Ok, I can't handle this any more. The looks, the coughing, the sneezing, the wheezing, the lack of eating.. it is near killing me. Ginger does NOT believe that my forcing things on her is helping her and that girl has the worst case of guilt eyes you have EVER seen..
I ran out while I was at work today and picked up a few cans of the food she ate last time she ate at the house and when I got home I medicated her first and than offered her food.
Well the medication caused her to cough all over again, and then she started sneezing something fierce. So she didn't eat the food. DH came in at that point and tried to help..
Nope, she out and out refused. At least she sniffed and gave it a lick for him.. so I stepped in.. (and no pictures of that mayhem) and force fed her.
I am fairly certain I felt babies move this time, but I can now also feel her entire spine. I called the shelter to report what was going on and I got "give the antibiotic time" - well she stopped eating before she started sneezing, so I think that is secondary.. and "some kitties stop eating before they give birth" which is true, but not a week before they give birth, and they most certainly do not lose this much weight. Seeing as I had a sick mother cat who refused to eat abort in my care before, I just can not deal with this emotionally. As much as I hate the idea of her sitting in a cage at the shelter, I know she sits in her box all day so it isn't like she is using up all the space that she has.. and they will have two people to give her fluids and can get her to the vet if they feel they need to. I intend to leave her there tomorrow.. possibly even Thursday.. if they feel that they want to put her into another foster home I won't like it because I hate feeling like a failure, but I fully accept that there are things I can't do.. and watching a pregnant mom not eat for days on end is one of them.
Many many purrs Ginger.. I hope this works out and you come back and we get to go through your labor and watch your kittens grow up..
Gosh I am sorry, I would be a mess.
ReplyDeletepurrs for you and Ginger.
ReplyDeleteOh my....hope this turns around. At least you won't be the "bad guy" at that point. We are sending purrs to ALL of you.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating! Many purrs for Ginger. If she was willing to eat for them before, hopefully she will eat for them again. It's not an ideal situation for her from your perspective our ours, but her eating, hydrated, and getting her medication is for the best right now.
ReplyDeleteOh, those cats have minds of their own, don't they? Maybe a few days at the shelter will get her to straighten up and fly right. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, that first picture, where she's looking up at your DH is so sweet!
Purrs to Ginger... I hope she gets better soon. I wish the shelter was more willing to step up and help. It just seems so difficult to get the care she needs (and she is not helping either).
ReplyDeleteThe shelter is willing to do what is necessary, their first thought is the cautious approach though, which I don't disagree with. Some of us foster homes tend to over react and it is self resolving. Seeing as their only experience with her is that she does eat I can't say I blame them.
DeleteShe has lost a pound since she came to my house though, that can not be discounted. I'm sure she will either start eating up a storm today or she will be at the vet tomorrow.
We are sending our purrs to Ginger and her babies. Kitties can be so difficult sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI have an ex-mama cat who needed to be hospitalized because of a stomach bug. She got to the vet's and ate, got back here and refused. She wants a new food to refuse every day. I'm an experienced rescuer (Bitten By A Kitten Rescue on facebook) and I am at my wit's end. Ready to tube feed her. I totally feel you.
ReplyDeletepurrs to your ex-mama cat.. The shelter went through a phase where there was cat after cat that needed feeding tubes.. they saved most of them.. tubes really can be life saving! Doubt they'll try to give one to Ginger though with the babies on board.
DeleteYou are doing the best thing for her. If she can get better at the shelter, then that's the best place for her. If they put her in another foster home and she does better, then maybe she just needed a change in the environment. This does not reflect on you or your husband or household, but shows Ginger's personality. Some do better in one household or another, just as people do. Purrs to everyone!
ReplyDeletePlease Ginger, eat something so you can get in shape for your babies. I would feel as frustrated as you are and I would go into panic mode. Lots of purrs to Ginger and her babies!
ReplyDeleteThat is very discouraging. Hopefully being at the shelter will be better for her and that she has a safe delivery.
ReplyDeletePaws crossed and hoping Ginger is back with you for the birthing. You certainly have done a lot for her.
ReplyDeleteI think you have done everything you can. I think the poor girl is just very stressed. We wish her the best and hope you will share pictures of her kittens when they come.
ReplyDeleteOh no ... please don't beat yourself up. We're purring for you & Ginger & will look forward to more posts and GOOD NEWS for her & her babies.
ReplyDeleteSelina & MomKatt Laura
It's so frustrating because unlike people they can't tell us what hurts, give us medical histories...anything. Hopefully she (and the babies) don't have something going on too serious. Paws crossed for you, Ginger and her babies.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. You did everything you could (and more)! I love that DH tried to help too. . .
ReplyDeleteyou can't win them all Connie,you're doing the right thing,hope she gets well soon,xx Rachel
ReplyDeletehey! Why not?? *giggle*
DeleteActually it has already been such a rough year, I'm not surprised by this in the least. paws crossed she pulls out of it.
I don't know how you do it, Connie!!
ReplyDeletePurrs for Ginger are coming from our house. Hope she starts eating soon!
ReplyDeleteIt must be frustrating for you, but you did what you could (and what she would tolerate).
If there is one you aren't, its a failure! And you should feel that way! Oui Oui is a really fussy eater. She turns her nose up at something she ate yesterday, and would rather be hungry than eat it twice. She drives me nuts! She's down to 2 kinds of canned food.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up we had a dog who hated eating. I swear its true. He would look so guilty and put his tail between his legs at meal time. If we didn't force him to eat, he would go hungry for days. You could hear his stomach growling in the next room. My mom asked the breeder about him & the breeder said there had been a puppy who didn't like eating and I guess that's the one my mom picked. There's some strange animals out there! Maybe Ginger is one.
Oops! I meant to say "You shouldn't feel that way", not "you should . . " I'm so sorry!
ReplyDeleteOh that must be so hard on you for sure. Huge purrs and prayers to Ginger for her to eat, feel better and have healthy babies soon!
ReplyDelete