Kitty help my heart is breaking

I found a stray kitten a few weeks ago. Hes beautiful. Took him
to the vet and he was diagnosed as severe malnutrion. First week
was up all hours of the night feeding him nursing him back to what
i thought would be a healthy happy life.
He is now eating on his own but can only crawl to his dish hes not
walking. Had him back at a different vet...which diagnosed with
what he thought might be head trauma. His little head just shakes
unless hes at rest. He trys to stand and topples over.
I've done nothing but cry. I carry him around with me from room to
room on a kitty bed coverd with a garbage bag with a flannel pillow
case over it. Hes made a huge hole in my heart. Hes been checked
for feline lukemia and ear mites and checked out ok. He crys to be
held and when on the bed.......he crawls on his belly with little
balance to rest his head upon my arm. Then I cry then pray then
ask why cant i make him well.
I decided to research on the internet tonight and im sure he has
what is called Cerebellar Hypoplasia. It is passed to the pregnant
mother from another cat that has distemper.
My dilemma is this....im attached to a kitty that I cant take on.
He will probably never walk or use a litter box without assistance.
Im just so sick at my stomach right now....been crying non-stop.
Besides my own cat...my plate is full and has been full with taking
care of my mother who is 90 that lives with me. Five years prior to
taking care of my father until his death, and my daughter sill living
at home.
I feel like im dying in a sea of people needing to be taken care of.
12yrs. no vacations no breaks. I dont feel I can take on a disabled
cat yet this guy is so loveable im in guilt further than I have ever
been. I cant quit crying...I dont feel i can take on any more
responsibilitys. Life just keeps throwing me more and more curves
and I just keep getting less and less capable of handling them.
Whos gonna take a challenged kitty?

samplegirl, even if you weren't so stressed with the other demands in your life, this kitten should probably be euthanized...it sounds like a miserable condition for him.

I am so sorry that you are having to confront this. I will keep you in my thoughts. :hug:

One of them "Tiny" as I named him died at the vet. I was planning on putting him down. He was malformed and had severe malnutrition. So, God took him luckily.

The other "kitten" grew into a 20 lb. flame point Siamese cat. He is now 3 years old and is thriving.

I can't advise you what to do, but it sounds like you have too much on your plate (a LOT of responsibility). Is there a no-kill shelter where you live? This is where I got both of these kittens from. They MIGHT take him, but unlikely given his condition. :(

It broke my heart when "Tiny" died so young, but it was for the best because he was very sick.

:hug:

Take care of yourself, your hands are full.

baldearg

It will not be anything resembling a normal kitty life no matter how much love and care you shower on him.

And what will it cost you - emotionally if nothing else. You need whatever energy and time you can spare from your other responsibilities for yourself for now and the future.

Be kind to him and let him go. His life is not meant to be as it is.

And take that love and give it to another kitty who can really benefit from it if you feel the need.

take comfort in the love that you have showed him and
that I'm sure he feels for you. Even a short life can
be a rewarding life.

It does sound like you're overwhelmed. You would be surprised at how many people would take on a challenged kitty. I read at story in "Catfancy" magazine while at the vet's recently about a woman who had a similar kitten (it had been severely beaten by two boys then put in a freezer to die). Despite it's horrendous injuries,brain damage, and even though it could barely walk as an adult, it was still a cherished and beloved pet. I would take the kitten to a no kill shelter. Some people really need to feel needed by something, and a kitten like yours would offer them that.You already have enough "need" in your life.

Please don't feel guilty; you've done so much for him already. Let someone with fewer demands help.

:hug:

...but he may profit from less handling for a while. As a stray, his contact with humans may have been minimal or none at all, and as such may be getting a little bit traumatized by his new surroundings and his new caretaker with her loving ministrations. In other words, give him a little space to acclimate to his new home, and you may see him gaining some strength before too long.

Put him in a small room where you can confine him - like your bathoom. Have the food nearby and papers on the floor in case your kitty piddles/poo. Leave some toys & bed nearby. And then commit yourself to spending time with the kitty several times a day. It's a start anyways.

The poor little guy. I don't know what advice to offer. It's so easy attached to these little things and so hard to know what to do when you find one like this.

I wish I could be more help, but I'm a bit of a novice myself (even though I have two furballs of my own to tend to).

I have my own cat as well a 3yr. old male maincoon....which has
been such a great guy through all this....hes use to my attention
all the time and hes not had much. I thought he would be jealous
but instead...hes been just the opposite. He knows something is just not quite right here.

though you sound as if you really know what you are talking about. I have learned that alternative medicine is available, and it has helped a lot. I have taken my cat and two dogs for acupuncture, among other things. I have adopted two dogs with seizures. You never know. But it does sound as if this kitty has captured your heart and is yours. I will pass on any questions to my alternative meds vet, if I can possibly help. It won't be the first time. My heart is with you, and your rescued kitty. I've been there.

:group hug:

If its one thing I love and trust its the people in the D.U. who
are fellow cat lovers.
I appreciate any help or support I can get at this time.

He is brilliant and very kind and this won't be the first time I have brought him a kitty problem from DU. I will print this out and bring it with me. If anyone can give good advice, this guy can. It also doesn't hurt that this guy is a kindred spirit, politically. He likes to discuss the issues of the day, since we live in a very conservative area. Hang in there. I agree, DU is the best when it comes to support and advice, animal advice especially.
:pals:

i ache for you. this is the 1st post i read this a.m., & i'm overwhelmed by your tragedy. love my cats so dearly; so hard to make the decision when 1 is ready to go.

this little guy has been cursed by fate, as many of us have been. i don't believe there is any hope for your situ. You have too many responsibilities to be able to care for this boy; you're already stretched too thin.

i'm so sorry, but i really believe the kindest act is to let him go. were i disabled in this way i'd want someone to help me rest.

i recently held a dear friend in my arms while the vet sedated him; then IV'd him w/beuthanasia to let him pass. drove me to tears, but i knew his time was over.

i wish i knew of a better solution. i can barely hold the tears as i type.

you've been so kind to try to help him. you're 1 of 10% of people that have a heart; i'm so terribly sorry it's breaking. you can PM if you need to talk. I'm always available for a hurting feline friend.

Well its morning again......and reading my new posts and crying once
again. I sure could use some feline lovers right now to help me
get through this. Im kinda new to D.U. but there are some super super
good people in this forum. Its been my lifeline the last 24 yrs.
Im not sure if I can P.M. you as I have not donated yet.
Please keep in touch I need the support.
Thanks,
Betts in Ohio

PMd my email addy in case you can't PM. you might be able to use the PM service, punch the letter shaped icon @ the top of my post.


my profile has email addy, too, in case you don't receive PM.

If this is going to plague the poor thing all his life, it may be more humane to put him to sleep.

My heart aches for you. I've had to put a cat down, and it's not fun.

that was also malnourished - we named him 'Lucky'. After we fed him one morning he had a seizure so we took him to the vet. After that he seemed fine. 2 days later, he seized again and the vet said this might be a disease from birth - which was probably why he was left by mama cat. He didn't want to put it down just then, hoping that he (the vet) was wrong.
Unfortunately he seized again, so it was obvious that this poor guy shouldn't live in such a condition, so we had him put down. It's amazing how attached one can get to an animal in 4 days. He was the lovingest cat I've ever seen.
God - I can barely type this now, 2 years later...

As hard as it may be, I think your kitten is in the same such situation - he probably needs to go on as well - that's not just a "challenged" kitty, but one that won't have a good life. Just try to think that the loving that he is showing to you is the reciprocation of the love you have showed him - and that is the best thing an animal can receive, no matter how short the time.
:cry:

...and my heart breaks to hear that story, it sounds like you're overwhelmed with being a caregiver. May I suggest you get some help from your local Area Agency on Aging? The agencies provide all kinds of services related to aging, one of which is to assist working caregivers. They can actually arrange to get someone to help you so you can take a few days off and keep your sanity.

Their national association is at http://www.n4a.org/.

Dirk

I am happy to say, there are many people who take on challenged kitties, at least here in the Bay Area.

If you can, check around for feline rehabers in your area. Google should help you find one. They can be very helpful in discovering what is wrong with your little one, sometimes even more so then vets. And, if he has a condition that can be managed with lots of love and care, they might be able to put you in touch with someone who could take this fellow on.

If you can't find anyone, PM and I'll see what I can do (my sister is a rehaber).

Took him to the vet again today........gonna try for another
4 weeks to see if there any change.

to take the kitten. If there is any way possible, they will. It is a no-kill shelter for strays. They have volunteer vets (these people are angels) who help kittens and cats in very bad health when Good Samaritans bring them in, and there just may be another angel who will adopt a disabled kitten; you'd be surprised how many angels there are who will do so.

They also have a website. http://www.catwelfareohio.com/

phone (614) 268 6096--closed now, but there may be an email address on the website. They are open Thursdays until 7 PM.

741 Wetmore Rd. Columbus OH 43214--it's on the north side of town, just south of Morse St and west of I 71.

:hug: Please look after yourself, take a break and then decide how to care for the kitty. Don't overwhelm yourself, you sound like a very caring and sweet individual.

Keep us posted how things are going. :hug:

Took him to the vet again today........Vet is still saying maybe
head trauma......
....so hes still with me here for another 4wks. Lets hope for a miracle. Thanks for your support i need it.

Listen to other DU'ers. They know their kitties. I am not able to offer you advice and for that I am sorry. Meanwhile I can offer you prayers and good wishes. My heart breaks for you.

This little guy.........is a keeper

I hope all of you keep in touch wtih me what a great bunch of
people in D.U.