As I mentioned in my post to Marina, I am at Amelia Island Plantation
in Amelia Island, Florida for 10 Days beginning last Friday.  DH had a
race in Memphis, TN and would be home on Monday but then fly to Florida
on Wednesday to be with me.  That meant Sam would either have to have
another shot of steroids - much stronger this time if he was going to
stay at home. Then there are the races in Wisconsin at the end of June
and Watkins Glen July 9/10 to say nothing of the two races in August,
two in September and one that last 10 days in Ohio in September. And
we're talking about going to Barcellona for a week in November.  We
might as well take him off inhaled meds and put him on steroids and
hope he doesn't suffer kidney damage or liver failure.      OR

We could have Dana come in and check on the cats.  We've never had a
non-family member come in and check on the cats but Dana came highly
recommended.  She sits for two of my co-workers' cats.  I called her to
discuss my cats and what she does to care for the cats and I was
sitting on the bed.  Sam had joined me and was asleep when Barnabus
jumped up on the bed and lept on top of Sam and began playing.  I asked
Dana to hold a minute and said, "Barnabus, get off of Sam, he doesn't
want to play!"  and Dana said "Sam Cook? I know Sam Cook! I've given
him his little kitty mask before. I absolutely love Sam I can't wait to
see him.

Well, it turns out that Dana worked for my current vet and had on
multiple times delt with all of my cats but when I boarded Sam last
September while we were on vacation and had him snipped and wormed and
prepared for life on the inside, Dana had been the one to take care of
Sam. And she takes care of the boarded cats at the clinic on the
weekened which was when she gave Sam his inhaled meds. I was very
comfortable leaving them with Dana.

She came in on Thursday night to meet everyone and Sam went straight to
her as she sat on the kitchen floor and put his little head in her lap
and started purring. Eventually Hobbes had his head in her lap and
Selena even let her pet her head - which has never happened before with
a stranger.

DH is taking care of everyone today, Tuesday and Wednesday am and then
Dana will return on Wednesday evening and come see everyone twice a day
Thursday - Saturday and once on Sunday morning to make sure Sam gets
his a.m. dose of drug.

All in all, I think I've found the solution to caring for Sam when we
travel and for the same money it would cost to board Sam I can have all
five cats cared for during the time we are away. How cool is that?

Julie