I have to say "NO"

Joy wrote:


You're absolutely right. She's unfair to ask you to do such a thing.

Joy


Out of curiosity, does she PAY you when you feed them? (My landlady
used to feed mine when I went on vacation, but I paid her the same as I
would have had to pay a professional sitter - it was convenient to have
someone on the premises, but I didn't expect her to do it for free.)

On 10/7/2013 3:49 PM, EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:


Joy wrote:


You're absolutely right. She's unfair to ask you to do such a thing.

Joy

Out of curiosity, does she PAY you when you feed them? (My landlady
used to feed mine when I went on vacation, but I paid her the same as I
would have had to pay a professional sitter - it was convenient to have
someone on the premises, but I didn't expect her to do it for free.)

Nope, she's never paid me for cat-sitting. I did it to be neighborly.
Except for darn near running out of food several of the times, it's
really no trouble. (She has given me little "thank you" gifts from time
to time.) I just had to draw the line when she asked me to give him
insulin shots.

Jill

"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" wrote in message
m...


Joy wrote:


You're absolutely right. She's unfair to ask you to do such a thing.

Joy
Out of curiosity, does she PAY you when you feed them? (My landlady used
to feed mine when I went on vacation, but I paid her the same as I would
have had to pay a professional sitter - it was convenient to have someone
on the premises, but I didn't expect her to do it for free.)

here, we do it for free, a neighbourly gesture.
I once looked after Sally for a weekend (she lived next door, where my nasty
neighbours live now)
Kitty Farmcat and Sally could never agree where their boundaries were, they
used to have big fights all the time. Kitty claimed Sally's orchard was
hers and successfuly claimed it. My neighbour did not mind, he said "let
them sort it out for themselves"

Sally was fine about me feeding her for a weekend but when her humans came
home she refused to go back in the house for 24 hours - she sat on the
drive, every part of her body registering offence.
I wish those days were here again, when I had great neighbours and Sally &
Kitty FC had their arguments. Sally had liver cancer and I drove her to TED
for her last appointment.
Alan, her daddy had long given up driving, he preferred to drink instead..
He was a lovely man, very fond of wild birds like myself.
When he died there was not enough room in the church at his funeral for all
the people who wanted to pay their respects to him, they had to stay
outside.

Tweed

On 10/7/2013 2:08 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
My neighbor, owned by Fedders (RB) and Schwartzie, called to ask if I
could take care of Schwarty (nickname) while she's gone for a week and a
half, maybe two.

She's moving! Putting her house up for sale and scouting an area closer
to her son, DIL and grandkids.

The problem is, he's a diabetic cat. He needs insulin shots morning and
evening.

I had a hard enough time feeding her cats and getting them in and out of
the house on her schedule. I'm not qualified to give her cat insulin
shots. I will NOT take on that responsibility.

Her proposition is this: I come over for the next four days and be there
while she gives him his shots. Pet him, play with him, give him the
treats before/after. Then give him the shot. She says it will be easy!

Uh, no, it won't. Schwartzie hides from me. Oh sure, sometimes he shows
himself, but often he's under the bed. She was like "But you can get him
out from under the bed!" No, sorry, he only came out when he felt like
it. I'm not willing to put his insulin dependent life in my hands.

She said he'd get upset about being boarded. Of course he will. Most
cats do. Persia wasn't exactly happy. But I pointed out she was boarded
for *months* before I brought her here. She was well cared for and she
got over it. Persia owns this house now.

I told her sorry, but I cannot be responsible for giving Schwarzie insulin
shots.


I completely agree with you. Even if she trained you like she says, it's
one thing for him to allow her to do it, and a completely different thing if
it's you.

Exactly! He never did rush to the food for breakfast and then run to
the door to be let out like Fedders did. Even if he was *on* the bed
instead of under it, most of the time I couldn't coax him to go outside.
I figured hey, he wants to stay inside, fine with me. (I always had a
heck of a time getting Fedders to come in at night.)

I'm sure that you could learn the technique but if he hid and refused to let
you do it it would a terrible worry for you.

I'd go absolutely crazy worrying about it. I have enough trouble
sleeping as it is. I can't even begin imagine how awful I'd feel if
something happened to him on my watch.

I certainly wouldn't take on that kind of responsibility and I think it's a
bit unreasonable of her to expect you to do so and guilt trip you as well
about he'd be upset about being boarded.

She called me this morning, it's time for me to give him his shot.
Won't you come see how easy it is? No, I'm sorry. So she's still
trying to guilt me a bit.

I don't know what her options are but he's her cat, she'll have to find a
way.

Tweed

She said she'll ask some of her other friends. But I seriously doubt
any of them would shoulder this responsibility. She'll probably have to
bite the bullet and board him. If he was my cat, I'd certainly feel
better doing that.

It doesn't matter that Schwartzie "knows" me. I didn't know either of
her cats the first time she asked me to cat-sit. It was no big deal.
Not even, really, when they were each supposed to have different
prescription food. Insulin shots twice a day is a completely different
ballgame.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:

I don't know what her options are but he's her cat, she'll have to find a
way.

Tweed

She said she'll ask some of her other friends. But I seriously doubt
any of them would shoulder this responsibility.

Unless they know what they're doing, I certainly hope they *don't* take it
on! This isn't something to be casual about. Insulin is a life-and-death
matter. It worries me that since your neighbor is desperate for someone to
take care of him while she's gone, if a friend were to offer, she would
accept the offer even if the friend had no training. What happens if the
friend can't get Schwartzie out from under the couch? Will they understand
how serious a problem that is? Will they *make sure* he gets the shot each
time?

This doesn't sound good to me. She really needs to board him. Unless one
of her friends is a vet or a tech, someone who knows how critical it is to
make sure he gets his shot and will not leave until he does, I don't see
any other option.

It doesn't matter that Schwartzie "knows" me. I didn't know either of
her cats the first time she asked me to cat-sit. It was no big deal.
Not even, really, when they were each supposed to have different
prescription food. Insulin shots twice a day is a completely different
ballgame.

If he were a very docile cat who came when called and tolerated shots twice
a day from someone other than his human, it wouldn't be so bad. But he's not.
Most cats aren't.

--
Joyce

"Riveting reading that keeps readers reading."
-- The Midwest Book Review

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
jmcquown wrote:

I don't know what her options are but he's her cat, she'll have to find
a
way.

Tweed

She said she'll ask some of her other friends. But I seriously doubt
any of them would shoulder this responsibility.

Unless they know what they're doing, I certainly hope they *don't* take it
on! This isn't something to be casual about. Insulin is a life-and-death
matter. It worries me that since your neighbor is desperate for someone to
take care of him while she's gone, if a friend were to offer, she would
accept the offer even if the friend had no training. What happens if the
friend can't get Schwartzie out from under the couch? Will they understand
how serious a problem that is? Will they *make sure* he gets the shot each
time?

This doesn't sound good to me. She really needs to board him. Unless one
of her friends is a vet or a tech, someone who knows how critical it is to
make sure he gets his shot and will not leave until he does, I don't see
any other option.

It doesn't matter that Schwartzie "knows" me. I didn't know either of
her cats the first time she asked me to cat-sit. It was no big deal.
Not even, really, when they were each supposed to have different
prescription food. Insulin shots twice a day is a completely different
ballgame.

If he were a very docile cat who came when called and tolerated shots
twice
a day from someone other than his human, it wouldn't be so bad. But he's
not.
Most cats aren't.


I think Jill's neighbour is a cheapskate. She hopes that someone will take
on her cat and give him injections for free so she doesn't have to pay
someone qualified to do this and ensure he gets his insulin.
I would never risk Boyfie's health like this, by asking a neighbour to
administer important medication. Not that he needs any, but you get my
drift.
She just needs to bite the bullet and pay for specialised care while she's
away.
Guilt tripping the neighbours is not only out of order, it might compromise
the health of hr cat if they agree and then can't catch him.

I've always been afraid in case Boyfie develops diabetes because I know he
wouldn't allow me to give him injections - it's bad enough to put Stronghold
on, completely painless but he is off to the hills the minute he smells it.
I have to wait for a visitor to help. I pin him down, they apply it..
Even putting a new reflective collar on him when the old one is worn is not
particularly easy. I have a neat little tag for his collar that the vet
gave me recently that says "I am microchipped, phone this number" which I
haven't been able to attach yet. The minute I begin to fiddle with his
collar, he suspects bad things and is off my lap. It will happen..

Tweed

On 10/8/2013 1:29 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Bastette" wrote in message
...
jmcquown wrote:

I don't know what her options are but he's her cat, she'll have to find
a
way.

Tweed

She said she'll ask some of her other friends. But I seriously doubt
any of them would shoulder this responsibility.

Unless they know what they're doing, I certainly hope they *don't* take it
on! This isn't something to be casual about. Insulin is a life-and-death
matter. It worries me that since your neighbor is desperate for someone to
take care of him while she's gone, if a friend were to offer, she would
accept the offer even if the friend had no training. What happens if the
friend can't get Schwartzie out from under the couch? Will they understand
how serious a problem that is? Will they *make sure* he gets the shot each
time?

This doesn't sound good to me. She really needs to board him. Unless one
of her friends is a vet or a tech, someone who knows how critical it is to
make sure he gets his shot and will not leave until he does, I don't see
any other option.

(snippage)


I think Jill's neighbour is a cheapskate. She hopes that someone will take
on her cat and give him injections for free so she doesn't have to pay
someone qualified to do this and ensure he gets his insulin.

Well, she did tell me she's having money issues. That's why she's going
to sell the house and move. (I wish her luck in selling. There are a
*lot* of houses on Dataw for sale. Some have been on the market for years.)

I would never risk Boyfie's health like this, by asking a neighbour to
administer important medication. Not that he needs any, but you get my
drift.

Absolutely! It's funny, last spring when she went to visit her son she
took Schwartzie with her. She told me it was because she has to give
him shots. She said she wouldn't expect anyone else to do it! Now,
suddenly, she's sure I can. Uh, no.

She just needs to bite the bullet and pay for specialised care while she's
away. Guilt tripping the neighbours is not only out of order, it might compromise
the health of hr cat if they agree and then can't catch him.

That's absolutely my reason for saying "no". One time I was cat-sitting
and also watering her outside potted plants. There came the morning I
went to water the two beautiful blooming hibiscus. There was nothing
left but stems! A deer ate them. (I found incriminiating hoofprints in
the soil by the planters.) Even though there wasn't anything I could
have done to prevent it, I felt terrible. Magnify that by a million and
you know how I'd feel if anything happened to Schwarty while he was in
my care!

I've always been afraid in case Boyfie develops diabetes because I know he
wouldn't allow me to give him injections - it's bad enough to put Stronghold
on, completely painless but he is off to the hills the minute he smells it.
I have to wait for a visitor to help. I pin him down, they apply it..
Even putting a new reflective collar on him when the old one is worn is not
particularly easy. I have a neat little tag for his collar that the vet
gave me recently that says "I am microchipped, phone this number" which I
haven't been able to attach yet. The minute I begin to fiddle with his
collar, he suspects bad things and is off my lap. It will happen..

Tweed

Good luck with the collar tag! Coincidentally, I reminded my
neighbor she once had to have me help her hold Schwartzie so she could
give him the flea treatment! How can she think he'd let me give him shots?

Even if he did let me, as others have mentioned, apparently it also
involves testing blood sugar levels (something she didn't mention and
hadn't even occurred to me). I am simply not qualified for this.

Jill

"jmcquown" wrote in message
Christina Websell wrote:
s I would never risk Boyfie's health like this, by asking a neighbour to
administer important medication. Not that he needs any, but you get my
drift.

Absolutely! It's funny, last spring when she went to visit her son she
took Schwartzie with her. She told me it was because she has to give him
shots. She said she wouldn't expect anyone else to do it! Now, suddenly,
she's sure I can. Uh, no.

She just needs to bite the bullet and pay for specialised care while
she's
away. Guilt tripping the neighbours is not only out of order, it might
compromise
the health of hr cat if they agree and then can't catch him.

That's absolutely my reason for saying "no". One time I was cat-sitting
and also watering her outside potted plants. There came the morning I
went to water the two beautiful blooming hibiscus. There was nothing left
but stems! A deer ate them. (I found incriminiating hoofprints in the
soil by the planters.) Even though there wasn't anything I could have
done to prevent it, I felt terrible. Magnify that by a million and you
know how I'd feel if anything happened to Schwarty while he was in my
care!

I've always been afraid in case Boyfie develops diabetes because I know
he
wouldn't allow me to give him injections - it's bad enough to put
Stronghold
on, completely painless but he is off to the hills the minute he smells
it.
I have to wait for a visitor to help. I pin him down, they apply it..
Even putting a new reflective collar on him when the old one is worn is
not
particularly easy. I have a neat little tag for his collar that the vet
gave me recently that says "I am microchipped, phone this number" which I
haven't been able to attach yet. The minute I begin to fiddle with his
collar, he suspects bad things and is off my lap. It will happen..

Tweed

Good luck with the collar tag! Coincidentally, I reminded my neighbor
she once had to have me help her hold Schwartzie so she could give him the
flea treatment! How can she think he'd let me give him shots?

Even if he did let me, as others have mentioned, apparently it also
involves testing blood sugar levels (something she didn't mention and
hadn't even occurred to me). I am simply not qualified for this


You did the right thing by saying no.

I have to ask. Diabetes seems more common in USA cats than British ones.
Do any of you know a reason for this?

I know quite a lot of cat owners here and none of their cats are diabetic.

Is it diet, exercise or what? Most British cats are allowed out so most are
within a reasonably weight for their size.
Does obesity make a difference? It seems to, for humans.

Tweed

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...


"jmcquown" wrote in message
Christina Websell wrote:
s I would never risk Boyfie's health like this, by asking a neighbour to
administer important medication. Not that he needs any, but you get my
drift.

Absolutely! It's funny, last spring when she went to visit her son she
took Schwartzie with her. She told me it was because she has to give him
shots. She said she wouldn't expect anyone else to do it! Now, suddenly,
she's sure I can. Uh, no.

She just needs to bite the bullet and pay for specialised care while
she's
away. Guilt tripping the neighbours is not only out of order, it might
compromise
the health of hr cat if they agree and then can't catch him.

That's absolutely my reason for saying "no". One time I was cat-sitting
and also watering her outside potted plants. There came the morning I
went to water the two beautiful blooming hibiscus. There was nothing left
but stems! A deer ate them. (I found incriminiating hoofprints in the
soil by the planters.) Even though there wasn't anything I could have
done to prevent it, I felt terrible. Magnify that by a million and you
know how I'd feel if anything happened to Schwarty while he was in my
care!

I've always been afraid in case Boyfie develops diabetes because I know
he
wouldn't allow me to give him injections - it's bad enough to put
Stronghold
on, completely painless but he is off to the hills the minute he smells
it.
I have to wait for a visitor to help. I pin him down, they apply it..
Even putting a new reflective collar on him when the old one is worn is
not
particularly easy. I have a neat little tag for his collar that the vet
gave me recently that says "I am microchipped, phone this number" which I
haven't been able to attach yet. The minute I begin to fiddle with his
collar, he suspects bad things and is off my lap. It will happen..

Tweed

Good luck with the collar tag! Coincidentally, I reminded my neighbor
she once had to have me help her hold Schwartzie so she could give him the
flea treatment! How can she think he'd let me give him shots?

Even if he did let me, as others have mentioned, apparently it also
involves testing blood sugar levels (something she didn't mention and
hadn't even occurred to me). I am simply not qualified for this


You did the right thing by saying no.

I have to ask. Diabetes seems more common in USA cats than British ones.
Do any of you know a reason for this?

I know quite a lot of cat owners here and none of their cats are diabetic.

Is it diet, exercise or what? Most British cats are allowed out so most are
within a reasonably weight for their size.
Does obesity make a difference? It seems to, for humans.

Tweed

~~~~~~~
Diet is critical. A low carbohydrate diet is essential for cats. A vet
tech who specializes in diabetic cats told me that almost every cat she sees
with diabetes has been on a diet of dry kibble. She did *not* say that
every cat that eats dry food will develop diabetes, just that those that do
have diabetes have been fed dry food. Even in the U.S., it is very common
for cats to be indoor/outdoor, and many of them develop diabetes. I don't
know the answer to your question. It may be as simple as the type of people
who correspond on the newsgroup. In other words, we may not be seeing an
actual comparison of UK cats and USA cats, just a comparison of the people
who are writing on these newsgroups.

MaryL

On 10/8/2013 2:47 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"jmcquown" wrote in message
Christina Websell wrote:
s I would never risk Boyfie's health like this, by asking a neighbour to
administer important medication. Not that he needs any, but you get my
drift.

Absolutely! It's funny, last spring when she went to visit her son she
took Schwartzie with her. She told me it was because she has to give him
shots. She said she wouldn't expect anyone else to do it! Now, suddenly,
she's sure I can. Uh, no.

She just needs to bite the bullet and pay for specialised care while
she's
away. Guilt tripping the neighbours is not only out of order, it might
compromise
the health of hr cat if they agree and then can't catch him.

That's absolutely my reason for saying "no". One time I was cat-sitting
and also watering her outside potted plants. There came the morning I
went to water the two beautiful blooming hibiscus. There was nothing left
but stems! A deer ate them. (I found incriminiating hoofprints in the
soil by the planters.) Even though there wasn't anything I could have
done to prevent it, I felt terrible. Magnify that by a million and you
know how I'd feel if anything happened to Schwarty while he was in my
care!

I've always been afraid in case Boyfie develops diabetes because I know
he
wouldn't allow me to give him injections - it's bad enough to put
Stronghold
on, completely painless but he is off to the hills the minute he smells
it.
I have to wait for a visitor to help. I pin him down, they apply it..
Even putting a new reflective collar on him when the old one is worn is
not
particularly easy. I have a neat little tag for his collar that the vet
gave me recently that says "I am microchipped, phone this number" which I
haven't been able to attach yet. The minute I begin to fiddle with his
collar, he suspects bad things and is off my lap. It will happen..

Tweed

Good luck with the collar tag! Coincidentally, I reminded my neighbor
she once had to have me help her hold Schwartzie so she could give him the
flea treatment! How can she think he'd let me give him shots?

Even if he did let me, as others have mentioned, apparently it also
involves testing blood sugar levels (something she didn't mention and
hadn't even occurred to me). I am simply not qualified for this


You did the right thing by saying no.

I have to ask. Diabetes seems more common in USA cats than British ones.
Do any of you know a reason for this?

I know quite a lot of cat owners here and none of their cats are diabetic.

Is it diet, exercise or what? Most British cats are allowed out so most are
within a reasonably weight for their size.
Does obesity make a difference? It seems to, for humans.

Tweed

I have no idea. Persia isn't an indoor-outdoor cat. She's not
diabetic. Then again, I didn't expect her to have a (thankfully benign)
bladder tumor that caused repetetitive bladder infections. Nor did I
expect her to develop hyperthyroidism. Nor turn out to be allergic to
the medication.

Obesity might make a difference. I honestly don't know. I'm not
diabetic. Neither is Persia. And Persia hasn't been "fat" for a few years.

We've done the inside-outside cat discussion before. I couldn't let
declawed Persia outside (not that she is interested). She could be
eaten by an alligator. Or hurt by a raccoon. She's content to stay
inside and I'm content to let her.

Jill