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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

2940.0. "SHOULD THIS BE A PROBLEM?" by ECADJR::LWU (TRIUMPH(TR6) to turbo-charged T-BIRDS...) Wed Oct 11 1989 14:09

    
    I have a question about a situation and would like some of you folks
    out there to give me some feedback.
    
    I have a friend (friend #1) who is extremly close to her cat.  She
    and I,  both have another friend who has adopted these two "wild" 
    kittens from some unknown parts.  This second friend loves her two 
    babies, but has not been very responsible in getting them to a vet
    to be check or for any shots.  Claims that money is very very tight
    and she really can't afford such luxuries as a vet since the cats
    seem healthy.  Her cats are in and out of the house all the time
    and eat what they catch as well as the cat food she has at home
    for them.  I should mention that friend #1 keeps her cat in and makes 
    sure her cat has his annual shots and check up, like the rest of the 
    family.  Have I lost anyone yet?
    
    Here is the problem, friend #1 won't go to friend #2's house or
    let friend #2 visit her house.  This summer her main concern was
    fleas and ticks.  She saids she is afraid that she might bring some 
    illness into the house that will effect her baby.  Even thought she 
    understands somethings just can't be avoided, she feels why take a 
    chance with this situation.  This situation is putting a very bad
    strain on me.  I don't know who is right or if anyone is.  I'm just
    in the middle and could use some opinions from other cat lovers.
    
    Lor
    no answeres

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2940.1		FRAGLE::PELUSO	I'd rather be riding	`Wed Oct 11 1989 14:35`	5
	As well as being allergic to other cats, and knowing of a similar situation...all I do is make sure I limited contact w/ said kittens and wash well before I touch my pookie. I don't know if this is the correct alternative, but it is the best for me.
2940.2	Most viruses won't be a problem	SWAT::COCHRANE	Brace yourself - a brace of cats!	`Wed Oct 11 1989 15:37`	14
	Fleas and ticks excepting, most viruses will not live long enough on a human to be transmitted to your kitties upon your return. This I got from my vet after I had four sick kitties the week after I went to my first cat show as a spectator :-( . Make sure your friend washes her hands when she returns before petting her own kitty. Perhaps if she visits she could bring over some info on cat care? Even if she can't afford the luxuries, rabies shots are a must for an indoor/outdoor cat, and perhaps neutering/spaying as well. Mary-Michael (who kitties get rabies shots even though they don't go out)
2940.3		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.	`Wed Oct 11 1989 16:02`	12
	How about suggesting to friend #1 that she ask her vet about her concerns to see how valid they are? As for friend #2, various places around here run low cost shots days. Perhaps there is something similar in your vicinity? Try the local city-run animal shelter to see if they do it or hknow who might. I agree that dumping a whole bunch of cat care pamphlets on #2 might be helpful; TreeHouse, whose address is somewhere in this file, has a bunch that they will mail to you on request.
2940.4	I have low cost spay applications	CRUISE::NDC	Nancy Diettrich-Cunniff-I wanted it all	`Thu Oct 12 1989 09:58`	34
	I'm at home today as I"m not feeling well, but send me mail and I'll send you some low cost spay applications - I'm sure your friend can afford $30/cat for a spay - less for a neuter. Plus K&H spay, which is really only convenient to eastern Mass - also offers low cost rabies & distemper shots. Tree house Animal Foundation's address is 1212 W. Carmen Ave Chicago Il 60640-2999 I agree that the chances of friend #1 bringing anything home to her cat, provided she washes her hands before touching her cat, is very slim. We currently have a stray staying with us and I am extreemly concerned about transmitting anything to my five. I talked to the vet about this last night. As far as fleas & tics go - I have been told by MANY reputible sources, including two vets, that you can easily carry in fleas & tics to your own indoor cats. Make sure friend #1 understands this in the event that she discovers her cat has tapeworms or fleas. In that case, she probably brought them in to her cat, and didn't get them from friend #2's cat. Shots & neutering are CRITICAL. Friend #2 should not condsider the vet a luxury. It is not, the vet is a necessity! If she fails to vaccinate her cats, she may be looking at very large vet bills - or worse, having to have her cats put down after putting them through some nasty and totally unnecessary experiences! Please impress this upon her and encourage her to set aside a few dollars a week (say $5) in a piggy bank to be used to pay the vet bills. Thanks for caring Nancy DC
2940.5	I GUESS IT'S UP TO ME....	DECLB7::LWU	TRIUMPH(TR6) to turbo-charged T-BIRDS...	`Thu Oct 19 1989 10:42`	19
	Thank you everyone for your replies. I wish I could say the situation between these two friend is better, however, neither will let up on what degree of care for cats is neccessary, and yes I'm still in the middle. The idea of letting pamphets "do the talking" sounded like good idea. So, I've collected some pamphets from my vet on caring for cats and "left" them on my friend's table. I'm even thinking of offering to take the two babies for a checkup and shots when I take SOS for his. I hate the idea that her little ones might suffer later, just because she feels money is too "tight" for shots. Nancy, Karen, thank you for the info on Tree Hous Animal Foundation! Lor (and SOS)