat . You have found an excellent site to be able to commiserate and consult with true cat lovers! If you would like to garner more attention to your situation, especially if you have questions, I suggest you start your own thread and express all of what your feelings/concerns are through that new thread. It is more likely to get responses being a new thread. A pic and a name of your cat is always most welcomed!!
 
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