One of the hardest parts of being a fur parent is seeing your fur baby get sick. They may not be part of a typical family setup, but our fur babies are still family. They are like our own children.
My first fur baby is Tofi, a Persian cat whom I adopted in 2023. I used to not like cats at all, but when I met Tofi, I loved him from the very first moment. Since then, he became my little kid, which is something I never expected to experience in my late 20s.
One day, we moved to a new house, and it seemed like Tofi was very stressed because of the new environment. As a new fur mom, I didn’t know much about how stress could affect cats.
After seeing him do this several times, I checked him and noticed that his private area was very red from all the licking. I also felt his lower abdomen and noticed that his bladder felt very hard. I panicked and rushed him to the nearest pet clinic. I already knew that urinary problems can be common in cats like Tofi's breed.
As I suspected, the vet diagnosed him with a feline UTI and said that Tofi needed to be confined for a few days. Unfortunately, the clinic was going to be closed for the holiday that day and for the next few days. The vet referred us to the nearest emergency pet clinic instead.
When we arrived, there were already many other pets, including dogs, that needed emergency care. Tofi and I had to wait for almost 30 minutes before someone could attend to him.
Poor Tofi. I could see how tired and exhausted he was. I almost cried because I was tired and sleepy too, and I was scared of what might happen to him. I had heard many scary stories about cats having urinary problems.
I went online and searched for other clinics that might still be open that day. Thankfully, I found one that my friend recommended. She had brought her cats there before, so she told me that I could trust the clinic.
Finally, we arrived at the clinic. After a few minutes of waiting, someone attended to Tofi.
The vet examined him and thankfully said that Tofi didn’t need to be confined yet. Instead, they prescribed medication to help him pee.
We went home, and I finally got some sleep.
But when night came, I had to go to work. While I was working, I received a call from my sister. She and my father were taking Tofi to the emergency clinic again because he still couldn’t pee. His bladder also felt harder than it was earlier that day.
I was really scared, but I was also thankful that my sister and father were there to look after him.
They rushed Tofi back to the same clinic, where the vet inserted a catheter to remove his urine manually.
They were not allowed inside the treatment room, so she couldn’t take any photos. And I could only wait anxiously for an update while I was at work.
Finally, I received a message from my sister saying that they were already home and that Tofi was feeling better.
The vet prescribed several medications for Tofi and recommended the right food to help manage his urinary problem. It was expensive, but I didn’t care. I would do anything for him.
What is money if it means saving the life of your beloved fur baby, right?
In just two days, I spent almost ₱7,000 for vet visits, medication, and emergency treatment. Thankfully, Tofi didn’t have to be confined because I know the cost would have been even higher.
The good news is that Tofi recovered and, thankfully, hasn’t had any urinary problems since that day. Since then, I’ve been very careful with his food and make sure he eats what the vet recommended. It is a little more expensive than his previous food, but that’s okay. His health and safety are more important.
That experience taught me that being a fur parent isn’t always easy. There are scary and difficult moments, especially when our fur babies get sick and we don’t know what to do.
Being a fur parent is also a big responsibility. If you’re not willing to spend money on their health and well-being, then it’s better to think carefully before getting a pet. They depend on us for their care, especially when they are sick.
But they are worth every worry, every sleepless night, and every money spent.
Because at the end of the day, they are not "just pets.” They are family.* ❤️🐾