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- Dec 7, 2023
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Well, dilemma is a bit of a strong word, but I could use some advice.
I have a friend who is going out of town for a week and a half in August. She asked me to come over once a day to make sure her cat gets his medication, scoop his box. etc.
I did this for her last year, but my circumstances were different then. It was also only five days. She lives about 25 minutes away, and I have to rely on my mom to drive me as I can't drive myself.
This year, I don't think I will be able to do this for her. However, her cat is 18 years old and medically frail. I don't know if she can afford hiring an actual service to help her out, and I don't know if her family is able to come help. I want to help, but with my mom's work schedule I don't think I can. Also, her apartment is very hot in the summer, even with her AC on, and that worries me as well.
I have two cats of my own at home. They are both very cat-friendly cats, the kind that typically require little to no introduction to stranger cats. I've heard hers is the same. I have offered to keep him over in my apartment if her vet thinks that would work. I would, of course, keep him completely separated from the others, and would bring some of his own items from his home over.
I normally would never suggest removing a cat from his territory due to the stress it causes, but I'm not sure which is worse for him at his age--being alone in his home but without anyone able to monitor him for medical issues or ensure he takes his medicine, or being in a strange room for 10 days with all his basic needs met 24/7. I don't know which would cause him more stress.
Does anybody have any opinions, or any other ideas they can recommend? I won't let him be left alone no matter what, but I'm at a loss. Even if I could drive (working on it... it's so hard to learn as an adult), I would struggle with finding the time between my job and own health needs to go there and back every day. It would be easiest for ME if he was here, but I am having a hard time judging the pros/cons of it for him.
I have a friend who is going out of town for a week and a half in August. She asked me to come over once a day to make sure her cat gets his medication, scoop his box. etc.
I did this for her last year, but my circumstances were different then. It was also only five days. She lives about 25 minutes away, and I have to rely on my mom to drive me as I can't drive myself.
This year, I don't think I will be able to do this for her. However, her cat is 18 years old and medically frail. I don't know if she can afford hiring an actual service to help her out, and I don't know if her family is able to come help. I want to help, but with my mom's work schedule I don't think I can. Also, her apartment is very hot in the summer, even with her AC on, and that worries me as well.
I have two cats of my own at home. They are both very cat-friendly cats, the kind that typically require little to no introduction to stranger cats. I've heard hers is the same. I have offered to keep him over in my apartment if her vet thinks that would work. I would, of course, keep him completely separated from the others, and would bring some of his own items from his home over.
I normally would never suggest removing a cat from his territory due to the stress it causes, but I'm not sure which is worse for him at his age--being alone in his home but without anyone able to monitor him for medical issues or ensure he takes his medicine, or being in a strange room for 10 days with all his basic needs met 24/7. I don't know which would cause him more stress.
Does anybody have any opinions, or any other ideas they can recommend? I won't let him be left alone no matter what, but I'm at a loss. Even if I could drive (working on it... it's so hard to learn as an adult), I would struggle with finding the time between my job and own health needs to go there and back every day. It would be easiest for ME if he was here, but I am having a hard time judging the pros/cons of it for him.