Letters to the Editor
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prefer cats to Primaries
Dear Ada,
How right you are. Cats are damned expensive, and not always appreciative of expensive vet jabs etc. Previously a dog-person, I now have 2 cats. First of all, Ada, do you know of any websites for cat online analysis? Even expensive? One of the two, a male, really needs an online shrink. When young he was abandoned by his mother and the other six... sure someone beat him because he freaks out whenever the doorbell rings. I personally - as simply a divorced, failed writer working from home - have given him all the love and attention possible, paid the vet bills (like you), and gently pushed oral medecines into his furious teeth, massaged him back from death after being "cut", now allow him to sleep on my eiderdown (although this means I can't pull it up), I even accept that he refuses to be picked-up, or cuddled, just stroked when on the carpet. He refuses many kit-cat foods and biscuits like a troublesome 8-year-old. Meanwhile the tv screen if full of voters shouting and politicians promising. You can imagine how useless all that is to me and my cat. Any ideas?
— Beaubourg
PS I have naughty young female also, who over-eats, but that would take too long.
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how much to spend on pet health and care
Have the pet put down, either in a human way or an animal way, and spend the money to save a starving human being. No animal is worth a human life; no animal comfort or contentment means anything next to human comfort and contentment. If your cat is the object of a neurotic or pathological attachment, kill it and spend the money on your own treatment or a new pet. Your cat hasn't a scintilla of the emotion that you invest in the relationship.
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Not entirely related....
For a long time I felt guilty for talking a roommate out of getting a kitten. But she was kinda clueless about the whole thing. She had this grand idea about how the kitten could stay in the bathroom and how it wouldn't eat very much and so forth. I got online, looked up prices for the shots, for getting the kitten fixed and so forth and handed it to her. She was obviously shocked and decided against getting the kitten. I tell myself I did in for the cat; she was one of those people who don't think much about how the kitten grows up to be a cat. But some of it was certainly self interest. I didn't want that litter box in our bathroom cause I knew she'd hardly ever clean it and there was a good chance it'd bug my allergies. And the idea of her spending on that money on the cat when she still owed me the money for rent. How much should you spend on a pet? In my mind, nothing if you can't afford your own basic necessities.
Maybe that makes me one of those evil animal haters, or maybe I saved a cat from an irresponsible college girl.
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The voice of reason
I haven't read any of the other responses yet, but I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, for being the voice of reason.
I love animals, but I am so sick and tired of people who think it's imperative to spend thousands of dollars on a pet's medical treatment no matter the toll it takes on their financial well-being, and I am especially frustrated with vets who encourage this behavior. I think this attitude is more prevelant in urban than rural areas. I can guarantee you that in my small hometown the vet would've recommended euthenasia rather than a costly treatment (I know that's what the local vet did when my parents' dog came down with a massive inoperable tumor). Meanwhile the vet in the closest major metro area, who my parents called for a second opinion, recommended chemo and radiation at a cost of thousands of dollars, which would've given the dog a few more months (and most likely considerable pain a good chunk of this time). The city vet reacted as if my parents were satanists when they informed her they planned to put their dog down instead.
I don't think someone should have to go into the poorhouse for a household pet, and I think it's grossly irresponsible (not to mention greedy) of vets to suggest they do.
I'll go one step further and say I also think it's a shame that people are willing to spend thousands on animals while humans in our country go without medical treatment because they can't afford it. Honestly I think it's far more moral to put your dog or cat down and donate the thousands it would've cost you to treat them to your local homeless shelter.
I know some of you believe that animal lives are equally as important as human lives, and if you're a strict vegetarian and don't wear leather you are entitled to your opinion.
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We are all in this together
It has NEVE EVER been a question of human needs versus animal needs.
It is a case of animal needs versus human GREED. And the smallest microbe on a mouse turd is more important than human greed.
Why is it that no one says ONE word about the wretched excesses of the wealthy? Huge multiple houses, insane amounts of money spent on restaurants, fancy clothing, luxury cars and on and on. Not one word of objection.
Yet let a person spend money on an animal and people go ape shit.
If you spend money on more than the essentials, and are not giving it to other HUMANS on this planet who are suffering due to your greed then you have NOTHING TO SAY!
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By the Way
The problems of human suffering on this planet are not caused by animals. They are caused by other humans - excepting natural disasters.
I would not want to cause a pet unnecessary suffering by prolonging their lives when the cause is hopeless. All animals have is their bodies, I get that. Euthanasia for humans (decided by the patient) is a good idea also.
I just get all riled when someone won't spend $3,000 for a pet but WILL spend the money for a car or a vacation. Someone who will do that has a sickness in their soul.