Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Rescue & Rehoming => Cat/s Needing Homes => Sorted/ Unknown outcomes => Topic started by: hywren on February 06, 2009, 09:53:48 AM
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I run a pet sitting business and Buttons was previously owned by one of my clients, 8 weeks ago she sent me a message saying she was having him put to sleep as she could not care for him anymore. He was diagnosed with diabetes in September last year and his old owner found him too tying once he needed daily injections. He was already booked in for the day she got in touch. I have taken him in as a foster and am looking for a new home for him.
I know how hard it will be to find someone due to his condition but I am hopeful (or maybe deluded!)
I am based in Glossop, Derbyshire but am willing to travel to drop Buttons off. I will be undertaking a homecheck for any prospective adopter (I homecheck for two rescues already).
Buttons is 10 years young and I have been told he is a british shorthair cross but I cannot confirm that. He is neutered and will be chipped before he leaves. He is not vaccinated (I am willing to pay for this if new owner wants it done, my vet has said we should wait till he is more settled as he has never been done).
He has one insulin injection per day and is on M/D prescription food. He has the lowest dose possible of the insulin. He is very overweight and the vet is hopeful that with weight loss he may be able to be managed with diet alone. He is steadily losing weight now (was 6.8kg when he arrived and is now just under 6). He is very good to be injected, he hardly seems to notice it happens.
Buttons is a very loving cat who loves to play with his wollen mouse on a string. He is talkative and affectionate. He is good with other cats but my own cat is not friendly and is being aggressive to him. I was told he is terrified of dogs but this is not the case, he doesn't like it when Lola (my dog) is running around or playing boisterously but in general he is fine around her and not scared.
Any help/interest will be appreciated.
Heather
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P1100233.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P1110353.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P1100225.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P1100230.jpg)
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P1100220.jpg)
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Poor Buttons :( Can't help here I'm afraid I just wanted to say good on you for taking him in and saving him, several memebers on here manage diabetes in their cats perfectly well and it's absolutely no reason to put him to sleep.
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awww poor boy, he's lovely :Luv2: very best of luck finding him a loving home xx
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Just had a thought... I'm sure when rescues on here have been trying to home diabetic cats they have come up with the idea of 'advertising' in the local hospital. Nurses might not be phased by the thought of giving injections. Also see if there is a local diabetic group as a person with diabetes would also not be phased by the condition :luck:
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I phoned a local Diabetes charity last year when we were trying to rehome Charlie. As it turned out, he was homed anyway. My idea was that if they had a noticeboard, people with Diabetes might be more understanding of a diabetic cat's needs and realise that it shouldn't be a death sentence - far from it. Might be worth contacting your local hospital for more info http://www.tamesideandglossop.nhs.uk/templates/Page____1334.aspx
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Hi Heather. :) I soooooo wish I could afford to take on another cat when I see Buttons; he's adorable. And the injections don't put me off either because I've had to do it before. Will ask around.
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CP run a register of folks who have had diabetic cats and have a good homing success rate
We just lost our feral diabetic Tiger just before Christmas, and when he was first diagnosed we were terrified of needles and what it would involve but after a crash course at the vet practicing with water we mastered the art and had no problems and he was on 2 shots a day and had us so well trained. We didn't change his diet and he had a great 14 months with text book diabetes management until a tumour in his heart robbed us of our darling boy
Its not as scarey as folks think and now we get antibiotic injections and steroids where required from our vet to save the stress on our ferals.
I hope he finds a home as he looks a lovely ginger ninja :hug:
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We had our Little Junkie for around a year or so after diagnosis. Not too many changes were made to diet here either and he actually went into remission for a short time before we lost him to CRF. :(
He is gorgeous. :Luv:
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Thank you all for your responses, it is so nice to know there are all these people out there thinking of Buttons!
I have been in touch with the CP with regards to the helpline and he is listed on the Chesterfield branch website thanks to the kindness of Elaine (although he does not have rescue back-up).
I have a poster up at the local hospital thanks to another client who is a nurse, I had not thought of any local diabetes support groups/charity though so I will look into it.
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Have posted him on Your Diabetic Cat which is a site I used when we had Toby. Hope it helps - I've got a serious soft spot for Buttons!
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Thank you so much for posting him on there, it is much appreciated. If there are any other sites I should know about I would be grateful if you could pass them on to me, it has been a steep learning curve having Buttons and I have yet to reach the top of it!
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Have you tried posting on http://www.catchat.org/forum.html as well.
Good luck in finding Buttons the special home he needs :Luv2:
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Aw bless him. How sad that he owner felt she couldnt give him one daily injection.
The cattery i worked at started taking diabetic cats as i was happy to inject them, its so not hard
Good luck, I am sure there is someone out there that will give buttons a good home....he is very cute (although i dont think he is a BSH)
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Such a beautiful cat :Luv:and so sad that his owner prefered to pts rather then learn how to do injections :( thank goodness you were able to help him :hug:
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Thanks for the suggestion Sam, he is already on cat chat.
You are all right it is sad that she could not commit to him however she got him when she bought her house because his previous owners left him behind 4 years ago so she may not have felt the same bond to him that we all feel for our own as she maybe did not intend on having a cat in the first place. Just another sad twist for him I'm afraid!
He is a lovely cat and very friendly. He loves to sleep under the covers on the bed all snuggled up!
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Such a beautiful cat :Luv:and so sad that his owner prefered to pts rather then learn how to do injections :( thank goodness you were able to help him :hug:
I think the biggest problem is for people that go away a lot who are away on business and so can't commit to injections every day. It's one thing asking a neighbour to feed and water your cat but another to ask them to inject insulin? - I'm sure an arrangement could be made with a vet or rescue to deal with this though.
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It's one thing asking a neighbour to feed and water your cat but another to ask them to inject insulin?
I don't go away often, but when I did and we had Toby my friend who looked after the house and animals came round a couple of times before we went away to learn how to give him his injection. She even text me every day to confirm his jab had been done. Although I have to say, she loved him quite a lot too as she'd met me when I first got Toby and fallen for him. :Luv: I know not everyone's that lucky, but like you say there's always a way if you're determind enough. And Heather who posted this is her petsitter I think, so obviously is giving Buttons his injections now! Sending Buttons huggggeee fuss. Have you got him put on as a Top Cat on CatChat? Might be a possibility.
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You are right JackSpratt, I am a petsitter and used to visit Buttons before he was diagnosed (I have known him for two years in total) and after his diagnosis to do his jab if his orevious owner was away. Since he has been here with me I have been away on a course for the weekend and was able to arrange for another petsitter to call and inject him. I know many catteries will do it petsitters but I am aware it will be a consideration for anyone taking him on.
He is not a top cat on cat chat as I thought it was only rescues who were ablle to do that but i will look into it further. Thanks
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With Tiger we always made sure one of us is at home and we moved the injection slightly if we had a problem - we also have a friend who could have done it for us but was a little bit scared when I said Tiger - oh your first feral she replied - he had been a bad boy and got her budgie - she did however love him after he apologised!!!
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We have had a bit of a set back with Buttons treatment as he has now gone up to two injections per day following a recent blood test. This has made him a much harder prospect to rehome as he is now much more tying.
He is much happier in himself and seems more active in the last few days though so I think it has been the right decision for him.
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Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. Poor Buttons. He's still a babe - I've got my cousin (who's a nurse) to put up posters to see if there are any cat loving medical peeps prepared to give him the home he deserves.
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have to say its not tying - we had Tiger for 18 months on 2 shots a day and he had us so well trained he waited for his extra meal in the morning and was sitting on the table for me every day and in the evening 7pm on the dot he waitied for his saucer of cheese from his Dad!
Shame we are so far away and have so many in the clan -and we gave 3 dogs to
I'm sure that someone will open their heart to him the gorgeous fluffy ginger ninja :hug:
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Which rescue is she on Cat Chat with? If you can get a rescue to pop her on their page, I can put her on as a Top Cat for you.
I think Ashfield CP might be a little too far out of the area but let me know ;D
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Buttons is gorgeous ;D
I have had to learn on Monday how to inject antibiotics into Franta and apart from finding the skin a bit tough, I think they are going well and he is behaving very well.
So if I can do it with one and a half hands and being a bit gentle, then I am sure that most can ;D
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Thank you for all your lovely, supportive posts, it is nice to know other people have not found it tying. Also thank you SO much JackSpratt for organising the posters with your cousin ;D It is really thoughtful of you.
Regarding cat chat he is on the forum but not on anyones page itself. I do volunteer for a rescue (as fosterer and homechecker etc) who have cats at Top Cats (I actually send the forms through!). They have said I can advertise him through their site but if I list him with them I am not allowed to advertise him anywhere else so it would make it rather awkward! They would also not be offering rescue back up or anything just adding him to the site. Its all very confusing.
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Well how stupid is that!
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Which rescue's that hun? I'm sure one of the North Derbyshire ones will help you out. Top Cats need to be affiliated with a rescue so if people call the rescue they can find the right details. It might be worth asking anyway so that you get an "official" homecheck and maybe Buttons' new slave could make them a donation in return.
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I can put Buttons on the Blackpool Cats in Care site, will that help? (If Buttons information is on the site he's allowed on the Top Cats - that's right isn't it?)
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I won't say which rescue as I would not want anyone to think bad of them (I certainly don't).
I would also not feel comfortable with a new owner paying a donation to a charity as they will have a pretty expensive cat moving in with them! :Luv:
I feel so guilty having to rehome him as I would dearly love for him to stay with me so it is a hard process to be going through (sorry...off topic really).
Buttons has had a bit of interest and a possible home has been in touch so please all keep your fingers crossed....at what point in the adoption process should I ask to change the thread title?
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Well, talk about tempting fate! I mentioned a prospective home in my last post and have just heard that they will not in fact be able to offer Buttons a home, so he is still definately looking.
The home interested was in London which has got me thinking about how far I would be able to travel him. It would have been a 4 hour drive from here. What are all your thoughts on travelling him that far? Should I limit how far I would be willing to rehome? Any thoughts welcome
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I think that yopu have to be sure its the right home for him so if you are travelling a distance you need to get someone to home check for you.
If its really the right home, I dont think 4 hours is too bad unless he is a really bad traveller.
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I think travel should only be limited if there's a health reason or the cat is an especially bad traveller/extremely nervous. Buttons looks like neither! But like Gill said, if it's too far from you to homecheck maybe you could ask someone on here to do it.
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A little photo update on Mr Buttons.
Relations with Aoki my cat are getting much better. She has thawed her frosty ways a little. I have to say he has been nothing but a true gent with her and if she hisses or grumbles or swipes at him he ignores her and looks away.
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P2230636.jpg)
Here is one with Lola my dog. He loves to rub his head on hers and give her kisses.
(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P2150629.jpg)
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lovely photos - and he is a real beauty :Luv:
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What a gent....he's lovely. I'm still asking around for him. (And wishing there was a way I could take on another cat; sadly not a practical idea.... ;))
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If Aoki accepts him i bet you end up keeping him! :evillaugh:
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If Aoki accepts him i bet you end up keeping him! :evillaugh:
Gosh, that would be a shame..... ;)
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(http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm254/hywren/P2230636.jpg)
Go on - you know you like me really :sneaky:
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all right then - but no tongues
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what a gorgeous ginger , i love the pale ones ;D
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lovely photos :Luv:
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If Aoki accepts him i bet you end up keeping him! :evillaugh:
Unfortunatley I have to work on my other half as well as my other half. He is adament that we should not keep Buttons (although as I am sure you have all guessed I would love to).
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Do as I did, say they are fosters and one day he will notice he has never left - thats why we now have 43 an awful lot of forever foster ferals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :shocked: :innocent: :innocent:
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[quote author=hywren link=topic=22334.msg400442#msg400442 date=1235661545
Unfortunatley I have to work on my other half as well as my other half. He is adament that we should not keep Buttons (although as I am sure you have all guessed I would love to).
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Oops, I meant to write I have to work on my other half as well as Aoki.....glad you understood what I meant Liz!
It is hard as I foster for a rescue as well and Matthew feels that we already ask a lot of Aoki as we often have other animals here and we integrated Lola 9 months ago, our first permanent dog (ie our first non-foster dog). Aoki is fantastic with kittens or juvenile cats but she does not appreciate adult fosters and I usually keep them seperate from her when I have them here. Obviously that is not feasible with Buttons as he has and will be here for a while.
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See he is already integrated and after a while hubby will appreciate having another man around - mine watch football with their Dad!!!!! :shocked:
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Unfortunatley I have to work on my other half as well as my other half. He is adament that we should not keep Buttons (although as I am sure you have all guessed I would love to).
Oops, I meant to write I have to work on my other half as well as Aoki.....glad you understood what I meant Liz!
It is hard as I foster for a rescue as well and Matthew feels that we already ask a lot of Aoki as we often have other animals here and we integrated Lola 9 months ago, our first permanent dog (ie our first non-foster dog). Aoki is fantastic with kittens or juvenile cats but she does not appreciate adult fosters and I usually keep them separate from her when I have them here. Obviously that is not feasible with Buttons as he has and will be here for a while.
I can understand where Matthew is coming from. You have to take into account a cat emotional well being too, and if he feels Aoki would be unhappy, then that's a fair point. But she doesn't look too concerned in the pictures! ;) I'm still a huge fan of Buttons - I've had a couple of responses about him on the diabetic cat forum, but unfortunately they're in America or Canada!
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So hope this :Luv: kitty can be rehomed soon
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he'd be ideally suited for a retirement home, where the injections would be no problem
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I'm unsure why the injections would be a problem anywhere after the initial "training." ;) Seriously, it's not as bad as it sounds.
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I think Trigger means in regards to being there regularly to give the jabs JS, a retirement home would have a constant source of carers whereas someone who works may struggle to fit life around them
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Ahhh, gotcha. That's something that you kind of get used to working around too, in all honesty!
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For a dedicated cat lady but many people dont want the commitment :( i fit my life round the cats needs so it wouldnt bother me either but my friends think im mad for doing so
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For a dedicated cat lady but many people dont want the commitment
:shy: See, when Tobes needed me to give him jabs it didn't occur to me to see it as anything other than one of my family members needing extra care. The only thing that worried me was accidentally hurting him when I gave him his insulin. I miss my little Ginger Avenger. :(
Hope Buttons finds somewhere really soon.
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Any sign of a new home for Buttons?
I keep finding myself coming back to his photo, as he is so like a male version of my Tiffany (even down to an extra pound or two)
I'm a long way from Derbyshire, and I have never had to look after a cat with medical needs, but I still keep coming for another peek at him .............. :Luv2:
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Awww, Trigger - I know what you mean; I've developed a soft spot for Buttons too. :shy: It makes me sad that people seem to be put off by his illness; it can't be anything else because he's gorgeous!
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How's Buttons doing, Heather?
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I reckon she doesn't want to remind us about him, in case someone offers him a home ;)
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Ahhhh. I like her style! ;D
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Firstly I would like to say a big sorry that I have not been back to this thread sooner and responded to all the messages. I have been busy with work and neglected this thread, sorry.
Secondly though I would like to announce that Buttons has been offered a home! ;D
I am absolutely thrilled for him. He will be going to a home where they have had a diabetic cat previously and were specifically looking to rehome another one so I know he will be well looked after and understood. The only snag is that it is a long way down south so we will be making our intrepid journey next saturday to his new family.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in Buttons. It really means a lot to me to know there are people out there that have never even laid eyes on him who are thinking about him and wishing him well.
Wish him luck (and fingers crossed hard that it doesn't fall through....just my paranoia that I hope!)
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:cheer: :happy dance: :Party 3: that's wonderful - I think he's gorgeous and I am so glad you seem to have found the perfect home for him
you must try and persuade his new owners to join Purrs and keep us up to date
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:yayyy: :yayyy: Buttons is such a cutie. :) Well done for caring for him while his new home was found. :hug:
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Well done x
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fingers crossed it all went well and Buttons is now in his forever home
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He has not gone just yet, he is still here with me until next Saturday. He is off to the vets for a vaccination and final spot test later this week and then I will be taking him to his new home.