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Welcome to KrazyCatLady.com, home of KCL Cat Sitting! I am glad you stopped by! I know you are probably wondering why I want to Cat Sit...well, here's my story...
February 10 and April 11, 2011 were two of the most difficult days in my life. The two adorable cats above and below are my babies - Kacey (left) and Allie (right). I got Allie when she was a little over 1 year. She was the sweetest, most loving cat! I had an older cat (14 years old), Ding, who I got from my parent's neighbor's Mom who passed away. I had Ding (short for Distinguished Gentleman!) for about 1 year. Allie and Ding were good buddies. Then, Ding got Cancer and I had to put him down. I knew Allie needed a new buddy, so I adopted Kacey from a friend who had "adopted" a stray cat that had kittens. Kacey was the "runt of the litter" and I fell in love with him! I knew he and Allie would be good buddies!
Over the years, Allie, Kacey and I moved a few times - we lived in Maple Grove, Plymouth, Rogers, then finally to Osseo. My cats were my kids (pet owners, you will relate to that!) and were the world to me. Allie developed Kidney failure and Kacey had a few problems along the way, but they were gifts from God to me and every day I came home they would be there on the couch or on my bed - just waiting for "Momma" to come home.
I had done the whole "fluid injections" with Allie until she wouldn't take them anymore, and had given Kacey different meds, but finally in February of 2011, I couldn't watch Kacey suffer. I knew something was up, but we couldn't figure it out. I knew it was time. Kacey was "Momma's baby" and it wasn't until after that day, and looking back at pictures of him, that I finally saw how he really looked - like he just wasn't feeling good anymore and was entering "old age" - he was 15 years old (105 in Cat Years) and I had him since he was a kitten. When you are so close to your pets, you really don't notice the changes in their behavior, or how they seem to "age" - I think you just want to believe they will be with you forever!
That February morning, I knew it was time. I made the appointment. I came home and spent some great "us" time together and took a video of us together. After watching the video, he gave me kisses, and it was though he was telling me, "It's okay, Mom - I am ready." I took him to Dr. Heule. Doc looked him over and agreed that it was time. He gave him a sedative and I held him in my arms, wrapped in his blanket. He began to get sleepy and I sang to him (he loved it when I sang to him), "Smile" then the Doc came in and he went to Kitty Heaven. I went home and cried so hard I thought my eyes would stay swollen (you know, how when you are a kid and your Mom tells you "if you do xxx (that), you will stay that way!" well, I thought I would!
I put a whole bunch of pictures together of the "kids" over the years and made a Memory Book online. I hadn't really planned on Allie going very soon, but I included Allie, Kacey and Ding.
I kept spending more and more quality time with Allie and I began to notice more and more how weak she was getting - she was 17 and I knew her kidneys were getting worse. I had stairs next to the bed and would help her when she would want to get down off the couch.
The weekend of April 10th, two months after letting Kacey go, I knew it was time for Allie. The next morning, I called Dr. Tracey Thomas at St. Francis Vet Hospital - she was my original Vet and knew Allie's history. We talked and agreed that I couldn't let her suffer any longer. I would bring her in and Dr. Tracey would look her over and would tell me honestly if she didn't think it would be "time" yet and she looked her over and said, "Yes, it's time. You have done everything you possibly can - more than what most would do." I had her on special food, meds, IV fluids, etc., and knew it wasn't fair to let her be in pain anymore. So, that day, my long drive home from St. Francis was pretty tough - I cried the whole way and when I got home that night I took out my Memory book of my babies and cried.
I knew I couldn't replace them - they were very special to me, but I had to do something. The next week, I went to PetSmart in Maple Grove and "talked" to the cats in the adoption center. I asked the staff if they needed any volunteers to help out with the Adoption area - cleaning, playing, loving the cats. They said, "Yes, definitely!" and gave me the phone number to Sherry, the owner of A Bridge to Home Rescue. I told her my story and asked if I could help. She said, "Yes - that would be great!" and to this day, I continue to go to Maple Grove PetSmart about 3-4 times a week to clean the cages, give them love and care and, in turn, they give me SUCH AWESOME Therapy - plus unconditional love! Plus, I get to see the cats go to great homes - and although I get attached to many of them...okay, almost ALL of them!! I feel good knowing they are not alone - I give them love but they give me soooo much more!
My Mom thinks I am nuts and should be "done with therapy by now," LOL, but that is why I want to be a Cat Sitter - I truly believe animals (cats especially - sorry, I am kind of partial!) need someone who loves them to take care of them while their owners are away. So, when you are away, you should be confident that they are being cared for by someone who will love them like you do!
