Nina, your words give me inspiration and comfort. That is exactly the way that I feel. I don't know how much time I have left with my 14 year olds Tigger and Taylor, or even my 8 year old Bob or baby Pippin. I want a good quality of life for them in a loving environment. For me, that means mixing and allowing Pippin to be part of the family in the fullest sense of the word. I see her playing so joyfully throughout the house and my heart swells with love. I am cherishing the moments I have with her, as I do my other cats, regardless of how long they will be with me. I am holding nothing back out of fear of getting too close and losing Pippin, or the others.
Gina
Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Ugh Kathi, you have some hard decisions to make! I think most of us
have been there and done that, I know I have. You have to follow your
heart and do what's best for your entire household. As far as adopting
anyone out to a household with better finances... I used to think in
those terms too. I won't go into the whole story, but I had a pup that
I placed in what I thought was a loving home with plenty of money for
vet bills. When I checked on him two weeks later, he had to be rushed
to the ER. His new family refused to pay for treatment and Bruce and I
stepped up and welcomed him back home.
I didn't learn of my felv kittens status until after they had been mixed
with my other cats for months. The option of separating them never
existed for me and I'm so glad. None of my negs ever became pos and my
felv babies had a wonderful, if not short, life. For me, it's all about
quality, it's all about the feeling in my gut that tells me what's right
or wrong for us. I was told to keep them sequestered. I was told to
never allow them to play in the yard. I was told many things that would
have lessened the quality of their life and maybe it would have extended
the time they had here, but I don't think the trade off is worth it.
There are never any guarantees in this life. We do our best to
safeguard all those we care about, but ultimately we don't have that
kind of control. My advice is to look into those innocent eyes, make
your decisions from a place of love, be at peace with those decisions
once they're made and you will find your way.
Nina
Kathi Clark wrote:
> Thanks, Tonya. This has given me something to think about. I haven't
> had the other ones tested again and I don't think I will. My vet said
> if she was in my situation she would retest only if I brought them in
> for an illness on down the road. If Ellie tests negative on the IFA
> on October 13, I'll mix her with the others. If she doesn't, I may
> still integrate her. Is that taking a big risk with the 1-year-olds,
> though? As I said, Oreo, who's 1, became infected by Ellie and I know
> if I mix the two again, they'll have a great deal of one-on-one
> contact. Oreo and Connie have a lot of contact now and if Oreo
> contracts it again, does that put Connie at risk? Sorry so many
> questions. I'm just a nervous mother and FeLV is so new to me.
>
> I would miss Ellie so if I found her another home and would always be
> worried if she was happy or not and taken care of. I just am
> concerned that if she has health issues in the future, I can't
> financially handle the big vet bills. Perhaps someone else who's
> better off financially could give her a happy home, too. But the odds
> of finding someone who is better off financially are small, I know.
> So, it's just wait and see, like everything else in life. I try not
> to panic anymore.
>
> This is the best site. I've learned more from all of you than I have
> from my vet. I wonder if she knows she shouldn't have tested Ellie
> with the IFA so soon after the ELISSA. I don't see that vet any longer.
>
> Kathi
Visit my Tigger Tales site!
Do you Yahoo!?
Get on board. You're invited to try the new Yahoo! Mail.
