I'm crying

[madcatladyforever]

I have just been offered an all expenses paid 2 week holiday to the seychelles by a relative who knows I've been through a terrible time the last few years, business class.
I've turned it down - 19 year old cat can't be left. She's had a number of health problems and we've moved twice recently.
I just cannot bear to leave her in a cattery, the last time I left her overnight in the cattery (which is very nice) to go off and have some hospital dental treatment the owner said she wailed loudly nearly the whole time.
There isn't anyone who can look after her for that long at home and if anything happened to her I'd literally die of grief and never forgive myself for not being with her.
I really feel for the other poster in the same boat, I haven't had a holiday for years
But I love my cat more.

Oh lord I thought you’d lost her when I saw that.

Meh. I hear the Seychelles are shit anyway.

Heck no, she's still going strong. Well thanks for that it made me laugh. What we do for our pets!!! My mother thinks I'm insane.

You wouldn’t enjoy it when she’s this age. One day you’ll be able to but you would still rather have her.

I think you made the right decision. Cats can get really stressed at the best of times so not worth the risk of more stress at that old age.

Does the holiday have to be now? I don’t want to be insensitive, but maybe they’ll offer again when you need it more, if you get my meaning .

For a face like that, I'd stay too. She's a darling.

My aunt said earlier that the offer still stands when I can go but I think this bugger plans to enter the Guiness book of records for cat longevity.

You wouldn’t enjoy all airport hassle both ways anyway.
Much nicer to have a cuppa, a catty cuddle and some decent radio or tv.

It's probably for the best, you would have just been stressed out worrying about her. Seychelles was always on my list of destinations but have heard that service can be quite bad/rude. Beautiful though.

Who's the boss 😹

Can you get a professional catsitter to come in and check on her?

What a beauty 😻

I was like this with my old cat, I paid a friend to stay for the week and to be home with him.

Is there nobody you know who loves cats who could stay in your house?

The only person is my adult son but he'd have to bring his own cats who would try to "play" with her and she would be very stressed.
Last time they all came up she turned her back on the boys all the time to show them she wasn't a threat but they are young and boisterous and can't resist a pounce and then all hell breaks loose. They can't seem to just leave each other alone.
She gets confused at night because she is deaf and I often have to rescue her from the stairs or wherever she is wailing and bring her into bed with me so she settles down.
Then there are the gross toilet habits, she really is too much work to be left. Such are old cats. She's worth it though, she's such a darling.
I was looking online at the worlds oldest cats yesterday - Cream Puff, 38 years old eek.

I can’t think of a reason that would make me leave an older cat with someone else. You are doing the right thing by both her and yourself. Enjoy the purrs and cuddles.

No, nor me.

Me neither. I could not go. She is used to my work routine but she would be very upset if I wasnt there at night.

I came on here expecting to read another lovely cat had died. Thank god that’s not the case
I would have done exactly the same.
She is fabulous btw

Enjoy those snuggles.
You can see the world another time. But you are her world. And that’s so much more.

@madcatladyforever I think you have definitely done the right thing. About 10 years ago I had a 17 year old cat who began to have some health issues. We had already booked a holiday abroad and after much hand ringing we decided to still go and my elderly cat and my 2 other younger cats would go to our usual cattery. When I was booking them in at the cattery the owner said to me that she was sorry but she had to ask me a question - if he died whilst I was away would I like him frozen or cremated 😱 I was horrified. We were on the way to the airport and I cried and cried. I was so racked with guilt. I phoned the Cattery twice a day for two weeks ready to get a flight home if he showed any signs of going downhill.

The good news was he was fine and went on to live until he was almost 20 but I made the decision then that I would not leave him again. The only thing I remember about that holiday was the sheer panic and guilt I felt everyday and I had done nothing but count the days until we went home. You are so doing the right thing! The Seychelles will always be there but your lovely girl won't be.

I know IceQueen I'd be the same, I just would not enjoy the holiday at all.
i didn't know you could get them frozen though!!

Last time I went on holiday , we (DH and I) left our cats in the very capable hands of our DC ( Uni/6th Form)
Paid them Cattery Rate Fees

I nded up 2 weeks in hospital .

Cats obviously decided I wasnt ever going on holiday again.
(Covid decided my holiday this year wasn't happening )

I'm on # Team Stay With The Cat

I wouldn’t go in that situation. However I do leave Harry (15) with a cat sitter so we can go away. One of my questions when I interrogated the cat sitters was would they stay with him if the worst happened while we were away. One has an older cat of her own with a lot of health problems and the other is an RSPCA inspector so he’s in safe hands! His previous sitter was a vet nurse.

I might feel differently when he gets older or if he has health problems though as I hate leaving him at the best of times!

@madcatladyforever I didn't realise either but I guess it's for those who want to see their cats one last time. Sounds horrible though.

A couple of years ago we went on holiday to Cyprus and although my current cats are young my DH decided it might help me worry less if he installed a camera in our kitchen which alerted my phone whenever there was movement. His thinking was I could see my cats and reassure myself they were fine and eating ok. The reality was I saw them eat their food then start meowing as they were obviously calling out for us! It was then I also realised how much of their food their naughty BFF from next door was eating and they were often left without food. Luckily my mum was looking after them and lived next door so if I saw them distressed or hungry I used to ring her and ask her to pop over to sort them out.

The first holiday that I have enjoyed in years was last year when my DH and I had our first holiday without our DS. The cats were happy because my DS was home but then my DH and I were upset because it was our first holiday without our DS! 😂 I have decided we should never have had cats or our DS, we would have such wonderful holidays!

I know, I used to leave her when she was younger but now if she can't find me immediately she wanders round the house wailing as if her heart will break. She is deaf and can only hear loud whistling so I have to whistle loudly so she can find me. God knows what the neighbours think!
She knows I go to work and she is used to that, she sleeps in the cupboard until I get home and I'll go and wake her up when I get in.
She always goes crazy as if I've been gone weeks.