I never really thought about it, until recently, but isn't it a bit quirky how our pets become a huge part of our lives? I never really understood this until I got my cat about 18 months ago and have endured costly vet bills ever since. My family keeps telling me he's just an alley cat and to get rid of him and get another. I can't help but think, in a twisted sort of way that he's like a child to me, and you surely wouldn't think of trading in a child with a heart defect because it was costly to try and maintain some standard of living, right?

I was looking forward to my cat being a long companion in my household and hope that somehow he overcomes the odds that face, afterall he doesn't seem to have any idea that he has a heart problem... he still does all the normal things cats do, you know, sleep most of the day without a care in the world, chase shadows, play with paper and boxes, and purr softly when I rub that certain spot beneath his chin.

I've heard the same things about my sweet little pug. When I got her she had a hernia and a problem with her jaw, partly because her tounge is so big. I had those fixed as best as they could be and had her spayed. Then we found out she has sever hip displaysia and we had that treated early enough that her doctor think she won't have a huge problem as she gets older. She has cromic ear infections and allergies to certian dyes in her foods and treats. People tell me all the time that it's just a dumb dog and to put her to sleep. My reply is usualy if you kid had something wrong with them would you put them to sleep? They just give me a weird look but i know they don't understand and i feel sorry for them to not have the unconditional love that an animal can give.
I'm sure your cat will be fine, if not do what i do and try to make the time they have here the best. (((((hugs)))))

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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

I would do anything possible to keep any of the pets in my house alive and comfortable. One of the worst things I ever faced was having a cat put to sleep because he had leukemia and there was nothing the vet could do for him and I never want to go through that again.

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Put me on wheels and I'll turn tricks.

Clever? Nah, I ran out of that years ago. But if you find this, let me know, k?
"The road goes ever on..." ~ Tolkien

In memory of my friend skip...
Go then, there are other worlds than these

try sending pictures of the "grandkids" to their "grandparents"! the "grandparents" really love that, especially if they don't have "real" grandkids!

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one for all, and all for me!

TCF, too cute!!!!!

Aqua, my sympathies to you, had to do the same thing 2 thanksgivings ago to our one cat, absolutely broke my heart! We have pics of her around and we will hang her stocking up again this year! I know, sounds silly to others, but I'm sure all here understand.

Maddy, I agree 100%. We got our other cat (fifth Avenue) at an auction, she came free with a box of $.99 cat food. Never realized how expensive that box of cat food was! But, she is still with us 17 years later and we both love her to death! She is truly our kid!

DG, you are so correct about the unconditional love! I know that when I get home, the fiffer will climb up in my lap and just start purring away and the rest of the world goes away for those few minutes!

TCF, your cat looks quite similar to mine except mine has more white and his orange isn't quite so pronounced... okay so really they are only similar in specie

I'm convinced when my parents spend a week with my cat at Christmas they will learn how much more loving he is than their yip yip spoiled rotten Pom.

LMAO. My mom CLAIMS all she'll ever have is a grand-kitty.

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Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

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