Going on holiday concerns

[WilmaFlintstone1]

My lovely cat is 15.5yrs and has recently had some health issues. We noted her coat was looking rough and she was yowling a lot. The vet found her thyroid levels were slightly elevated which he said is not uncommon in older cats. All well and we started her on Thyronorm.

Then several days later DH called me at work to say she was bumping into things as she walked. Clearly a vision problem. and o arranged an emergency appointment with the vet. He thought she might have high blood pressure but when it was checked by the vet nurse it was found to be normal.

The vet referred us to an eye specialist who saw her very quickly, the first thing he identified was that her blood pressure was sky high. I don’t think our vet nurse had used the machine before and although she did it three times she got normal readings.

The eye vet also found my gorgeous cat had detached retinas likely as a result of the high blood pressure.

So …she’s on treatment, she’s looking better and seems more confident moving around. I don’t think she can see very much but she’s coping.

My one issue is that when she settles down in her basket she is yowling really loudly and needing reassurance.

So to the problem, we are going on holiday in May, it’s with family and in the UK. We did have a Cattery booked but not our usual one as they had no space.

We cancelled the Cattery as keeping the cat in familiar surroundings seems the best thing. We have a friend who used to run a cat rescue who will call in twice a day while we are away to administer meds and spend time making a fuss of our cat.

But I am anxious, what If she’s howling and there’s nobody here to reassure her? It’s making me not want to go away and leave her.

DH is saying I am over worrying and that she will be fine. However, I’m convinced that’s because he doesn’t want to let his family down.

Am I being too precious about her.
Pic included naturally….

[WilmaFlintstone1]

And one with eyes open

[jellybeeanie]

I’d want someone to stay rather than pop in twice a day. Do you know anyone who’d be up for house sitting for you? If not I’d see if you can pay someone to do it.

[heldinadream]

Can you advertise on this website for a house/cat sitter? Free to advertise and sitter is free too but it's very soon so you'd have to make the ad enticing - nice pics of house and info on the area.
I house/cat sit via this site. Most sitters have reviews and love animals, but obviously because it's free they also have to want to stay in your house.
You might be lucky enough to get someone lovely if you act quickly.

House sitting, pet sitting, dog sitting in the UK - House Sitters UK

[Plump82]

I couldn't go in these circumstances. And I don't think I could use a cat sitter as if she needs comfort is she really going to be happy with a stranger?

[WilmaFlintstone1]

Thanks all, you’ve reassured me that my thinking is not mad. Hoping now my Mum will come and stay (she has offered) and my cat is very familiar with her,

[heldinadream]

Oh gosh take her up on the offer and pin her down to dates and arrangements. Of course you can't leave the cat alone, poor bubs. Company will make all the difference. Hope mum realises this is a cast-iron commitment.

[WilmaFlintstone1]

@heldinadream

Oh gosh take her up on the offer and pin her down to dates and arrangements. Of course you can't leave the cat alone, poor bubs. Company will make all the difference. Hope mum realises this is a cast-iron commitment.

Thank you, yes she is very willing and committed to doing g it. She lives 10 mins away so can sleep here plus come and go as normal. She is also cat mad so will make loads of fuss of my girl.

[Laurama91]

Don't worry the first time we left our boy in the cattery and it was only over night I did my partners head in. We weren't even an hour away but I spent the whole time saying "I hope chester is ok", "I wonder what chester is doing ". In the end he told me I had to text the man that owns the cattery 😂

[TedWilson]

Yowling is common with thyroid. I don't think it necessarily means pain it's just a thing they do. As her medicine kicks in it may well reduce.

[LeChatChat]

Yowling is also a thing with high blood pressure - this (and the detatched retinas) is exactly what happened to my late old girl. Tip - try putting a ping pong ball in a largish shallow cardboard box. Our partially sighted girl loved it as she could bat it about but it couldn't get too far away from her.