We try so hard to do everything right. We pay all of our bills, on time and usually have nothing left over afterward, animals eat first. When we found 4 female kittens under the house we had just moved into temporarily, we took them in (including the mama, we already had three kitties of our own, Eloo, Axle and Perfecta or "Stinky La Ra") and had them spayed, and gave them their shots and tried to find homes for them, which was extremely difficult because we are rural. Mama Mina did finally get adopted out and is doing well, but we have had such a rough time along the way. This is why:
One of our older babies, Eloo recently passed away from cancer (we had to euthanize him). I won't go into that because it hurts terrible, but now, his brother is having dental issues causing him pain and obvious discomfort. When I called the vet this morning I learned it is going to cost me over $300 dollars for having the exam and possible tooth extraction! This is because he is over 6yrs old and needs bloodwork, more shots and etc. I was so excited when my Grandma sent me an extra $100 (she said to go out to eat with it, but how can I do that when my Axle is in pain!). I figured this would be more than enough for the exam and maybe a little more for the extraction. Tomorrow is payday, but we pay the mortgage and nothing will be left over but that $100 and I STILL can't get him any relief? I do not have the $300 dollars to fix this. How can I help him? I feel HELPLESS!!!!
This is on top of dealing with the new issues with the kittens, which began developing over time as they got older. EVERY one of them (all 4!) have the "rippling back" or Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome which causes them to bite themselves, lick, run around as if something is hurting them and when I try to comfort them, they run from me. This is horrible! I spoke with two different vets (both stated it was not hereditary, but this is bull-crap because Mama Mina had the same thing happen to her back, it rippled and she would "spook out". Both vets recommended having ALL FOUR babies (Haley, Tammy, Toni and Lulu) euthanized! WHAT! Are you freaking serious! We are NOT going to do this. They are young and there has to be something we can try! So far, Toni, LuLu and Haley experience the back rippling the worst. Tammy is the ONLY one of them that purrs and she does not experience this even close to the scale that Toni and others do. I feel so bad for them when I can't comfort them! It is obvious the disorder is hereditary, but the only way so far I have found to comfort them is with the laser light or something that will "distract" them long enough to make it stop. Sometimes this does not work when it is bad. Other times, Toni will climb into a pillowcase to try to hide from the rippling.
We live in the middle of nowhere with ZERO family and ZERO support system and I am really starting to feel alone and anxious. I am on SSD due to porphyria and feel so helpless I could scream! Why are we trying to do everything right, when everything seems to be so wrong all of the time? Why can't something positive happen? PLEASE!
Please keep our babies in your prayers, thoughts etc. I just want something good to happen!
Angelique & Marvin Welch