I was planning to travel to Canada, but unfortunately one of my two cats, a 19-year-old senior cat, has developed heart problems. I planned to use this organization to find a cat sitter. However, the doctor advises me to postpone the trip as is better to be with the cat, the situation is not yet under control. He needs to take three diferent pills three times a day; only one of them is available in liquid form. I really have problems administering the medication myself. Unfortunately, I do not have enough space in my apartment to host someone full-time. So, I am looking for somebody to come by twice a day only for the medication. And sure, I will pay for the service. Thanking the medicine properly and regularly is very importin for his survival. Could I use this forum/this organization to find the proper person to help my cat? Again, it’s about making regular visits for medication only, not for full-time cat sitting. Thanks
Hello. I’m sorry to hear about your cat and I know that must be very stressful.
The basis of THS is free accommodation in exchange for free pet care and home care.
Technically there is nothing stopping you from posting a listing ,explaining your situation, and perhaps finding a local sitter who would be interested in helping you. But you might not have much luck.
Your situation is better suited for a site that is geared towards paid opportunities for local providers, such as dog walking, dropping in for feedings, etc.
There could possibly be people on the forum that could help, but only a small fraction of THS members are on it.
Best of luck!
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately, I just moved from Canada to Spain, Marina D’Or, Oropesa, Castellón, and I cannot find local forums as you mentioned.
Have you looked on Facebook, lots of pet sitting groups on there.
How’s he doing? If not eating well and/or showing signs of pain or discomfort, you may need to consider putting him down. At that age, sometimes too much intervention is simply cruel. Not like they can be cured at 19.
Every pet eventually breaks your heart.
You could ask your vet if someone on their staff would be interested in providing medication on a drop in basis.
Sure, this was the first to do. Unfortunately, they do not have the staff, but the doct told me she is looking and asking
Such measure would be discused with his doctor, very copetent and dedicated by the way, but now he got as solution a treatmet not a letal injection.
I did, sure, I did not find any in the close proximity, but I posted on some groups, sure.
You’ve had good advice on here, but if you can’t find someone…
It sounds like you’re okay to give the liquid feed, it’s the tablets you’re having difficulty with, is that right?
What is it that you’re having difficulty with, for example is it the that won’t take it or is it yourself that has a gag reflex or something like that.
Have you tried disguising the tablets in very smelly fish paste? You can buy Lick-e-lix in Spain, they have all sorts of flavours, cats seem to go crazy for it.
Or try grinding the tablet down or if it’s in a protective capsule, then ask your vet if it’s still effective if you open the capsule and just mix the content of it in with his food.
If the cat claws at the thought of taking the tablets, you can get a protective glove to help from a pet shop, or even an oven glove can help.
I had great success with thorn-proof gardening gloves from Amazon.
Trusted House sitters is about mutual exchange and for this reason the terms say listings must include overnight stays and the host must vacate the property for the duration of the sit.
<> The fact that the cat scratches me isn’t the problem; I don’t want to start fighting with my cat. That’s the problem. Yes, I use different methods to “hide” the pills (I can crush them or dissolve them in water or any liquid; it’s easier with the one I have in both solid and liquid form), but it’s a difficult process, and sometimes he doesn’t “eat” them all. So I can’t fully control the situation this way. Yes, I’ve given him the pills myself, twice. And now he no longer sleeps with me; he runs away as soon as he sees me. Of course, the stress of being at the hospital and the clinic added to it, but the “final straw” came the second time I put the pills in his mouth, exactly the way the vet taught me. He did not have any problems with the vet, but really did not like it when I was the one “breaking” the protocol of being only nice and gentle. So no, I don’t need any gloves.
Have you tried putting the meds in a liquid treat (not too runny) and smearing it on the cat’s paw or side so he can lick it off?
I just did a 3+ week sit with a cat that needed meds twice a day for a seizure disorder. The homeowner hoped that the cat would eat the treat (with powdered meds mixed in) from a plate but that didn’t work for about the first 10 days. I am very involved in cat rescue and have medicated hundreds of cats, thousands of times. This cat refused every type of treat and every method used in my arsenal! The HO suggested smearing as an alternative and that was the only way that worked. It wasn’t perfect because the cat might not lick it off immediately and I had to follow her around the house to make sure that it didnt rub off somewhere if the cat lay down.
Ah, just trying to help. Nevermind then.
@IonIlisie You’ve asked whether THS is a suitable site for your needs and no, it isn’t because as explained by other members, it is an exchange of free accommodation for free pet care.
You have admitted that you are having difficulty administering the pills to your dear senior cat and that he is now wary of you. It is very tricky being able to give pills to cats so many of us feel for you. Having to give your cat 6 pills daily is a lot and I can understand how stressful it is for both you and your cat.
Where you are having this difficulty, imagine how much more difficult and stressful it would be for your cat to have a complete stranger try to medicate him, and the effect it would have on the sitter too. This is not a responsibility to hand over to a stranger, especially where you say giving the medicine properly and regularly is very important for his survival. As the cat’s owner (and by his age I’m thinking he’s been with you a long time), this is your responsibility. I know if I was in your shoes, the trip to Canada would have to be postponed for the sake of my feline companion.