How healthy are rescue cats? UPDATE

Duchess Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 2351

You're so right, Ellie! Purebred pets get sick, too! Mandu did...and it wasn't something that could have been foreseen no matter what kind of pet he was.

Princess Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7475

I asked a question on behalf of my friend. I didn't realize I asked anything wrong. I did not mean to Ellie.

Yes, pedigree cats do get sick Cat. However, I am worried about communicable diseases being brought into my home. The breeders I now deal with are excellent and this is not a worry to me. I can't take a chance on ringworm, fleas, FIP, Feline Leukemia etc etc that shelter cats are more likely to have. Last year when Binky needed the emergency surgery some of his syptoms could have been FIP. I told the Vet---NO WAY! Because I knew his breeder was excellent. That ruled something out very quickly when we needed a diagnosis and fast.

Please don't fault me because I am being protective of my cats. My pedigree cats are NO better than any other cat in the world. I go out of my way to post a kind comment to everyone here about how beautiful their cats are because they ARE! Am I proud of my cats? YES---but then every good Fur Mom should be and I am no exception.

I believe in freedom of choice. Adopt from a shelter or buy a cat, whatever suits your particular situation the best is what you should do. Yes, Dakota is darling and so are my cats and everyone elses'--it's ALL good!

Marchioness Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 1734

I was not tryng to slight anyone either. I just base my opinion on my experiences - which were not the best. I understand that not everyone has bad experiences.

Princess Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7475

Lynda, you said nothing wrong. I tried to adopt from a shelter about 30 years ago and was told I was not acceptable. I was honest and told them I had declawed my Turkish angora---the one that hung from the drapes literally! So my experience was rather poor as well. I did what I had to do in order to keep the cat in my home. Other people would have put him in a shelter he was so bad.

The excellent breeders like you are not to blame for all the cats in shelters either. It's the kitten mills and people that don't spay and neuter that are to blame.

I don't understand how telling our experiences are wrong or asking a question is wrong since this is a cat forum. But then again, I don't understand the actions of a lot of things on cat forums. I stand by my sentiments but certainly did not intentionally go out to be offensive---honest!

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:52 am

I can't say I have had a bad experience from a shelter, however, my adoptions took place in 1985 and 1986. Today being 2009 and with the economy being the way it is, I have personal concerns whether it may be with some breeders or shelters. Josh and Romeo are my living proof relative to some breeders. :smile

Upper respiratory issues in my opinion are minor. Whether a cat is purchased or adopted out from a shelter, rule of thumb is to isolate it from others for at least 1 week. URI's can be brought on simply from the stress of a new environment.

It is ringworm that I take a strong objection to regardless of point of origin (cattery/shelter).
Romeo had ringworm and the cattery he came from was shut down for this reason by the Health Department. This is a disease that can be transmitted to humans. The most vunerable are children and the elderly.

With this being said, I feel there should be no exemptions. Whether a cattery or shelter, cases should be isolated and adoptions/purchases should not take place until negative culture results are obtained.

As curable as ringworm may be, someone cannot realize the impact this will cause if it taken into the wrong household, eg: senior cats, children and elderly occupants with comprised immune systems, etc.

Princess Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7475

May I add ringworm can impact your ability to work as well. People that work in the medical field are not allowed on the job if they are infected with a contagious disease. I know first hand---I caught it both times from my cats. I have a compromised immune system. And yes, they were purchased from disreputable breeders.
I agree, ALL sources must be held accountable and if not, report them to your local health department.

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:29 am

Sorry for the additional post! I thought I had edited my original post with an additional comment but it doesn't appear. :confused

Joane, I am so sorry this had to happen to your friend. A good charitable gesture has turned into a nightmare for her. :sad

I am pretty much a person that will always say what is on my mind so here goes...

Unfortunately our society today has turned into a somewhat lazy, disposable, and unaccountable one as a whole. And lets not forget the fact that as a country we are also in financial dire straits. This applies to everyone. We simply need to stop making excuses to justify the difference between right and wrong.

I feel that a pleasurable experience on either purchasing or adopting a pet is based on the intregity, honesty and experience of individuals that run the facility or cattery.

Ringworm is a "no-no". Kindly tell your friend to report this shelter to the Health Department. Lack of funds, over population, etc. are no excuses.

Whereas some may view me as a "hard nose" in reality I am giving the remaining homeless animals a fighting chance of getting adopted in this shelter. This should never have been and these helpless animals do not desire this bad publicity. As also your friend did not deserve the additional expense and work encountered after she adopted them.

Lets face it! If we had a bad experience with a commodity we purchased, would we buy another? Wouldn't this apply to everything we do in life. There are good shelters and bad ones as there are breeders. Lets report the bad ones so the good ones can thrive. :smile

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:10 am

Allie almost died since she could not have her cysts aspirated since she tested positive for ringworm. This lead her into an emergency hospitalization whereas the condition is dismissed under such circumstances. Also lead into a second hospitalization due to her poor immune system she acquired a virus from the first hospitalization which lead to making everyone else in the family ill. Sassie also required hospitalization! :cry

Not to mention the pain and suffering, I was faced with over $6000.00 in hospital bills. I never bothered totalling up regular vet bills for everyone else since I felt what I don't know will not hurt me. :smile

Ringworm doesn't sit well with me. This was the worst household this disease could have been exposed to. My beloved mother and I came down with it also. It took forever for me to clear it up on my Mom who had cancer. :sad

I do recall a well known breeder from a previous forum I was a member at stating I should take it easy on Romeo's breeder and this did not warrant her closing her cattery. :shocked

I guess I am made of money. :lol

And since Allie is old anyways, maybe I should have just put her to sleep. I could have saved a bundle here. What the yeck...I have others that are younger!

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 10:07 am

My shelter experience before getting Precious:

First I went to the Carroll Co Humane Society. They had quite a few cats and kittens but I was not allowed to take any out of the cages and take them into a play area where you can watch the kitten/cat play and interact with him/her. So they asked if I could come back in a few days. Did not explain why. So I went back in a few days - no cats!! They euthanized them ALL because they had some sort of very bad virus come through there and that is why I was not allowed to have any one on one visit that day. So sad!! Then second, I went to the Balt Co Humane Society and they were so rude and ignorant that I went somewhere else. Went to Adopt-a- Pet and they were pushing a Persian that had cherry eye which they said they were treating to no avail. All these kittens and cats were running around and ALL of them were sneezing and had watery eyes. I just had a feeling this was not good. Mind you, I had NO cat experience, but it just didn't feel right. I have rescued cats and found good homes for them. Shame on those who do not spay/neuter their cats unless they are breeding. I have donated money to the HSUS, North Shore Animal League and the local Humane Society - I often wonder how much is paying salaries and how much is going for the benefits of the cats. That really bothers me........

Duchess Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 3409

No one has done anything wrong.
Joane, you have to realize I have been a radical for shelters since I helped with one and was determined that it would work. Hot, sweaty days making sure all was right and then seeing that it was a dumping ground for everyone's unwanted litter or their animal who didn't match the furniture or any other ridiculous reason. I have this emotional attachment that makes me feel like I have to speak up or I feel like a hypocrite.
I know there are problems and I am sorry about that, but we see issues with pets who were bought and given a clean bill of health.

No one should take in an animal that is sick and if they have any question, it should be taken to the vet before coming to your home.
I didn't let Sparky in my home for a long while because we had an older cat who was sick.