I woke up to the sound of a cat scream at 4:42 this morning. My feet hit the ground, and I ran down the stairs to check on Lizzie and Dickens, our rescued former ferals, in about 10 seconds flat. Ive been doing this for six years. I really needed my tea after that, but once Im up our eight cats clamor for breakfast. I fed them before I fed myself. I just spent the last forty minutes scrubbing piglet poop from the walls and floors. Living with non humans requires lots of scrubbing. It matters not whether it is a piglet, a puppy, a cat, or a rat. I took paint off the wall so either the room will look shabby, or Ill need to paint. I put in two loads of laundry before 6 am. This is nothing unusual. Two of our cats will pee on clothing, our pillows, or us periodically. We cant fathom why though we know they have reason (yes, weve checked this with our vet!) We spent over $5,000. in 2014 on vet bills, special diet food, medications, and supplies for our non human family members. Elrond needs a dental visit, Psyche needs to have her claws clipped (I have the wound to prove it), Plutarch needs a walk, Dickens would love to be brushed, and Nandi just pushed over my tea. More laundry! I am not complaining! Alan and I are very happy to care for our family as well as the rescues we foster or quarantine for Triangle Chance for All. Still, it is a lot of work. I should be cleaning our 16 litter boxes instead of spending time on FB, but I want to make the point that our companion animals are messy, expensive to care for, and not always timely in their demands. We wouldnt have ever brought any of them home to us unless we were prepared to give them what they need while trying hard to give them all they want. They are a lifetime commitment, and we know from hard and sad experience that none of them will live long enough. Please consider this and so many other unforeseeable inconveniences that the animal/s you bring home will cause. Only adopt (please, please never shop for a family member. It means others will die!), if you are ready, able, and more than willing to engage for the lifetime of your cat, dog, bunny, bird, rabbit, or mouse. Please consider carefully before someone comes home with you. A scratched piece of furniture is almost guaranteed. That night time visit to the emergency vets is, too. It is the price we pay for love and the companionship our animals give so freely. Commit to them. Love them. They are yours to care for forever, or they should not be yours at all.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:46:19 +0000
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