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

[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.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I know she didn't mean it like Bronte was disposable. In fact, my first question after she said that had to DO with B being disposable. And Mom was quick to say that she didn't mean to imply that at all. She's only worried because we are on a budget and our disposable income was kind of small to begin with. However, I am currently searching for a bit of gainful employment (might've found it, too, keep your fingers crossed), which will hopefully alleviate the worst of the cost.

It's one thing to say you'll go through any expense to save your bud -- it's sometimes a sobering thing when you're sitting down, trying to make the numbers work.