I am not panicking, but today I went to the grocery store, and I was first alerted to The Egg Issue because the entire egg section was filled exclusively with the cheapest store-brand white-shelled eggs. We usually buy the ones where the government has certified that the chickens are kissed on the forehead each night before being sung to sleep in their roomy apartments, so I admit I had a moment where I thought it would be nice to have the excuse to buy the cheap eggs: the petted-chicken eggs used to be $3.29/dozen but recently have been more like $4.39/dozen. But then I noticed that NO, the cheap store-brand eggs were $5.99/dozen!! I thought I must be mistaken—looking at the wrong tag or something. I WAS NOT MISTAKEN. The cheap, large, store-brand eggs were $5.99; the jumbo size were $7.99.
On the way home I heard that the avian flu is a big huge deal right now. I had not bought any eggs, because I was hoping the price was a brief weird thing, but this might not be a brief weird thing. For a moment I wished we had gotten chickens as we have a few times considered doing, but then the news story went on to talk about how chicken-owners need to take precautions and be prepared to have their flocks put down, and I was grateful I only needed to think about the price of eggs.
As long as I am talking about bad news, I have some sad-but-expected cat news: we had to make The Decision about Elizabeth’s Dear Sad-Boy Cat, the one with recurring kidney stones, IBS, and cat laryngitis that turned out to be likely lung cancer. In November I wrote he seemed to have unexpectedly rallied, but then later that month he started losing weight again. He started sometimes missing his footing on a jump, which was alarming. He had a regular annual check-up already scheduled with the vet, so I took him to that, but said to the tech who was doing his little intake interview that I doubted we would be doing his usual senior bloodwork and so forth, but would instead be having The Talk.
And that was indeed the case. The weird pupils, which had turned into weird pupils plus a strange-but-not-gross brownish patch on his iris, turned out to be evidence of the cancer having metastasized to his brain. The missing-his-footing-on-a-jump could be weakness from not eating much, or could be the tumor messing with his brain, or could be the tumor messing with his eyesight, or could be a combination of those things. The vet said if we were emotionally ready she could put him down that very day, or she could buy him maybe a week or two. We asked if he was suffering, and she said she believed he was not—and that if she HAD thought he was suffering, she would not have offered to buy him more time. I consulted with Elizabeth, and we opted to buy him maybe a week or two. This involved first a sort of barrage of treatments to see if we could make him feel well enough to eat better: subcutaneous fluids with vitamins; an anti-nauseant; an appetite stimulant; and an increase in the dose of the steroids he already takes. The vet also said that at this stage it didn’t matter WHAT he ate, as much as it mattered THAT he ate, so we were to give him what he wanted; so I went to the store and bought pretty much one each of every single product marketed to owners of fluffy white cats eating out of crystal dishes.
It did buy him nearly two weeks, though toward the end I was wondering every day if we might have to make an expensive and traumatic trip to the emergency vet. I would have opted to put him down the Friday a week and a half after his The Talk appointment, but Elizabeth asked for the following Monday so she could have the weekend with him, and I double-checked with the vet who said that was not unreasonable (but also gave us a list of local agencies that would do emergency euthanasia). And he did make it to Monday. Elizabeth and I brought him in. It was very sad, but also a relief to have things ending peacefully and before he was suffering, and without an emergency.
Now we are down to two cats. One of them, a smart bossy mean orange-and-white queen, does not seem to notice that we are missing a cat—or if she does notice, she’s glad (she didn’t like that cat). The other of them, a classic sweet-‘n’-dippy orange male, has been wandering the house meowing and acting weird, and being snuggly; the girl cat has finally relented and allowed him to snuggle with her sometimes on the couch, which seems to be helping somewhat.
Oh, I am sorry the time came. It always does, but that doesn’t make it easier. I’m glad you had the extra time to spoil him well.
I hadn’t heard about egg prices and admit that I hadn’t noticed because the last time I bought eggs was in the flurry of buying around the holidays for baking and I really didn’t look at individual prices since it was total chaos. Am not looking forward to really finding out how much those eggs are going to cost now.
I’m so sorry about your cat. I’m thankful that you all could choose the time and get to be there and that he wasn’t suffering, but man it always hurts.
I am very sorry to hear about the cat. Please give Elizabeth an extra hug.
I am energetically ignoring the egg panic building inside me and instead focusing my thoughts on being sad about the cat. I’m sorry he’s gone, and very happy that you and Elizabeth got more time with him. Losing a beloved pet is so hard, no matter how “it’s time” it is.
I’m very sorry about Elizabeth’s cat! I’m glad you were able to help him along so that he could go peacefully.
We have been noticing The Egg Situation here for a while now: the cheap store-brand eggs have been at or above $4 a dozen for weeks, when a “normal” (pre-pandemic-supply-chain-avian-flu-weirdness) price in our area was generally in the $1.25-$1.75 range.
@Catherine – same here with noticing the egg situation for awhile. Used to be a dozen for $0.99. Now the cheapest I can find is Aldi for $3.30.
I’ve heard that it’s due to the feed (corn) shortage due to the war in Ukraine. I don’t have any source for this though so could be wrong.
Losing a cat is such a specific type of pain and it really sucks, I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry about the cat. We have been in that place more times than I care to think about, but it sounds like you did everything right, and that’s the best you can do.
We have a 21-year-old cat who is on that trail right now. He seems to be in pretty decent shape, considering his age, which is more than 100 in people years. He is very skinny, and probably has arthritis, but still moves around the house and, in fact, is busier than our two much younger cats. We had been taking him to our local vet who was pretty much, “Eh, he’s old, nothing to be done” and I think that there is something to be done to make him more physically comfortable, so he’s going to a new vet tomorrow.
I always buy the pampered-chicken eggs and try not to think about the price. Also, we have a couple of friends who have chickens and sometimes we buy eggs from them. But I would never think of raising chickens myself, thank you.
We go through a lot of eggs. My 18 pack (that we go through 2 or 3 a week of) currently costs $8.99. Yup, that’s at least $20 a week for just eggs. Eggs are no longer the cheap dinner option.
I’m sorry about your cat. He had some great years with you.
I’m so sorry about Elizabeth’s cat. Even when expected, it is still very sad.
I loved “I was grateful I only needed to think about the price of eggs.” and “so I went to the store and bought pretty much one each of every single product marketed to owners of fluffy white cats eating out of crystal dishes.”
Hope Elizabeth is doing okay (and you, too).
I’m sorry about the cat. They way you write about your cats is so charming!
Egg prices have gone up, and suddenly. I’m in central TX, where the HEB (store brand) organic eggs were around $3.xx/doz for a long time. Then a few months ago, they went up to $4.xx, then $5.xx and I’ve been buying store brand free range, but those are now $4.xx too. We have eight chickens who are juuuust old enough to start laying, but winter is when chickens don’t lay much because of the fewer hours of daylight, so no eggs yet. I’m waiting, ladies!
My mom had chickens for years and since it gets cold up here in Canada she used a lamp to heat the coop and they produced more eggs during the cold months as a result. Maybe a light on a timer would prompt some egg production?
I am so sorry about the kitty. You appear to have handled the situation as kindly and generously as possible, which I’m sure Elizabeth appreciates.
I gasped out loud the other day at not-my-usual grocery because a carton of eighteen ordinary, plain ol’ eggs was almost eight bucks. And then I put it in the cart anyway, because it was Christmas Eve Eve.
I am so sorry to hear about the cat. I know that was not an easy situation.
I know about the egg situation only because The Husband came home complaining about the ridiculous price of eggs these days. But he bought them.
We’ve been dealing with high egg prices in my area for a few months now and I feel like I’m newly shocked every time I go to the store. Currently the cheapest is 5.99 a dozen. (Butter prices are also depressing). I keep thinking maybe we should cut back on eggs for a while, but I have gestational diabetes and the thought of trying to feed myself low carb without eggs sounds impossible and stressy, so…I keep sucking it up. Only a few more weeks left and my dietary options should open up quite a bit hopefully!
I am sorry about the cat but glad you got to provide a luxury kitty hospice send-off
The kid who is home from college makes himself a huge plate of scrambled eggs before bed. I hope he’s enjoying them a lot
I’m sorry about Elizabeth’s cat, but at least it was peaceful. I know that helps a little.
Thinking of you all. Sending hugs and love. The Decision is always hard, but it’s always the right thing to do.
I am very sorry to hear about Elizabeth’s cat. I must say I find charming the fact that you do not disclose their names. I assume is to protect their privacy as they are unable to provide their consent.
Happy New Year, Swistle. I enjoy visiting your little corner of the internet.
I’m sorry to hear about your family’s cat. I absolutely think you made the right decision, but it still 100% sucks to lose a pet. I bawled when we had to put my kids’ guinea pig down, and I wasn’t even that attached to it.
I can’t give you a Canadian comparison on egg prices because my son has a severe allergy so we are an egg-free household. If I hear any rumours or notice pricing at the grocery store I’ll come back and provide an update.
I’m so sorry about the cat but glad to know of the care you provided the cat both in-the-event and, well, throughout his life.
Eggs! Thank you for mentioning this, I was unaware and had just submitted a Costco order via Instacart to which, having read your post, I have now added 5 dozen eggs, which is a larger quantity than I usually buy from Costco (or anywhere!), but seems perhaps prudent given the circumstances (cost: slightly less than $4/dozen at that quantity, which is — a lot). We are not huge egg users and the hubby will be annoyed but he would be MORE annoyed if he found himself wanting and not having eggs. So.
I’m sorry for the loss of kitty. Even when we know its the right call, it’s still such a hard decision to make and that doesn’t’ make it hurt any less.
RIP Dear Sad-Boy Cat. <3
Here in California, where ALL the chickens must live as royalty (I’m not opposed, just to say those are the only eggs we have) prices of eggs are WELL over $7. I have heard reports of $10/doz!! I was used to paying $5/doz but wow. $10/doz just seems like…a lot. And the egg shelves are usually half bare! Is it just me, or do post-covid grocery supply chains just…not work that well??
I’m so sorry about the cat, but also glad it ended as peacefully as possible. I’m not sure about the current egg situation here in the capital of Canada but my husband just told me to buy some tomorrow so I will be soon. Currently I can’t get Hydrasense, and for a while I couldn’t find Jasmine rice. It’s anxiety-provoking and also indicative of how privileged I am that the tiniest interruption in the supply chain is so noticable.
I often buy groceries online and consequently don’t pay a lot of attention to prices – but the other day I was AT the store, buying groceries, got a dozen generic eggs – and it rang up for $5.12 – I glanced around (I was in self check out) looking for the employee, thinking to have them do a price check because THERE IS NO WAY A DOZEN EGGS COSTS $5 – I was certain this was a typo by whoever the put-in-the-prices person was. But I wasn’t feeling like a hassle, so I paid it. The next time I shopped I looked at eggs again – and YES, THE REAL PRICE IS OVER $5/dozen. I felt like I had dropped into an alternate universe. Now seeing people on Facebook marketplace offering to sell the eggs their chickens hatch makes more sense ($2/dozen). Eating is so expensive. :(