My elderly relative is already growing frustrated with her. He suggested putting her outside again.

  • Wytch@lemmy.zip
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    2 months ago

    Just went through this twice in the last year with a 17, and then a 20+ year old kittie, both well-loved companions. Those last months are the hard ones, but they need us more, not less. To cut them off from us in their waning days is to spare ourselves the pain of impending loss, all at the expense of their dignity and comfort.

    Gosh if only a person in his position could appreciate the need for compassion towards the elderly.

    • ParabolicMotion@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      The funny part is, she has been desperately trying to sit in his lap when I’m gone, during the day. I think he would miss her if she was out outside.

  • weariedfae@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I don’t like your relative. Providing comfortable care of elderly and end of life pets is to be expected when you adopt an animal, even if it is difficult.

    • beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      30 days ago

      The relative is being callous, AND they clearly need some help managing a cat at this point, AND the relative is probably worried about themselves becoming like their poor cat who they probably also love.

      What’s so hard about extending your empathy to the person as well as the cat?

  • livus@kbin.social
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    2 months ago

    Your relation is being callous.

    My tip for elderly incontinence is make a designated area (I use thick plastic like a tablecloth cover to protect the floor) and line it with Puppy Pads/ mats.

    Also if you get an oil drip tray from an auto shop you can put kitty litter in it and the cat doesn’t have to step over anything to use it.

    • Carighan Maconar@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Also if you get an oil drip tray from an auto shop you can put kitty litter in it and the cat doesn’t have to step over anything to use it.

      This is what my parents always did. Works perfectly fine, just need to clean it daily or twice daily.

  • Altima NEO@lemmy.zip
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    2 months ago

    Poor kitty. Reminds me of my old cat. She made it to 22 years old. She could make it to the litter box, but preferred to go around the litter box. She looked ver much the same shape as yours. Didnt groom herself anymore, so we had to help her out.

    • FatLegTed@feddit.uk
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      2 months ago

      😢 Had to do the same with my cat George a few years ago. Need yo open a window now, I think someone is cutting onions in this room.

      • Altima NEO@lemmy.zip
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        2 months ago

        She pretty much just slept on the bed and we keep a litter box nearby in the same room, so she didn’t need to go far. She had joint pain, so I didn’t want to make her go all the way to the younger cats litterbox.

    • beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      30 days ago

      If your response to this situation is to hiss “harm the human instead”, who clearly is going through something themselves, then you don’t have the empathy required to have a cat in your life.

  • enkers@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Poor girl. Please give her lots of pets, love, and treats for us. It’s always tough seeing your companion struggling. <3

    • ParabolicMotion@lemmy.worldOP
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      2 months ago

      I recently bathed her and clipped her fur, but I’m not a professional. I just worry that if she is under stress by being transported to a groomer, and around strangers, she might have a heart attack.

  • Siegfried@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Dont do that, please. My 17 years old siamese kiki was taken away from me by renal disease 5 months ago. The last 4 months were terrible. She was blind and barely made it to the box. My mother was the worst at that time and was looking for excuses to put her down. She also refused to have multiple boxes or anything that could have made my cat’s life easier. (Sorry, im just venting, but fuck my psycopath mother, freaking loony).

    I’m in peace knowing that i and my brothers did everything we could to make kiki feel loved to the last minute.

  • beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    30 days ago

    It’s possible elderly relative is projecting some negative emotions about their own situation onto cat’s. Or looking at cat & worried about themselves not being able to make it to their own bathroom too. It’s frustrating & empathy with everyone here will get you a long way 🫶