Feeling burnt out

This post probably belongs on another forum, but I have no idea where, so  mods, please move it.

For months now, I have been keeping my cat alive with fluids and hand feedings. As in my other posts, these feedings take 10-15 minutes each, and I have to stand with her and encourage her to eat and keep my other 4 cats way from her food (she is the only one getting wet food).

She jumps up as I am on my way to another room, to the bathroom,. to sit down and eat, when I get up in the night, before I even have my pj's on. I feel guilty, but I am burning out.

 Anyone with similar feelings about caring for a cat for say, 2 hours a day every day for months?

I'm sorry to hear that - but bless you for being selfless and taking such good care of this cat, regardless of how exasperated you feel inside, it's your actions that really count!   How old is your kitty, and what kind of illness is she suffering from?  Do you live alone or have anyone who could assist you, even with just one meal a day?

I'm not in your particular situation by any means, but I too find mealtimes at our household to be frustrating sometimes - I have finicky eaters, and everyone likes different types of foods, and I've been trying to switch them to better wet food/commercial raw for several weeks, and some days I feel like a complete failure and have to resort to the junky kibble that they love (but I hate) just to get them to eat something.   Often times I think getting an animal to eat should not be this difficult!  

I think everyone who is a member of this site (whether active posters or just lurking/reading) is a special type of person.  We care so much about our pets and consider them to be real members of our family that we really want to educate ourselves about how best to care for them - versus just grabbing some Meow Mix and calling it a day, leaving the kitties to fend for themselves with no real meaningful interaction with them.   

I'm sorry you're feeling burned out, but it's not surprising given the situation.  If there isn't anyone you could depend on to help with a meal or two to give you a break, make sure to give yourself a break - take time for yourself to do the things you enjoy, even if it's just sitting outside reading a book over the weekend.  I really do believe in karma, and I think you will be rewarded for putting the needs of another living creature above your own for all this time.   Such selfless actions bring good things into your life.  I wish you well but want you to know you're a really good person for caring for her so well for so long

S seaturtle End stage nursing is so draining. When Cali was nearing the end, my life revolved around him. I'd easily spend 2hrs a day hand feeding him, and his barrage of medication took a lot of time too (and don't even get me started on how often we'd be at the vets).

It is draining, exhausting, frustrating, painful, emotional...I could go on. Burn out is inevitable.

You have nothing to feel guilty about. Try to take some time for yourself - get out of the house and do something just for you. Do you gave any friends or family who could give you a break for a couple of days?

Hang in there. Be kind to yourself. Nothing can make this easier, but giving yourself permission to take 'selfish' time for yourself can make a big difference. You're giving her a wonderful standard of care - its ok to give yourself the same consideration.

Columbine said:

@seaturtle End stage nursing is so draining. When Cali was nearing the end, my life revolved around him. I'd easily spend 2hrs a day hand feeding him, and his barrage of medication took a lot of time too (and don't even get me started on how often we'd be at the vets).

It is draining, exhausting, frustrating, painful, emotional...I could go on. Burn out is inevitable.

You have nothing to feel guilty about. Try to take some time for yourself - get out of the house and do something just for you. Do you gave any friends or family who could give you a break for a couple of days?

Hang in there. Be kind to yourself. Nothing can make this easier, but giving yourself permission to take 'selfish' time for yourself can make a big difference. You're giving her a wonderful standard of care - its ok to give yourself the same consideration.

Click to expand...

Very well said.  

I understand--I had two older kitties who were ill at the same time.  They had IBD but in the end, their kidneys went as well.  Towards the end it was exhausting.  Between the meds, the sub-q fluids, the clean up from diarrhea and vomiting, and feeding, I don't even know how many hours a day I spent with them.  You mentioned the feeding--Molly was like that, too.  She wanted to eat all the time but only small amounts, and it took forever.  And we had five other cats in the house, too.  Fortunately, my spouse was able to pitch in with the others' care.

As others have said, please try not to feel guilty, it's natural to feel burned out, especially since you've been doing this for months.  I understand it would be tough to find somebody to give you a break, it would not be easy for someone to step in and do what you're doing but if you could ask somebody to help you out, even for half a day, so you could get out and do something different, it would be good for you.

I know it's difficult.  In the end, though, you will not be sorry for the time and care you're giving your little girl.  You'll know you did everything you could for her.  

Just a thought on the feeding--have you tried other kinds of foods?  My kitty Molly was very difficult to feed towards the end.  Fancy Feast was her main food but I supplemented it with baby food (the kind with just meat and broth, no other ingredients) and little bits of plain cooked turkey or chicken.  She really liked those and needed less encouragement to eat.