Broken Hearts

Do you remember our little one pound ball of orange fluff?

October 2007

She's quite grown up now.  She's a gorgeous long hair orange tabby who loves people and is quite vocal, which is lovely when that means purring and a bit like riding the crazy train when it means mewing.

Unfortunately, she has also developed the opinion that she is alpha to my daughter and has taken to attacking Eliza for no reason at all.  A few months ago it was in the middle of the night while Eliza was sleeping.  So we made new rules and attempted to create an environment in which both cat and daughter could peacefully coexist.  I really wanted to keep this cat.  Not only do I love her but my middle child, Q, who struggles with life so much has said, "On a bad day, she makes me feel better."  I knew to get rid of her would break Q's heart, something I studiously try to avoid.

Yesterday, however, Jenny attacked Eliza again.  We were sitting on the couch for family scripture study, Jenny was next to Eliza and Eliza was petting her fur.  Jenny went all Tazmanian Devil on Eliza and her little face had 4 new scratches, 3 of which broke skin.

I was going to euthanize the cat but my SIL introduced to the wonderful wide world of Human Society shelters.  I called and they were willing to take the cat.  However, after all the paper work was filled out, it turns out that I had to talk to animal control due to the scratching and biting.  After talking to "Officer George," because her rabies shots are not current (due to her having two abcesses this year) I learned that we are required to either quarantine her ourselves or pay $50/day for 10 days to have the shelter quarantine her.

I left in tears.  I wanted to take care of this today, to rip that band-aid off, so my children could say good-bye and work on letting go rather than a drawn out good-bye process.  DH offered to take her and euthanize her himself but I just can't accept doing that simply because it's easier.  So my cat, Jenny Butterscotch, is currently sheltered at the home we are remodeling and for the next 10 days I will have to sneak around to visit her and tend to her.

None of this has turned out the way I had hoped.  DH and I grew up with animals and have always had animals.  Once we adopted them, they were in our lives until they died.  This is the first time I've ever had to relinquish care but I have to place my daughter first.  And even that hasn't turned out the way I would have hoped.  I've had a ball of anxiety in my stomach since Jenny's attack on Eliza yesterday morning and now I know it will be there until October 11.

Most of all, though, I'm saddened to say good-bye to this pet.  My children really do love her.  I adore her and had such hopes for her and what she would bring to our family.  It is hard to say good-bye to something around which we have wrapped our hearts for the last three years.