So, this is Rossi.
Rossi was my first kitty; he was a stray approximately a year old when I found him in 2005. Rossi and I didn't have that much alone time together, as I thought Rossi would like a buddy to play with. Turns out, he didn't. He was irritated by the kitten I brought home, and every cat adopted thereafter.
I live in a 2-bedroom apartment with 3+ cats (I've been taken to task by judgey sorts on here before, so "3+" will have to suffice), and Rossi has always walked around as though on edge; looking over his shoulder before he eats, and approaching litterboxes with trepidation. I do think that for the most part, that's who Rossi is; he's not a gregarious cat that will greet you with a hearty meow and a desire to be picked up. But he will snuggle up to you (especially when he's not feeling well), and will wake you up for breakfast with a few licks or a little nibble.
Rossi has had issues with UTI's and crystals. A few years ago we thought we had things solved when my vet realized that his bladder was huge, and that his root problem was one of not completely emptying, and the remaining urine collecting bacteria. So he's been on Bethanicol for 2 years or so. On balance, it's been a really good 2 years for him.
He's been spraying the last few months or so, seemingly always around the front door. Finally nailed it down that it was actually him doing so, and turns out he had a lot of bacteria in his urine. Got some antibiotics, no biggie. Well, after a week on them, his appetite was gone, had developed a sneeze, was vomiting, and visibly losing weight. a different antibiotic for a few days didn't help, and I got some injections from the vet to finish up his 2-week application. I gave him his first shot in the morning, and I came home at lunch to check on him; he was walking around crying, and stumbly/lethargic. I had a breakdown, called my vet, and they got him in immediately.
He had a fever, was starting to get an eye discharge, and had lost a pound in the 1.5 weeks since he was last there, now just a shade over 7 pounds. They kept him overnight to give him fluids and observe him. I will get him later today.
Now, here's my dilemma. I have to assume Rossi will beat whatever is ailing him right now. That being the case...part of my sadness stems from the fact that I wonder if Rossi has ever been happy, and if the environment I've placed him in has contributed/caused his health issues. I've read that stress can exacerbate many ailments, especially UTI's, and that's not helped by the fact that during those times when he really needs to eat (and drink!), he's wary of his surroundings and cannot do so with confidence. And so, I'm tossing around the notion that, if the perfect situation were to present itself (and it would have to be perfect), if Rossi deserves a slower-paced home for him to live out his golden years in a more solitary fashion. There are probably drugs that could ease his anxiety and make him more comfortable at home, but should he instead be allowed to retain the integrity of his being elsewhere, and just live the life that he wants and deserves.
I'm struggling mightily with this, and feel like I'm dying inside. I am interested in how others view this issue.
Thanks.
Robert
Rossi was my first kitty; he was a stray approximately a year old when I found him in 2005. Rossi and I didn't have that much alone time together, as I thought Rossi would like a buddy to play with. Turns out, he didn't. He was irritated by the kitten I brought home, and every cat adopted thereafter.
I live in a 2-bedroom apartment with 3+ cats (I've been taken to task by judgey sorts on here before, so "3+" will have to suffice), and Rossi has always walked around as though on edge; looking over his shoulder before he eats, and approaching litterboxes with trepidation. I do think that for the most part, that's who Rossi is; he's not a gregarious cat that will greet you with a hearty meow and a desire to be picked up. But he will snuggle up to you (especially when he's not feeling well), and will wake you up for breakfast with a few licks or a little nibble.
Rossi has had issues with UTI's and crystals. A few years ago we thought we had things solved when my vet realized that his bladder was huge, and that his root problem was one of not completely emptying, and the remaining urine collecting bacteria. So he's been on Bethanicol for 2 years or so. On balance, it's been a really good 2 years for him.
He's been spraying the last few months or so, seemingly always around the front door. Finally nailed it down that it was actually him doing so, and turns out he had a lot of bacteria in his urine. Got some antibiotics, no biggie. Well, after a week on them, his appetite was gone, had developed a sneeze, was vomiting, and visibly losing weight. a different antibiotic for a few days didn't help, and I got some injections from the vet to finish up his 2-week application. I gave him his first shot in the morning, and I came home at lunch to check on him; he was walking around crying, and stumbly/lethargic. I had a breakdown, called my vet, and they got him in immediately.
He had a fever, was starting to get an eye discharge, and had lost a pound in the 1.5 weeks since he was last there, now just a shade over 7 pounds. They kept him overnight to give him fluids and observe him. I will get him later today.
Now, here's my dilemma. I have to assume Rossi will beat whatever is ailing him right now. That being the case...part of my sadness stems from the fact that I wonder if Rossi has ever been happy, and if the environment I've placed him in has contributed/caused his health issues. I've read that stress can exacerbate many ailments, especially UTI's, and that's not helped by the fact that during those times when he really needs to eat (and drink!), he's wary of his surroundings and cannot do so with confidence. And so, I'm tossing around the notion that, if the perfect situation were to present itself (and it would have to be perfect), if Rossi deserves a slower-paced home for him to live out his golden years in a more solitary fashion. There are probably drugs that could ease his anxiety and make him more comfortable at home, but should he instead be allowed to retain the integrity of his being elsewhere, and just live the life that he wants and deserves.
I'm struggling mightily with this, and feel like I'm dying inside. I am interested in how others view this issue.
Thanks.
Robert
And she's right, he's just different; which makes the situation that much harder to describe.
