A Winter Vent Thread

[Dexter Morgan]

This thread is for people to vent about Winter.... Here's mine....


This has been the longest Winter I've ever experienced. Now, it has claimed a precious life. Everbody that reads my posts knows that I love cats. That is an understatement. I worship my cats. They are my everything. I have a husband, a job, and friends, but my cats are always first... they are above everything else period. This Winter has been particularly harsh. The past few days we've had wind chill factors of up to -35. With outside animals this can be a real problem. We thought we had eliminated that problem this year, because we have an insulated cat barn, and we installed a space heater. Sounds like the perfect solution right? Wrong!!! The past few days, we've had trouble keeping the pilot light lit. I was outside off and on all day yesterday, re lighting the damn pilot light. To my horror yesterday at one point it was only 15* in there. Last night, I went out at 1:00 am and checked it it was fine. Infact the last 3 times I checked it last night, it was lit,and it was nice, and toasty in there. The last time I checked it ,I noticed a bunch of the cats were huddled together, which isn't out of the ordinary for cats. I foolishly thought that since everything was fine at 1:00, and since the wind had pretty much quit, that they would be fine until morning. So, I didn't get my lazy ass out of bed, to go check them. I'm such a lazy pig.  So, this morning I go out,and much to my horror, the pilot light is out,and it's only 25* in there!!!! So, I re lit the heater,and started to feed, and water them, when I noticed, in the spot where they were all huddled together last night, that one of the kittens is dead.  It was about 4 months old, and I think they may have suffocated him accidentally. I think he was on the bottom of the huddle. I was shocked to say the least. The other cats just stood there watching Mommy have a total meltdown. I'm soooo pissed at myself. I should've set the clock every 2 hours like I planned. I figured it would stay lit ,because it wasn't windy anymore,and it had stayed lit all evening, it would be OK. So, my laziness caused the death of an innocent precious little kitten.  I'm about to go stir crazy from this Winter weather. I've felt like crap for months,and now after all of the struggles a kitten is dead. Will it ever end!!!! My God, I wish this suffering would end.

Side note.... I just found the dead kitten about 10 minutes ago. If I sound totally irrational it is because of the shock.

BTW... This thread is for Winter venting..... let'er rip guys... misery loves company.

[smokeykat]

I am so sorry Dex.  I love my kitties too....and would be very sad to lose one.  How many kitties do you have?  I have 8 now.  Last month I took in 2 cats that a neighbor was having to get rid of because she got evicted from her home and couldn't take the cats with her to her Aunt's house.  So to keep them from going to the animal shelter...I took them.  My kitties are very precious to me.  My kids are all grown and so now they are my babies. 
Don't take it out on yourself.  It sounds to me like you went beyond what other people would do.  The kitties are lucky to have you and your hubby.

[Dexter Morgan]

I am so sorry Dex.  I love my kitties too....and would be very sad to lose one.  How many kitties do you have?  I have 8 now.  Last month I took in 2 cats that a neighbor was having to get rid of because she got evicted from her home and couldn't take the cats with her to her Aunt's house.  So to keep them from going to the animal shelter...I took them.  My kitties are very precious to me.  My kids are all grown and so now they are my babies. 
Don't take it out on yourself.  It sounds to me like you went beyond what other people would do.  The kitties are lucky to have you and your hubby.

I have a bunch outside, mostly strays, and 6 inside. I just came in from checking them, and that damn pilot light was out again. I've restarted it 3 times today ,and it's only 1:00pm. I'll have to check it every 2 hours. I don't know why it wont stay lit. The wind has pretty much stopped,and both of the lp tanks are full. I just hope to God, I don't lose anymore of them.  Hubby is upset and frustrated like I'am, we thought for sure this was the solution. It's been an expensive venture,and now we have a fatality,so we're pretty discouraged at this point. We're planning for next Winter already. More Reconstruction and insulation for sure. 

[tallulahdahling]

Sorry bout the kitty, Dex 

[Dexter Morgan]

It's gonna be a long night. Thank God my work shift is only 3 hours tommorrow. The pilot light will not stay lit, so I've been going out every 2 hours,and relighting it. I'll be going out every 2 hours during the night. I might not sleep at all, because to add insult to injury, tonight I realized one of the other kittens has pneumonia. I brought it in the house, gave it some antibiotics,and a warm bottle, but I don't think the little fella is going to make it. 

[Palehorse]

I am now officially done with winter. Bring on the flowers of spring. And tell that groundhog he is toast! 

[smokeykat]

no more snow dances from Palehorse?  WOW!!!!

[tallulahdahling]

I am now officially done with winter. Bring on the flowers of spring. And tell that groundhog he is toast! 

I got a real nice recipe for groundhog.  Tastes just like 'possum.  I'd be happy to share it with you. 

[tallulahdahling]

It's gonna be a long night. Thank God my work shift is only 3 hours tommorrow. The pilot light will not stay lit, so I've been going out every 2 hours,and relighting it. I'll be going out every 2 hours during the night. I might not sleep at all, because to add insult to injury, tonight I realized one of the other kittens has pneumonia. I brought it in the house, gave it some antibiotics,and a warm bottle, but I don't think the little fella is going to make it. 

Damn, what a bummer, Dex!  I'll pray for the little feller, sweetie 

[Palehorse]

I got a real nice recipe for groundhog.  Tastes just like 'possum.  I'd be happy to share it with you. 

I wouldn't feed that greasy critter to my dog!   

[Dexter Morgan]

Well, the kitten made it through the night. I took him to the vet this morning. He has pneumonia. The vet told me, not to get my hopes up, which is understandable at this point. He gave him 3 antibiotic shots, and fluids. So, it could be touch and go for him.

Last night, I got up every 3 hours ,to re light the space heater. Needless to say I'm quite tired. Luckily, I only had a 3 hour shift today at work. It was dead as all get out, and I'm glad.

I don't know if I mentioned this anywhere but.... this kitten is Maddie's twin brother. They look so much alike that at a distance,you can't tell them apart. Hubby thought Max was Maddie, when he came home from work this morning. If you're close to Maddie the difference is more noticeable, because she only has 1 eye. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. 

[tallulahdahling]

So are we, dahling!  Lotsa prayers   

[Dexter Morgan]

So are we, dahling!  Lotsa prayers   

The little kitten is still alive. It doesn't look good at all. I took him to the vets office this morning,and they worked on him all day. He is a little fighter. I never figured he'd make it through the day. They were trying to force feed him, and he bit the hell out of my friend. She hadn't updated her tetanus shot, so she has to get one. The vet didn't want me to bring him home, he told my friend' I've been through sooo much lately, he didn't want me to have to go through it tonight. So, I left him there.I've only slept about 4 hours the past couple of days, so I'm pretty much drained. I'm suppose to call the office in the morning,and we'll go from there. If he's well enough, I'll bring him home, but he may pass tonight, and then I'll go get his little body. I know a lot of people are against prayer, but maybe keep us in your thoughts tonight, because we need all the help we can get. 

[tallulahdahling]

Come on now, Dex--think positive!!!  You need some sleep, sweetie.   

[Dexter Morgan]

Come on now, Dex--think positive!!!  You need some sleep, sweetie.   

Amen to that!!! I had a hell of a time focusing at work today. I just don't have much hope that he'll make it. He was virtually breathing his dying breaths this morning, I was astounded when I found out he made it through the day. I was shocked!!! I really debated about bringing him home tonight. The vet was totally against it. The bad thing is that the kitten will be with 2 dogs,and a stray cat with a broken leg. No human contact.  I probably should have brought him home. I'm soooo tired I can' even think straight.  I hope I made the right choice.