Solitary chicken - need advice

[Guest]

I remember a couple of weeks ago Claret commented on how many people ask if you eat your chickens. I'm sure we've all been asked this question. But I've got a worse one.

 

Some of you know my cat was injured last week. Her knee was completely dislocated and she has had an operation which took nearly 3 hours, was carried out by an orthopedic surgeon and her knee has now been re-attached using nylon wire. She is recuperating in my very large broody cage in front of a fire in my living room. It was an extremely distressing time for us. Honey is 14 years old and has been my lovely cuddly cat since she was a kitten - she is extremely affectionate and loves to cuddle up on my lap.

 

AGAIN today someone asked WHY I BOTHERED paying the best part of a months salary to have her operated on? He was about the THIRD person to have asked me this and I was totally aghast that someone else would ask me that. So I said to him - that I bothered because she's not a dumb dog - like the one he spent 2 hours walking this morning and he said dogs are different.

 

Yeah his dog sure is different - he has had it about 2 years, hates the mess it makes all over the house, takes it for a walk to avoid spending time with his wife etc.

 

Now I don't even pretend to start to understand why my cleaner, who is broke, has just paid a small fortune to get a c section done on a pregnant guinea pig. But I don't tell her I think it's a waste of money!

 

I did have to borrow the money, but only from Mum. I can afford to pay it back - even if I have to run a few more hen parties to do so.

 

Honey has been a great pet, I've hugged her through a relationship break up, my dad's death, a sleepless night when I had my husband arrested for hitting me, 2 sleepless nights when he tried to kill himself and finally a marriage break up, as well as countless times in between. I think a months salary to pay for an operation is a small price to pay - I've never insured as I knew if I needed the money I would be able to find it and premiums add up over the years.

 

So why do people think its OK to ask why I bothered???

[Geoid]

People like that make me

Its your pet, your money, you can do whatever you like with it.

[Janty]

In answer to your question, some people are insensitive and think that their opinion is the only one that is valid. I get asked why I would have chickens that don't lay eggs on a regular basis....refering to the ex-batts and the pure breeds.

[Willow]

No idea why people feel it's ok to make these comments

 

Hope honey recovers well and you can cuddle her again soon and just ignore them !

[Egluntyne]

Best wishes for Honeys speedy recovery.

[Guest]

Thanks guys - I'm glad to know it's not just me who feels this way.

 

I would happily keep chickens that didn't lay - not all our batties do, when we had 3 we NEVER got 3 batty eggs but we never worked out who doesn't lay - or maybe they all take turns.

 

I'm not quick to run to the vets with the girls BUT none of them have had injuries that seemed like they needed attention - I wouldn't leave one in pain. Colds etc I keep an eye on and hope for the best. But then I keep an eye on the cats if I think they are under the weather too rather than run to the vets at the first sniffle.

[Redwing]

Pets are members of the family I will never get why some people dont understand that.

 

My FIL doesnt understand why I am happy to pay more to insure my pets than my house each month!

 

much love to Honey x

[gooner.girl]

Have been having a similar problem myself with ill pets at the moment myself Pengy.

 

The cat being unwell people have been more understanding about (he is only 5) but Milo my dog has been unwell and he is approaching 13. 2 people (one - his ex owner) have both told me perhaps the time has come for him and "is it really worth the money?"

 

Well - perhaps his time has come, but until i know that for sure and that the kindest thing to do would be to put him to sleep i wouldn't dream of even thinking of that. I am paying vets bills to find out exactly what is wrong with him and whether/how it can be fixed. If his ill health cannot be fixed then obviously i will have to think again, but i won't be making that decision without all the facts and knowing for sure what is wrong with him. He is worth every penny of the money. I guess some people (esp. the ones without pets) don't understand how special they become.

 

And... one of my ex batts has never laid - but i couldn't give a monkeys!

[KimmyCustard]

Pengy,

 

Just ignore him, what a pillock (I have a vast vocabulary of what I could call him, but will refrain as this is a family forum). Tell him you would rather pay for your cat to be made well than any man, he can put that in his pipe.

 

I have so called friends who ask me why I couldnt possibly want any children?! I usually say: In case they turn out like yours. They rapidly change the subject! Cheek........

 

Love to your Honey.

 

Kimmy

x

[Guest]

Sorry to hear about Milo Goonergirl. That was one thing about Honey - she is a healthy cat who had an injury so I didn't question getting her an operation.

 

Hey Kimmy you are right - I wish I'd said that to him, although he is a good friend who can be there when you need him. On the other hand he is someone who I don't always understand on matters of life and death

 

As for not wanting children - I totally get where you are coming from. I personally don't like children at all, not even slightly gooey about babies. Yes I love James to bits but people always said "you'll feel different about your own" and NO I don't! Still don't get babies, can't do the total Mum thing and have to be me first and a Mum second. If I wasn't then James would get the worst deal. TBH after my marriage broke down James and I would have been in a sorry state if we didn't form a new family unit quickly - yes its odd but me, James and Mum works very well.

[Mumpty]

There are some "Ooops, word censored!"holes in the world aren't there. I have four cats and two dogs and I love them to bits and would do anything to help them if they were ill or suffering in any way, surely all true animal lovers would. These people are animal keepers, not animal lovers. Our dog Henry is a cocker spaniel and has a few anger issues now and then, we have learnt to deal with it and know how to avoid situations but the vet said we're sitting on a time bomb and we should have him put down. He's 4 now, that was when he was 1 and I wouldn't swap him for the world, he is who he is and we love him for that.

 

Pengy you're a good mother to all your crew, kids and animals.

 

Love and cuddles to honey, hope she recovers well.

 

XX

[KimmyCustard]

P,

 

Nothing odd about it, what works for you is fine, who else's business is it?! I like babies for about 10 mins, then as soon as they do that sucking a lemon face and then let out that first screech, they are rapidly handed back! OH's youngest daughter is the only kid I've met that I actually like, probably cos shes a smaller version of OH and makes me laugh.

 

One of my friend's constantly refers to her 4 yr old as 'Treasure' instead of his real name. Yes, he needs to be buried...........

 

Kimmy

x

[ChrisP]

Hope Honey gets better soon

As for other people's opinions, I would ignore them, pets help you get through things better than humans sometimes!

[Redwing]

Kimmy said:

 

One of my friend's constantly refers to her 4 yr old as 'Treasure' instead of his real name. Yes, he needs to be buried...........

 

Kimmy

x

 

:

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Just ignore him, Pengy. He just doesn't get it .

 

I've stopped mentioning our gorgeous new hamster to my mother because she always makes a comment about him being a nice snack for Riley, our dog .

 

A good friend met my girls on Friday and after asking how long they live, said would we eat them when they die . She did think they were brilliant so I let it pass, but what a stupid question .

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Ignore them, Pengy. I need a second mortgage to pay for all the tests Marmite has needed recently, and there is little or no hope of any treatment or a recovery. The prescription food costs a small fortune too. She is insured but I can't claim until the end of the treatment so am having to go without other things to make sure she gets it.

 

I don't question it for a moment - she was the baby I had before I had babies, she was the one who told me I was pregnant every time, she sat with me when I lost two of them, she sat over the cots of the two I had and came to wake me if they so much as stirred... she's first to greet me every morning and never has a cross word to say!

 

Pets are family members. Shame some people can't see it!

[Ms Marple]

Pengy, its your money, your pets, your life. I have never understood why people seem to need to moralise and judge others. We make our choices for valid reasons and stand by them. End of story.

[jlo]

May I be slightly controversial here? I do agree with everything that everyone has said about pets being members of your family. However, people are entitled to their opinion and I am sure that the person in question didn't mean to be offensive when putting forward their suggestion that it was a lot of money to spend on vet's fees. I am not condoning that point of view - just opining that there are differing views about pets around and we do live in a free country. I am now wondering whether to post this as I am sure there will be a dozen posts telling me that I am unfeeling! Oh well - let's see how playing devil's advocate works???

[Guest]

It wasn't that he thought it was a lot of money is was "was it worth it" I felt the implication was that it wasn't worth spending on a cat.

 

If she'd had any health problems I would have thought twices, 14 is quite old but she is in excellent health and I am fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to afford to pay the bill - albeit over a few months!

 

I don't think you are unfeeling I felt that the question of "was it worth it" is one best kept to yourself when talking about somebody's beloved pet. As I said I think my cleaner was barking to pay a fortune for a ginea pig to have a c section, but I don't say that to her face!

[Phonix]

Hey Pengy,

Hope Honey gets better quickly so you can cuddle her through the rest of her recovery!

 

Idiots who have no idea what a good solid companion, and indeed friend a pet can be, and just how loyal and loving they can be are missing out on alot. You can be happy that you are not one of those people, you are someone who knows ow important a pet can be when your having good times or bad times and how healing a hug from them can be! Pity the wierd man but more so - pity his dog

 

Stacey

xXx

[tweecy]

Just smile sweetly and say 'You don't have pets, do you?'

Works every time

[poachedegg]

I have so called friends who ask me why I couldnt possibly want any children?! I usually say: In case they turn out like yours. They rapidly change the subject! Cheek........

 

 

That did make me laugh!

[Ana's flock]

I hope Honey recovers soon. Apart from hearing about poorly pets this chain has made me smile a few times! I agree with the babies being cute until they either make the 'lemon sucking' face or worse... they projectile vomit on you - I'm glad mine never did!

 

Calling the 4 year old 'Treasure'... well, they are all treasures, gorgeous and precious to us, their mums, but if that lady keeps calling his son 'treasure' she's going to have a red-faced boy's face when she does it in about 10 years' time! (Having said that some times I call my 7 and 10 year old... 'Chicken'! It's a habit of mine, but only when I'm in a very good mood, and they don't seem to mind... yet! (neither do my sons!)

 

I was a late first-time mum and people used to ask me about babies my standard answer was: 'If I want to hear the pitter patter of little feet I'll put shoes on my cat.' That got them quiet.

 

About 2 years ago I had to make the difficult decision of having my old cat put down. He had broken a leg jumping of a tree and he needed an op to put it right, however he also had an overactive thyroid that made him weak and very thin, plus he was 16/17 years old - I didn't want to put him through more pain when the odds were very much against him. It was a sad time and I had to tell my boys he'd have a happy life and lots of love.

 

Cleo (one of my cats) also was the assistant midwife and nanny when my sons were born and were tiny - she used to come miaowing to wherever I was as soon as the babies woke up or moved in their little bed. (Once she even came to the shower!!!)

 

I think the animals who choose to share their lives with us deserve all the love and care, and unfortunately not always get it.

[Duckmomma]

I'm just a little confused Penguin, I have read your message a few times and keep wondering if I'm missing something.

Surely after spending a large amount of money on your cat you would understand why your cleaner felt the need to do everything she could for her guinea pig?

No offence intended or implying double standards, just wondering if I'm being dumb and missing the point

[Guest]

It was a few things that make me feel differently. My cat has been a companion for a lot of years - giunea pigs are not either companions or that long lived, kinda like chickens - they are lovely pets but not "there" for you.

 

The real difference is that although I felt like that about her pet - I didn't tell her. She paid for that op as it was her daughters pet, the daughter is 16 not 6 and that op was a huge risk on such a small animal - as well as costing a lot of money they didn't have, I know she has struggled to pay this bill.

 

I don't rush my chickens to the vets whenever they are under par - I have a sneezy one at the moment who I am keeping a close eye on. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have an op done on any of them.