Dilemma: When I go away to serve in the Peace Corps...what will happen to her? Mom lives on the first floor and visits us now and again. Cookie has been down with her on occasion as well, but Mom has a little kitty called Angel who is probably the sweetest kitty you will ever meet. She is also stone deaf. This makes her afraid of everything.
Now, Cookie is aware of Angel, but they are never left in the same place together. I am afraid Cookie will attack Angel....she has been known to be mean on occasion. Very mean. Vicious. Seriously. SO...will Cookie be doomed to live up in our little apartment all alone for 28 months, with a daily visit from Mom to scoop and feed? As it is, since Harley died, she is alone all the time and is not happy about it.
What I would like to do, but will not be able to do, since I am a little on the "poor" side, is fly home after my initial 3 month orientation and bring her back with me once I am given my own residence. This is the only sane thing I can think of...but I most likely will not be able to afford the round trip to come and get her.
Cookie is not adoptable. She is also very healthy and I can't bring myself to euthanize a healthy cat. My Mom is also a tad bit afraid of her...with good reason. It takes a very long time for Cookie to adjust to anything. I love my Cookie and want what's best for her. Any one have any suggestions?
This is my dilemma.
I would slowly start to introduce your cat to your moms cat now, while there is still lots of time. I am a cat person myself so I'm well aware it probably won't go well, at least not for a good while!! That or find a good friend willing to take your cat, and have the friend come over more and more to adjust each other, maybe even your cat visit their home.
ReplyDeleteOn the downside, I have read various places that PC doesn't allow you to bring pets to your country of service, even on your own accord. Reason being that often there are long periods of quarentines that are very difficult on the animal, not to mention how difficult a long flight can be (Esp on an older cat). Moreover, once you got the animal there, they may have an extrememly difficult time adjusting to a new environment, house, climate, food, etc. Also, in some locations, it isn't unheard of for locals to kill animals out of fear, superstition, or even food. Hard for us to fathom, but then again, completely different cultures!
That's a tough one... pets have come symbolize family members for us in the US.
ReplyDeleteFor one day a few months ago, I almost put my PC dreams on the shelf b/c of my dog. Then I snapped out of it; it would be madness to make a life decision based on my dog! Thankfully, I have family who will take care of my dog (though not spoil her like I do). my dog, cleo, will soon find out what it is like to live like a dog.
I have no advice...
Hi Joanne,
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty cute, so it's hard. Spencer's black & white and a clown--probably some latent Siamese gene as he is very vocal. Kate's a little mom (she came into shelter preggers along with a kitten from her previous litter--spayed of course, but still is prone to bouts of cleaning the rest of us.) It's going to be hard to leave them.
I'm from Detroit but went to college and grad school in the Boston area. I ended up living in MA for 30+ years, so the Nation and I go way back to when you could get a ticket for a game at Fenway just before the start. Now I go back every April to run the marathon....another thing I'll miss. Some other applicant wrote that to appreciate your life, apply to the PC. It's true, I do have a keener sense of how many lovely things there are in my little routine!
grins,
A