Here’s Azar being served a nice drink of water from his favourite glass after having had breakfast in bed this morning. He’s actually perked up the past few days. I was missing him so much that I began a harrowing afternoon routine of getting him out from under my bed, which always provokes shrieks of terror and total panic on his part (why???). But as soon as I manage to scoop him up in my arms he goes all calm and then I give him a gentle snibble on the sofa, and after that he happily settles down there for the rest of the day. If I don’t do that he’ll just stay under the bed. Go figure.
Anyhow, that’s the new routine. He still sleeps with me, and enjoys his breakfast in bed, but as soon as I get up he hides under the bed and stays there until I fish him out at lunchtime (no point in going through all that before I can spend some time with him on the sofa). His appetite has also picked up and so he definitely is still enjoying a decent quality of life.
I’ve postponed my trip to Málaga as I was planning to be there for about three nights and, even with Peter at home with Azar, it just felt like too long to be away right now. But both Peter and I have been invited to stay one night at a hotel in Córdoba and I really don’t know what to do. When I know I’ll be out for the whole day I set Azar up in my room with plenty of food and water and his own litter box, because he doesn’t seem to want to be around the other cats these days, and he seems quite fine with that. But to leave him overnight? It’s a dilemma because this would be such a good opportunity for Peter to do more research for his Córdoba day trips and for me to get some more material for my travel writing “portfolio”, and I don’t think I can ask the hotel to postpone the free room offer indefinitely. I don’t mind putting off personal trips, but this is actually a business trip. What should I do?
casa azahar 
What a difficult choice, and no right answer. The way I try to deal with decisions like this is to do a brief “what if”.
What if you miss this business opportunity? How bad is that? How will you feel?
What if Azar passes away while you are away? How bad is that? How will you feel?
Compare your answers and feelings for both, that usually makes the decision pretty clear. Good luck with whatever you decide – and give Azar a kiss and cuddle from me…x
LikeLike
He’s beautiful. Any chance you know someone who might be able to stay overnight with him?
LikeLike
You don’t know Azar. 😉
Having someone else here, except maybe the cat whisperers, would be more stressful for him than being on his own.
LikeLike
I think Lujo has it right – plusses and minusses on both sides give you the logical answer – then do what you know is right.
LikeLike
The “what if” test is good, but another problem is that the hotel stay is booked for August 28th, almost two weeks from now. With Azar looking as good as he has been these past few days I think I would risk an overnight stay because he’d probably just sleep most of the time anyhow. And he’s been pretty good at eating and drinking enough. But if closer to the date he started going downhill then I would cancel for sure… which is dilemma number two.
Should I cancel the hotel booking now and give them a chance to fill it with a paying customer? Or should I leave it another week to see how Azar is doing?
LikeLike
Me? I’d leave it.
LikeLike
You’d leave going, or you’d leave telling the hotel?
LikeLike
Leave it another week. You might piss off the hotel, and that would be too bad – but anyone who has ever had a pet would understand!
LikeLike
Sorry – that wasn’t very clear – I’d leave telling the hotel.
LikeLike
Part of me thinks you can’t put your life on hold like that. But I have to admit that a greater part of me is saying don’t do it. You can’t be with Azar 24/7 but on an overnight trip how much of your mind and heart would constantly be wondering how he was?
LikeLike
Practically speaking I know I can’t – and shouldn’t – put my life on hold. Azar may be around for several more months and I won’t always be able to be here. But things can change so fast. Three weeks ago I left him overnight when I went to Ronda and really wasn’t worried, but a week ago he started looking so frail, and this week he’s all perky again. What a rollercoaster ride!
LikeLike
Flip a coin. Then evaluate your immediate gut feeling about the results of the coin flip. And do what your gut says, not the coin.
LikeLike
If it were tonight I know my gut would be okay about going. Will have to try the coin flip next week.
LikeLike
Good to hear that he’s perking up.
LikeLike
Pingback: off to córdoba (again) « casa az