Damn it. DW's mom wants to have dinner with her tonight to discuss putting her cat down. The cat attacks her (sent her to the ER once) and is now stalking her around her house. We found a cat sanctuary that MiL agreed to take the cat, but once there, she couldn't leave her (after we drove her the 4 hours - each way!). When she wanted to get a cat, we told her to go to a shelter, which is what we always do and we have always had good cats. FiL (now deceased) insisted on a Maine Coon or Bengal. They flew (!!!) a Maine Coon kitten down from NoCal - picked her out of a photo w/o ever meeting her. Cat has been a PITA ever since. DW and I are so furious about the whole situation. And now we get to have this fun right at the holidays. Good Lord, I know you lost your husband and I'm sorry for that, but WTF man? We also have quite a lot going on right now and just don't need the extra stress. Argh Argh Argh!!!!

(((vw)))

YAY! to Sparky-sproglet. Although I really love Sail's comment about the new babylord and our open tentacles. Now *that*'s a welcome.

Hil, I hope the drugs help your shoulder, at least until you can have your specialist take a look.

Calli, welcome home! Wow, the queen of Belgium, huh? Small world.

I'm sorry about the tsuris, GC. Can you go with Maine Coon rescue? It sounds like the cat has taken an irrational dislike to your MiL, but perhaps another person would be fine. It makes more sense than a random shelter. Also--she'll put the animal down but she won't release it to a sanctuary? This doesn't sound very rational. Argh, indeed. Vibes for a quick and satisfactory resolution.

Sparky!!! Congratulations to you and your DH. Best wishes for a very easy pregnancy.

Ok. Someone tell me that going and playing with the kids is a good idea. It's just so ick out. I feel like getting myself a bowl of ice cream and plopping in front of the tv for the rest of my life.

Congratulations, Sparky! Lovely news of impending sparkylet!

Here are some cool photos of a model made to look 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 through lighting and mke-up alone. [link]

Also--she'll put the animal down but she won't release it to a sanctuary? This doesn't sound very rational.

I know, right??? She can be so maddening. She did call rescue organizations and the breeder she bought the cat from and all sorts of other places, but found nothing but the one sanctuary where she "couldn't leave her." Apparently not many people want to deal with an animal that attacks.

DW is saying she doesn't want me to come to dinner with her and her mom because, "I don't want you getting stressed out right now." Sweet, but I am already stressed and feel badly about not going. I don't think she'll let me though.

(didn't need to be said twice)

GC, I had a Maine Coon cat once. He was a great cat to us, possibly because he picked us. (When we lived out in the country, he appeared one day and continued to sit on our porch until we went from feeding him outside to bringing him inside and, over the years, paying hundreds of dollars in vet bills to patch him up after he went after other cats, dogs and, in one spectacular piece of stitching up, a raccoon.) Anyway, they are very powerful cats and can do a lot of damage. He certainly needs to get out of her house, but they really are good cats and I'd hate to see him put down.

eta: Maine Coon cats have very distinct personalities. It's quite possible that there are many people out there who would get along fine with the cat.

I knew a Maine Coon that savagely attacked one of her owners- technically the GF of the primary owner. They had to dose her with kitty Xanax or Prozac or something for a while.

It was freaking rough though, the night it happened.

vw, go play with the kidlets, the get yourself a fancy coffee drink, and go home to post funny kidlet stories to us.

(((GC))) I'm sorry your m-i-l is stressing you out.