Neglected cat/unsure of how to move forward?
Hi, I honestly might delete this later on out of shame, this is on somewhat of a throwaway.
I’m (19) unsure of what to do anymore. I lived with my father, who got me a cat a couple years ago when I was halfway through high school. I know it had been irresponsible for me to ask for a cat at that time, but I swore to myself that I’d take care of the cat and we immediately bonded. Shortly after we got her, the dog got fleas and brought them inside. My dad also refused to take her to the vet because it was “too expensive,” even though he had promised me to do it before we got her.
At the time I tried to do everything to combat her fleas and would constantly get nightmares about it, also crying constantly over it. Wash the sheets, change the litter, flea baths and flea collars, etc. I tried everything, but as soon as I’d ask my father to take her to the vet (couldn’t drive, didn’t have a job) or wash his sheets so it would help with the fleas, he’d gotten mad at me. My mother tried to help by purchasing some things for me, but overall couldn’t take in the cat either as her living situation isn’t ideal. Me and my father had several screaming matches about the animals before (both the cat and dogs.)
Moving away to college made me extremely nervous, and of course since my cat has fleas I cannot take her with me (I live with a relative while commuting.) While I was gone, I guess our dog ended up somehow getting mange? And was living outside for some time, until my father started bringing him in and I’m so afraid the cat will also get mange. He also mentioned her getting heavier, when I have been very specific on her diet. I’m unsure if she has it or not at this time, but I’m going to be traveling back home for the summer soon.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t treat the fleas at home, and I certainly have no idea how to combat mange if she has it. I feel so terrible, should I give her up at this point? My cat would definitely be taken care of if she was with me, as opposed to leaving her with my father and his roommates. I know it is selfish to not want to give her up. I’ve heard of crisis fostering, if I did that then would they be willing to help get rid of her fleas if I wanted to take her with me to college?