7 February 2024 – Haru’s Boarding (Day 1)

I managed to put Haru (who is usually terrified of the carrier) into her carrier while she was having a cat nap at 2pm today. I felt so bad for ‘betraying’ her.

The catsitter, who calls herself kaima (aka godma in Cantonese) came to pick us up. I paid her RM80 for a 1-way pet transport. Cass accompanied me.

At kaima’s house, all hell broke loose. I expected it.

Haru was hissing uncontrollably. The shell shocked and scared look on her face broke my heart. She was hissing at not only kaima, but at Cass and me. When Cass tried to comfort Haru, she almost got bitten. Kaima told us to leave Haru alone.

Haru was hyperventilating while hissing at anyone who tried to get near her. She was afraid that we may harm her.

I took out all her stuff and explained them to kaima. I put Haru’s bed and lined it with my worn pajamas. Haru sniffed it and immediately calmed down. She went to her bed and sat on it. The familiar smell of my worn pajamas did wonders in calming her.

I tried to feed Haru with a kibble but she was too scared to even notice a kibble on my hand. Haru is usually very food-motivated. After a while laying on her bed with my worn pajamas, she calmed down and ate that kibble. That was the last time she ate.

As of typing this post (it’s now 7.50 pm on 8 February 2024), it’s more than 24 hours since Haru last ate or drank. She wouldn’t want to eat anything. Though I brought along her usual bowl and food but all she did was just sniff it and turned away.

From the Tapo app (CCTV) on my phone, I could see Haru either sleeping or hiding under cabinets the whole day. Kaima tried to feed Haru three times but she just wouldn’t eat.

The room is equipped with Feliway diffuser to calm cats and calming music specially for cats is played 24 hours. I paid over RM100 separately for the Feliway diffuser.

I am crushed 😭. Watching Haru on the CCTV day and night rejecting food and hiding feels like watching my child die a slow and painful death. Ok, I may sound melodramatic but this is exactly how I feel now.

When will Haru ever eat, poo and pee?

Haru must have thought that I have abandoned her. I have prepared Haru for this boarding for over two months, telling her about my plans and that I am not abandoning her, but all the preparation seemed to be futile.

I told hubby and kaima that if Haru continues to go on a hunger strike tonight and tomorrow morning, I will have no choice but to bring her home. And take another drastic measure – lug her along in our car on a road trip back to Ipoh.

It’s a big risk that I will be taking as Haru is terrified of car rides and being in the car for 2 hours or more will stress her out even more. And when she reaches my parents’ house, it will be another traumatic time for her with another new place, new faces and new routine. When she’s stressed out, so will I.

I have been praying fervently that Haru will start to eat, poo and pee by tonight. I still think that leaving her at kaima’s house is a better option vs traveling as traffic on the highway will most likely be bad during the CNY period.

My greatest worry is Haru developing gastric, serious gut issues, UTI or organ failure from being dehydrated and malnourished. To begin with, Haru already has sensitive guts and is prone to diarrhea.

For cat parents, has this ever happened to your cat when you sent him/her to the cat boarder’s house or pet hotel? Would greatly appreciate advice. Thank you from a desperate cat mama.

To be continued…

No. of times viewed = 31