Mommy bloggers want us all to believe that parenting is 24/7 joy and fun. Sadly, so do many pet bloggers.
I’m not one of them.
To be honest, some days caring for a fur kid really sucks. Right now I am fuming because I have worked so hard to get the cats upstairs. I have been feeding them up there for almost a week now. I brought out the canned food. I was pleasant.
So why is Hissy Fit Jones still downstairs? Because he is afraid. I have tried to lure him. I’ve chased him. I’ve begged him. All to no avail. Now while my mom comes up today to be here while the gas company hooks up my gas, she’ll also have to make sure no doors are left open too. Sorry, Mom.
That’s why I spend a significant portion of my money on caring for them. It’s why I chose a car specifically to accommodate everyone in an emergency. It’s why I’m living an hour away from work in a house instead of close by in an apartment.
Look ya’ll, I’m tired. Getting up at 3:30 am to make sure you’re fed, walked, given all your medicines and your litter boxes scooped before heading into work is not a bed of roses. Neither is coming home from work to have to do the same thing all over again.
It is true that no one forced me to take on this much responsibility. I chose to do that. And no, I’m not going to stop now, even though, unlike guardians of human children, I could. I am morally and ethically bound to see this through, and I will do so to the best of my ability. So rest assured that each day I choose to provide care for you. Because I love you.
But I’m not gonna lie. Some days I’m not feeling it, and today is one of those days.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
I know this days too…. but I try to see it positive… even when I’m near to a nuclear meltdown I never explode… Easy teached me self-control that way :O)
Yes and blogging is my outlet.
All us kitties are sending love and loud purring to you and your furry family! OurPeople feel the same way about us sometimes even though we try our best to behave and stay well. Sometimes they tell us we need to get a paper route to help with the vet bills. Do you think your kitties would agree to pull a wagon? Rumpy could be Chief Musher! All you’d need to do is fold the papers (since none of us has opposable thumbs). Oh! And OurGirl says to tell you she’s so thankful you don’t live in Florida anymore because of the hurricanes. ❤
So am I- for a multitude of reasons.
Your honesty is appreciated, as is your heart and your compassion
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Fortunately feelings are not facts. Fact is I love my family.
They say life is not a bed of roses. I find that it totally is: amid the beauty of the petals and scents, you gotta watch out for the thorns! 🙂 xoM
Thorns suck!
Yep, I hear you. Took care of a diabetic cat for 9 years. Injections twice a day and he wouldn’t let anyone else give them. Had to board him at vet if I wanted to take a (rare) vacation (and I always felt guilty). With my current crew I don’t have to worry about anyone sneaking out but I had that with a former crew. Sometimes they got out and I didn’t sleep. Wouldn’t change it for the world though. They are the best family.
Yes I have spent lots of money boarding my gang before so I could enjoy myself while away. And still I worried.
The worry never stops.
i could feel you.. we’re just humans, we get tired, we experience some bad days or being not in the mood.. but at the end of the day when we had a rest from a very exhausting day we smile by just looking at those cute kitty faces, hug them and just listen to their purrs.. have time to relax and i wish you well..
Yes, there is nothing more heartwarming than face licks from Rumpy or purrs from contented kitties.
ah yes, face licks and lots of purrs 🙂
Oh man, anyone who says anything is joy 24/7 is not living in the real world. Your post is right on! Thankfully all things change and the loving run moments await. Sending a cyber hug to you, hope it might help.
Hugs always help. Thank you!
Don’t get me started on Mommy Bloggers.
They’re annoying but they are one of the few categories of bloggers who make money.
Well now, that really gets me going. Grrrr.
Yes, animals can be hard work – especially when they get old! Millie has started using the bathroom at night. Admittedly she gets it as close to the toilet as possible – I swear she’d sit on it if she could – but it still means a puddle to mop up in the morning.
Still, I wouldn’t be without her for the world.
I know what you mean. I sound like I’m ready to throw out the whole lot, but I just spend over $1000 in vet trips. That’s not someone who’s giving up.
We had the opposite problem once with an outdoor cat who decided she wanted to be inside when our house was carpeted from top to bottom. We had locked the cat flap but she just bashed her head repeatedly against the flap, unwilling to believe we would not bend to her will. Ended up with a bump on her nose 😦 good luck – a good crew should look after them well.
That’s cats for ya. Entirely too smart for me.
Thanks for this post. I’ve been feeling the same way lately. I love them and would never ever give up on my ethical responsibility, but some days I am just so effin tired of all the work and dirt and care and responsibility. Being consistent and kind and caring is a lot of work!!!
Isn’t it though? I think it’s important to be honest about the work. Otherwise we start to think we’re the only one who feels that way.
Also, people who are thinking about adopting a pet need to know that it’s not all fun and games and wags. The poop and puke and rainy walkies are part of the package!
Sometimes Mom isn’t feeling it either. It happens.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
And yet we go on. I can tell from your wardrobe how much you are loved Cupcake.
The cats have been squishing half of their soft food onto the floor instead of eating it, they might end up back on crunchies only! The one day we walk around in socks is the day we step in cat barf. So gross!
You probably have the same dog fur problem too – white and black fur, so no matter what you wear some fur will stand out. 🙂 Hope tomorrow is a better day!
I’ve had several of those hair ball experiences. That feels so gross, doesn’t it?
I try to turn a blind eye until the dogs find the hairball and… uh… “take care of it.” 🙂
That’s what love is all about sometimes, isn’t it? Great and honest post, Jen. Thank you.
True dat. It means I’m willing to go there for you. Even on the days I don’t want to.
Cats can be very unpredictable in nature. Although both of mine are now gone I remember moving one time and trying to get Hemingway to agree to get into a pet carrier. He turned into a lion (or so it seemed) as he roared his disagreement to me. I could not get near this usually very good cat. I had to go to a pet store and get something to put into his water (all natural plant ingredients) which did soothe him enough so the move could be made. But at the time I just knew he had a very bad case of split personality. 🙂 Hope all goes well.
Rescue Remedy. Amazing stuff.
Yep I hear you If I didn’t have Speedy I would have to get up at 3.50am to give him his cuddle time,feed and clean him out before I have breakfast and get ready for work,I could get up at 4.40am instead and then all the chores when I get home and having to take him out for his outings….and then on my days off I still have to get up early to keep him in his routine because rabbits don’t like routine change…they get grumpy…really grumpy!Yes life would be so much easier without him…..but wouldn’t it also be so very boring too!we all get days where we really can’t be bothered but still carry on and do all those things for our pet and the only reason we do is because we love them,xx Rachel
It would indeed. I understand the routine thing. I also get up at 3:30 on my days off to keep a steady routine.
so relatable for me!!!!!!!!!!
I knew I wasn’t alone in this.
Icewolfie hugs ☺ You wouldn’t be human of you didn’t feel like this along the way.
I know, but in the age of social media it sometimes seems I’m the only one.
Everybody feels like that because nobody speaks out… fear of what people will say… what they will think… thinking we’re bad pet parents for thinking or feeling anything but great about our responsibilities… all of the time no matter what…we all need to open up and be more honest with ourselves as you have done here. We male it an unnecessarily taboo subject despite us all having our times feeling that way. We are all flawed humans!🙂
Love the honesty. Nice to know I’m not the only one who sometimes has to stop and take a deep breath!
Not by a long shot.
All of us fur-moms have days like that. Hopefully it’s short-lived and you can go back to doing what you do best, loving on the kiddos. And for the record, some of us who have human kids feel the same way about them too! 😉 Hugs.
I know. This post was to a) give me an outlet to vent and b) assure others I’m not some kind of saint (because I’ve been called that and it’s not at all true).
Wait, what…you’re just human? 🙂 Hang in there and have a happy weekend❣️
I am feeling the same way right now. I make homemade dog food for my 4 dogs, because they will actually eat it, even the picky one. They also get high-quality food this way which is human-grade. But it gets old pretty quick.
This morning Lil’ Hiss came to snuggle when I woke and I snatched him up and ran to get his meds. I felt horrible doing it, but I’ve had to chase him the past two mornings and I didn’t want to do that today.
I’m sorry! The hard-to-catch ones are tough! I treat liberally with meds to keep my dogs coming back for it. The parrots are almost impossible. Cats? In between.