My cat needs;but I cannot afford...Am I the only one who is tired of these questions?

Very good question! We all are. That's why we have all become alcoholics! We drink and drink and drink all the time now! It's just awful!!:)

Probably not, but I don't mind so much because I come to the "Cats" section to get a break from the "Politics" section. Besides, I just saw a question that might have fallen into that "I need, but can't afford..." category that was really quite informative! The question was asking about making a scratching post for a cat as an alternative to the very pricey ones in the pet stores. A wade through the "Politics" or "Religion and Spirituality" sections will help recalibrate your 'patience' meter for cat questions in very short time!! :-))

<edit>

rrm38... returning the LOL, I too lost my 'Politics' TC badge :)

Reminds me of the old Far Side 'Opening Season' cartoon (caption was "Bummer of a birthmark, Hal")

http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=4038198

Nope, you are definately not alone!!!

However, like others have said, some people are really in need of money, and others are just cheap-o's.

For example, I answered a question where the person had had enough money when it adopted the cat, and took care of it for 7 years with no problems, but then the person's mother passed away, so she had to pay for her funeral and cremation, etc. and that left her almost broke when her cat got a urinary infection. Those people, who just come across some bad luck, I try to answer as best I can to really give them help.

However, it's differant with people who have no money, get a cat, it gets sick, and the people are whining to the world. It's like "Shut the **** up and get a job! Your poor cat is dying here!!!"

So yes and no, in a way.

Yes.

I do have sympathy for those who have had changes of circumstances such as loss of job, or have taken in a stray just to find it has problems. But when people have taken in cats with doing no research of their needs. It's poor.

Not just cats but any pets should be looked into first. Not just taken on a whim.

I do find it frustrating to a point, but I also believe that many people really aren't aware of what kind of help is out there. The same people saying they can't afford a vet would probably say they can't afford a dentist, as their rates for services are similar. The fact is that veterinary care in most private vet practices is downright expensive. Quite honestly, I know I would have a difficult time affording six cats if I didn't have a close relationship with my vet of many years. As such, she often gives me deep discounts compared to what a walk-in client would pay. People don't know that vets will work with them on payment plans, or that Care Credit exists, or that shelters usually have lower cost clinics where they can get care for their cats. They believe, rightfully so in many cases, that it will cost them $200 or more to walk in the door of their vet's office. So, while I do find such questions to be frustrating I also see them as an opportunity to educate people about the resources that are available to them. We are here to help, aren't we?

@ Polite One - I'm one of the cat food snobs you've alluded to. I fed my cats Purina for years too. I watched one die a slow, agonizing and premature death from renal failure and the other from diabeties... both brought upon in large part by crappy dry cat food. Short term it's not a problem to feed crappy food, but in the long term it does contribute to poor health in cats. I look at it as insurance for their future well being and saving on vet bills later in their lives. When I see someone ask what the best food for their cat is I won't lie to them. I've seen firsthand what crappy food does, and I can't recommend it in good conscience. When someone explains that they can't afford the more expensive foods, I guide them toward less expensive brands (like Chicken Soup) that are not quite as great but not as bad as Cat Chow. There is no changing the fact, though, that cats aren't built to thrive on corn.

Not really.

It's quite the opposite. Not everyone can afford some of their animal's needs. It's like having a child and struggling to make ends meet. You love them,you don't want to "give them away" just because you are struggling to take care of them.

It is always nice to be able to have atleast enough money in your pocket to take themt o get their needed shots,but as for the other things,it's not always that easy to just come up with the money. i.e,their animal gets ran over,or swallows something.

Sometimes I get mad, other times I actually cry. You can usually tell the ones who are genuinely concerned and want to get help for their cat from the ones who just don't give a crap. The ones I really hate are when you look at their other questions to find they just asked about getting hair extensions or where to eat out that night. It's not fair to assume that everyone who says that is just looking for cheap advice but people can usually find money for the things they deem important. Failing to provide vet care for a sick pet can land someone in jail and they will no doubt find bail money to get out. That bail money could have been used to pay the vet. I take each question on it's own merit. Times are hard right now but that doesn't keep the cat from needing to be cared for. I try to answer compassionately to those I feel are genuine and I try to help them figure out what to do. And yes, I slam the hell out of the ones who don't care.

Polite One: I used to feed Purina to my cats too. Then one of them developed CRF from eating the poor diet and I was forced to switch to a better food. There are better quality foods out there that cost about the same or not much more than Purina One. The quality of the food is important, not the price. I don't preach feeding pricey foods, I preach feeding healthy foods which will save the owner on vet bills, cat litter, and heartbreak. Check out Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul. It costs about the same as Purina One but doesn't contain meat by-products, corn, or wheat, which all contribute to poor renal health, obesity, and diabetes. Your Purina One contains all 3 of those.

I'm also tired of them as well, but at least these owners are trying even something rather than nothing.

And perhaps their questions are simply first-time cat owner questions where a simple answer like 'No, it is a hairball, she is not dying' could put them at ease.

In my ever so humble opinion; if you can afford a computer and Internet time there is no Earthly reason as to why you can't properly take care of your pets.

Simply put, they are making this shytte up as they go just to see what kind of response they can get; OR; they are too effin cheap. ( PARDON MY FRENCH - it's a mite rusty )

I've seen so many of these questions since this drinking game game started that my liver is hiring itself out to do SpongeBob impressions at Birthday Parties.

I just wish they'd search the answers already out there. There must be 5000 answers for "what should I feed my cat" yet they ask several times a day.

Nope...all of us are! This is one of the reasons Kia made up the drinking game!

I think now, alot of them that are posting up q's like that are also trolls trying to get the cat section worked up!

I am a recovering alcoholic now, so i just report them!