I have a dog and 2 cats. I live alone, so have no one to help me. But I think without these pets, I also would not be getting up and out of bed. The dog is pretty easy-she is trained to do her business almost immediately after she eats, and she is really good at letting me know if she needs to go at other times. The cats are not as easy-cleaning the litter box is pretty hard. But I feel that my pets give me so much love that, even if it is difficult, I will keep them as long as I can. But when I can't take care of them, I will take them to the no kill shelter where I got my dog when she was a pup. I'll miss them, but will know that they will find a safe, loving home for them. Do not feel bad if you need to find a new home for the cats-you also need to take care of yourself. Don't know if this helps, its just my feelings. Take Care, God Bless. Kathy

I know that you feel overwhelmed but please consider opening your heart to the 2 "extra" cats. This is a "disposable" society and that is really regrettable. The cats will either be put to death in a shelter or they will be adopted. If they are adopted, there will be 2 other cats elsewhere that will be put to death, because that is 2 less cats that people will be looking to adopt. (Do you follow?)

I really wish people would spay and neuter!

I don't have cats. I raise dogs. I currently have a Neo Mastiff named Sam that I rescued. He is the best boy I could ever ask for. I don't know what I'd do without him! I've had as many as 3 Neos at once. (They died of old age over the years...) My dogs weigh 150 lb each, which is far more than me.

I hope you get better help for your fibro so that you will have more energy. Getting that help may be the real answer. It took me a couple years to get the right mix of care, so I know it is a long, hard road.

Take care! You are so lucky to live in Hawaii!

all the no kill shelters are full here (i live on an island so i can't drive em to another area), already looked into those.

majority of you here have help with your animals, but i don't have have any help at all. and it's hard enough with my mom being in a cast and her leg wasn't fractured, it snapped in half. she had surgery to correct it with screws and a plate but being that she has severe osteoporosis, it will be a while before her bones mend. so i've got pets and a parent to look after. it's bad enough taking care of myself is hard.

i just feel like i'm in over my head.
i'm not getting rid of all my cats cuz i love em too much. BUT i need to find new homes for 2 of em.

i can't have cat feeders up because my oldest cat has chronic bladder stones and crystals. he is on a prescription diet only (he stays, btw) which the other cats are NOT on. they aren't supposed to be eating each other's food. and having cat feeders would cause them to go into food they aren't supposed to eat, because it's available. however, for the youngest kitty, i may be able to set up a feeder for her, she eats in another room and doesn't like eating with the boys. lol.

and yes i do believe people should neuter and spay. ALL of mine are.

about the cat litter..... i've been giving some serious thought into POTTY TRAINING them. do you think that's possible?? scooping that litter is killing me!

I 'potty trained' a cat years ago. I stated him out on a bedpan with litter in it and he transfered to the toilet by himself. Don't know if it would work for an adult cat.

I have 2 large dogs and feel really guilty that I can't walk them, but I do get out in the yard and throw tennis balls for them occasionally. They do get me up snd moving and are so much company because my husband works shift work. I'm the one who takes care of them, completely, so I know what a chore it can be.

If you feel like it's just too much for you to handle you might find out if there are any volunteers for the Humane society that foster animals. If they don't find permanent homes maybe they can give you a break while you take care of your Mom. In the meantime
try feeding them at the same time you feed yourself. They only need to eat once a day so if you can do it while you're already in the kitchen maybe that will help. They make 'self scooping' litter boxes that can help with that chore. Good luck, I know you want to do the right thing by the kitties. Is there a cat rescue on your island?

don't think we have a cat rescue. the volunteer places are all full. they will only take donation funds at the moment.

i'm geting to the point that i'm about to put collars on the 2 healthy ones, give em ID micro chips, and toss em out the back door. i'll leave food for em out there and they can come and go as they please. that way i won't have to scoop their litter, or constantly feed em. this is a LAST resort if i can't find homes for em. they'll just have to be out door pets. is this cold hearted?

Hi blue. Some people may think that is cold-hearted, but it also sounds like you would take care of them if you did that. You're not just tossing them out the door to fend for themselves.

Cats can be potty trained but it takes time and patience. If you had someone to help with that it would work but it sounds like you already have your hands full.

I used to have 5 cats when I was first diagnosed. It wasn't bad then, but I couldn't do it today. I now have two and they know when I feel bad and have been quite tolerant when I can't get out of bed until noon to feed them.

I hope you find a solution that works for you soon.

Don't forget to take care of yourself.

They make feeders that you can get at the pet store that you can pout a coople of pounds of dry food in and it despence it as needed they also have them for water. It help alot. It you use can food I have no idea!

I hear ya ! I am not getting any more dogs after mine are in doggy heaven. I have cats also. I probably won't have those again either.I truely love them but Fibro can certainly pose some challenges with the walking/potty times, lugging food/litter, shedding/brushing, claw cutting, keeping up with the furballs everywhere, baths and litterbox business. Not to mention the cost of food.

Vet bills here just for shots, heartworm, flea and tick stuff for a year is between $800-1000 a year. That doesn't include injuries or other illnesses that can crop up. It is for sure a labor of love.

I have 2 Boxers...they are astruggle at times, but they do make me move when I wouldn't have, and should have....I love mine, they so help me carry on in this world...

Maybe if you went to Petfinder.com and started a thread about your situation on one of the pet welfare forums, somebody who could take a couple of them off your hands would step forward. You never know, its worth a shot. Just explain how overburdened you are.

I have 2 cats. They are pretty self sufficient. I put food down in the morning only for them. After that they are on their own. I have a cat door and they come and go. They go outside when it's not winter. So my litter box is only for the cold season. They give me lots of comfort and love when I need it. (Also, I can lock the cat door if I want them to stay out or stay in.)
There are a lot of cats in shelters these days. It is a big problem. But I agree with everyone else. You shouldn't keep an animal if it's too much or unwanted.

we have a puppy. We rescued him when he was 10 weeks old. He is now 8 months old and couldn't take care of him without the help of the family. All 4 of us take care of him.