never, never, ever...

[wordinista]

Ask your hormonal adult daughter, "So, how far are you going to take this?" in relation to her possibly terminally ill cat.

Ever.

Next thing you should never say:  "You can't go into hock over an animal.  I know you love her, and she is a love, but she's just an animal."

Never, ever say that, either.  Trust me on this one.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the vet called last night with... not-good news. Her hematocrit level was down to 7% (should be around 30-40% in a healthy cat), and that her anemia is the non-regenerative type, which increases the likelihood of FeLV. Her initial test (a basic blood test) came out negative, but he wants to do a bone marrow test to make sure it wasn't a false negative, because all signs seem to be pointing to FeLV.

EDIT the Second: I wrote to a local feline specialist today and got the following reply:

Bronte is going to need a blood transfusion w/ a PCV of 7 % regardless of the cause of the anemia. A bone marrow aspirate after she is stabilized from the transfusion is a logical next step. I am assuming she has been tested for FeLV and FIV. It sounds like she originally was being treated for a red blood cell type parasite called Hemobartonella. It is usually treated w/ doxy and pred for 3 weeks. It also usually shows a regenerative anemia. Immune mediated anemias in cats are rare except in FeLV positive cats.

Dammit.

The doc then went on to recommend two veterinary internists in the area.

Dammit.

Never again. Never, never again -- I am not ever, ever getting a random kitten from an "oops" litter ever again. I'll go to the pound first. I'll buy a purebred cat. But if there's any way I can avoid going through this kind of heartache again, I'm doing it.

Comments

[merith.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

i'm so sorry kara. oh man, i'm so sorry.

[somnambulicious.livejournal.com]

*hugs* My mother was similarly "helpful" during my recent experience. "After you got that bill, you should've just told them off, taken the cat, and dumped her at the shelter!"

Cue the indecipherable blubbering. Maybe it's a generational thing?

*pours you a cuppa*

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

*starts crying*

No, you never say that. You just don't say that. Oh, poor Bronte.

[rya-kelley.livejournal.com]

ARGH!

[hallowd.livejournal.com]

I know we don't talk all that much, and I don't know you all that well, but I'm so sorry. And I hope with all my heart she'll get better. *hugs*

[squeakyinuears.livejournal.com]

*Big huggles*

Oh, Niamh. I truly hope it's not FeLV, because I've lost a kitty to that, and I don't want anyone going through that. And it sounds like just the possibility of it alone - along with everything else - is already too much.

*Huggles again* I'll be thinking of you and praying for Bronte.

[jazzy-fay.livejournal.com]

Oh God, sweetheart, I am so sorry! You and Bronte are in my thoughts and I hope that you both pull through. *hugs*

[vitani]

but she's just an animal

This is never ever okay to say. Something may be "just an animal" to someone who doesn't know them, just as a person killed in an accident is "just one person" to everyone else. But to someone that person, and that animal, is incredibly important and loved and a friend and irreplaceable, and thus worth some goddamn respect.

Sorry. I get that a lot and I totally understand how much it sucks to be told that. >:

*big big hugs*

I really hope things get better for Bronte, and for you.

[darkfrog24.livejournal.com]

Actually, purebred cats are more likely to have health problems than other cats. If by "oops litter," you mean a breeding between two ordinary non-purebred cats, then it gave you a very good chance of a healthy feline bud.

[katmorning.livejournal.com]

*hugs Niamh* I will say that every one of my cats has been an "oops" litter. The only times they've inexplicably died was when I bought them purebred. In fact, they're healthier because their genes have been more varied.

I swear the vast majority of humanity are emotionally deficient. It is not just an animal. What kind of superficial crap is that? It's something you love, and it's something that loves you back, and has a personality, and emotions of its own. It's not just a breathing knick-knack! I hate the mindset that any animal, especially one as intelligent as a cat or a dog, is just a consumer good. Disposable and easilly replaced. It basically says that having an emotional attatchement to a pet is unworthy and stupid.

It's not. You've got my respect because of how much you love your critters, and how responsible you are about thier welfare.

*takes a breath* and ... I apologize. That's one of the very few things that will rile me.

[aoi-tsuki1.livejournal.com]

OMG, poor Bunneh and Brontesaurus! :''( I'll have to echo the fact that purebreds really aren't a good bet health-wise; a small, trusted local breeder - such as the lady from whom you guys got Darwin - would be much better. But it shouldn't be necessary, because Bronte had better get better. *raised with the firm tenet of "You kids get treatment when you're sick, and so do the animals, goddammit"*

Srsly, would you be willing to accept a bit of PayPal'ed love? Fixing the poor kitty must be biting your wallet something awful.

[f-ireworks.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that *hugs you* You both will be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope everything will be all right.

[everstar3.livejournal.com]

*pokes your mom a bit, because REALLY*

*SMOTHERS YOU WITH LOVE OMG*

I want to heeeeelp D:

[tatertott.livejournal.com]

oh kara...i'm so sorry. I know how hard this is, and your mom, while I'm sure she's trying to be sensitive and supporting, just didn't choose the right words at the right time. I wish there was some answer I could give you or something I could do to make it all better - I think you did the right thing by contacting the feline specialist. I hope everything works out...

*sends love to the kitty*

I'm so sorry about all this...

[hecallaghan.livejournal.com]

I really am. When a beloved pet gets sick, I mean seriously sick, that's a vile place to be in. When *my* Bronte got sick I would have done anything for her. She kept my flagging spirits up more times than any human did. There's just something about animals that brings out the best bits of your human.

I don't think your Mom meant to be callous or insensitive. I think she worries about *you* more than about your cat, however charming, which is only natural. But on the other hand, an animal is a responsibility and if you take one on, you've got step up to the plate when they get ill because nobody else will. It's kind of inherent in the deal we have with them.

That said, there's an interesting side point to your Mom's words. If Bronte is so very ill, is all of this vet stuff going to make her better or more comfortable, or just prolong her misery and make vets richer? I guess my point is that her quality of life is important too. I'm a bit cynical about vets. They seem to have messed up her diagnosis a fair bit so far.

On a less miserable note, I'm intrigued beyond all measure by the notion of a cat blood transfusion. Do they have cat blood donors and blood drives? Is it a synthetic blood? How does that work?

Finally - ZOE is SIX? Good God, she was a puppy when I met her - a little feather duster of a thing! Time flies!

I send hugs, hazelnut lattes, and Fairtrade organic Santo Domingo chocolate, in appropriate measurements. I don't think cats are allowed chocolate and coffee, so Bronte can have some raw monkfish and a dish of double cream and a comforting scratch behind each ear.

[vespurtine.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry to hear that. I know a lot of people really don't understand how attached a person can get to their pets -- I'd be crushed if anything happened to my kitty (she's living forever damnit and no one can tell me otherwise).

I... think someone else has probably already said this by now, but purebred cats are by and large more likely to have health issues because they are less varied genetically, and really, cats that you get at the pound may very well be the unwanted results of an 'oops' litter, so I don't really think that swearing off that sort of situation will solve anything. My kitty's from an 'oops' litter, after all, and she's been wonderful and healthy and everything. I hope you don't get turned off the idea of taking kittens like that, because I'm sure Bronte has had an amazing and happy life with you so far, and will be loved for the rest of it -- Bronte's very lucky that you didn't pass her over for a purebred kitten.

[kitesareevil.livejournal.com]

I...can't say anything. I don't know what I'd do if Lina had FLV. I'd never be able to afford the treatments, I can barely pay my own medical bills. *lifts a glass and a prayer* Heres to you both, you're in my prayers.