Questionable Morality

The cat has again peed in the living room. This makes 6 or 7 times since he started his antibiotics 4 days ago - our last ditch effort to cure the pee problem.

Norm is 17. He has thryoid issues held in check by medication twice daily (crushed and mixed with his food); he also take metamucil (natural flavor) twice daily with his food. He survived having his pelvis crushed by a car and being missing for 6 days 5 years ago. He survived an animal bite and enormous abscess and consequent surgery this April. He is almost stone deaf and I'm pretty sure he's arthritic as he doesn't jump up very well anymore and is stiff about jumping down. He sleeps most of the time and has gone gray on one side of his face. He is curmudgeonly but he always was and, in general, he seems reasonably happy.

Except for the pee problem. He pees where he is not supposed to. We've been dealing with the odor but he's started peeing and leaving puddles where the baby can get into them. (We're pretty good about finding them quickly up here - usually by stepping in them.) We've tested for FUS, we've tested for many things. The tests have all come back negatively. We've put in an additional litterbox; both are kept filled with the only litter he uses and is scooped daily. He goes out on demand so he has additional opportunity to pee if he has to. So the unwelcome conclusion is that the problem is not medical but mental.

We've had this problem off and on over the years and it was almost always traced to some sort of disruption in the house (we've done a lot of renovations and have had workman in and out at times over the last 7 years). We're not having any renovations now (can't afford 'em) but the baby has started crawling. And, soon, she will be walking. Another small being is pacing Norm's floors and the threat isn't likely to disappear anytime soon.

I really don't know what to do. This is easily the hardest decision I have ever had to face. The mother in me shouts that I can't risk having my baby splash her (soon-to-be-chewed) hands in cat pee. The cat mother in me shouts that I can't murder my cat. Particularly since I have such a personal fear of someone unplugging me out of convenience should I ever be on life support.

Is it right to condemn him to die because of a pee issue? Is it right to keep him alive if he is so unhappy about his living situation that he feels he must pee to get his point across? If he is having dementia issues, as the vet suspects given his age, is it fair to euthanize him for that or is it fair to let him live through losing his mind. Am I more afraid of losing him or watching his continued decline and dealing with the pee.

I don't want to be the grownup here. I'm not sure I can make this decision.

I'm really not sure if I can live with either outcome.

Interrupting is Rude; Changing the Topic at the Same Time is Ruder Yet

To any man who happens to be reading this: A word of advice...
When you are with a woman and she is talking, do not just talk right over her, changing the subject. It's rude. And not just a little rude, very, very rude. Ruder than just simply interrupting.

Let me explain why...
1) The first layer of rude is interrupting as it implies her words are not worth listening to.
2) The second layer of rude is the subject change as it implies not only were you not listening to her but were busy thinking of a new topic of conversation instead.

So, men, if you don't want to imply to the woman you are conversing with that she is an insignificant nothing who should just shut up because nobody wants to hear what she has to say anyway (or even if you simply don't want to get hit), don't do it.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by Strings and Sealing Wax and Other Fancy Stuff and the Committee to Civilize Men Who Are Jerks

Because I Got Tagged...

The 5 More Things Meme

Five snacks I enjoy:
crackers and port wine cheese spread
dried apricots
raw almonds
South Beach Meal Replacement Bars
chips and dip (but I only eat those at parties)

Five songs to which I know all the lyrics:
We Didn't Start the Fire, Billy Joel
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, Rockapella
Mr. Moran, The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones
Last Movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony (in German)
I've Never Been in Love Before, Guys & Dolls

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:
Pay off my mortgage
Build a garage for my husband
Make large donations to Habitat for Humanity, Unicef, and Americares
Build up Katie's college fund and our retirement fund
Travel

Five bad habits:
Lack of self-control in eating
Waiting until all the bottles are dirty before I wash them
Waiting until I run out of underwear before I do laundry
Blogging when I should be working
Buying books

Five things I like doing:
Eating
Blogging
Buying & reading books
Singing
Getting new shoes

Five things I don't like doing:
Doing the money (writing bills, balancing the checkbook)
Cleaning
Dealing with dead things
Fixing The Blue Screen of Death
Exercise

Five things I would never wear again:
My wedding dress (I'd wear the veil again though)
Low-rise undies (they rub my c-section scar)
Horizontal stripes
The shoes from my sister's first wedding (OMG, I've never met a more uncomfortable pair!!
Toe socks

Five favorite toys:
Computer
Vibrator
My daughter's Mozart Cube
Piano (does that count?)
Cellphone

There ya go, LauraJ!