[Paisleychick-lj] Kitty Cats

[Beatrice M's blog]

[![][1]][2]   
[Slink on the bed][3]   
Originally uploaded by [blmurch][4]. 

I would like people's advice here as I'm really really torn. Our kitty, Slink, has been living at my parents' house in Bolinas. She's old, cantankerous and isn't in the best of health. We think she's at least 15 or so - she walked through Marilyn's (Kragen's ex-wife) window in 1994 and she was fully grown then. She really doesn't tolerate other animals well and retreats to her safety zone. When Kragen and Marilyn got their dog, Slink retreated to the bedroom. My parents got a kitten in September and Slink has basically been living in her cocoon in the downstairs bathroom ever since. She cannot abide the new kitty. Her bowels got all messed up (maybe from the stress) and required lots of expensive trips to the vet. She was put on prednisone and eventually with time her digestion calmed down. She's no longer on meds, but is still spending most of her time in the bathroom. In the trips to the vets it was discovered that she's really riddled with arthritis. We think this is why she likes being warm so much - probably helps her be less achy and sore. That's also probably a big contributor to her "cattitude". I know I'm kind of bitchy when I'm in extended pain. My father thought it might be a good idea if my mum brought her down when she flies down in mid-March. She's flying down via private-jet as she's flying down with friends who have their own jet - so Slink wouldn't be in the cargo hold and as far as flying trips go, this would be the most comfortable thing I could imagine for her. BUT, I really don't know if this is a good idea.   
  
Before we had this idea tossed our way, we were planning on getting kittens and had found some that were [born on Christmas Eve][5] at a friend's hostel. We wanted to get two sisters - but there were three male kittens and one female kitten. We had asked for a boy and girl, but then the hostel owners said they were keeping the female kitten. They also wanted us to pick up the kittens at five weeks old. Way too young. Six weeks is the very youngest, but eight weeks is better. Of course kittens are cute, and they'd be really fun to have around, but knowing that Slink is so unhappy is preying on our minds. We can offer her her very own apartment - what she's used to. Buenos Aires has a warmer climate, so maybe her arthritis wouldn't hurt so much. But, traveling might be really hard on her and she might not adjust to life down here, even if she recognizes us. I doubt there's anyone in the Bay Area who would like to have a cantankerous old kitty as their only cat, but I'm going to ask anyways. For those of you who have met her knows that she's shy, kind of bitchy, but also really sweet once she comes to trust you and loves [sitting on your lap and helping you use the computer][6]. We wouldn't get the kittens if we have Slink brought down here, so we need to let the people at the hostel know if we won't take them soon. Anybody have any insight, suggestions, magic miracles?  


   [1]: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/1409140222_92b770afc1_m.jpg
   [2]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1409140222/ (photo sharing)
   [3]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/1409140222/
   [4]: http://www.flickr.com/people/blmurch/
   [5]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/sets/72157603689888004/
   [6]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/129523269/

URL: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/333025.html