4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Olly]

As some of you may know from another post, I adopted a new cat just over two weeks ago. He came from a local animal charity, someone knew I was looking for a second cat and put me in touch with them.

 

I'd agreed to take him BEFORE various facts became clear, namely that he'd only just been neutered, he'd been living rough until very recently, and that he was about 9 or 10. I've had lots of cats and I was willing to take on one that needs a bit of TLC, but I wasn't expecting these factors. Nonetheless, I didn't want to go back on my word and I took him in.

 

He was so traumatised that he's been living behind the desk, and I've only managed to stroke bits of him. He's been eating well, but had quite bad diarrhoea - I didn't want to stress him too much, so waited until today when his second lot of vaccinations were due, to take him to the vet.

 

It's the first time I've handled him properly as he's been so shy, and I was horrified to realise when I pulled him out of his hiding-place that he felt quite dehydrated (his skin wasn't snapping back), and is very thin.

 

He is now in the vet's on a drip. The vet said that in his view he's nearer to 15 than 10 years old, not in good health, and he can feel an enlarged kidney.

 

I am absolutely furious with the charity - I believed I was getting a difficult, but essentially healthy cat; I can't believe the vet that neutered him only three weeks ago, didn't spot the kidney problem; and that his age was so far out. This was intended to be a companion for my other cat for at least a few years.

 

It's not that I wanted a perfect cat, but I feel I have been badly misled by the charity. There's also been a lot of money spent by them - and distress for the poor cat - in being neutered, vaccinated etc when in fact his prospects were probably not good. I am now waiting for the results of blood tests BEFORE I ring the charity and give them my thoughts!

[clootie]

This is just dreadful Olly. That poor creature should never have been put through the trauma of an anaesthetic until he was fully examined and healthy enough to cope. What was the vet thinking of that neutered him? I've read so many negative posts now in relation to animal charities. I know they mean well but this is just another example of doing what's best for the person and not the animal. You are absolutely right to have words with the charity but before you do, I suggest you write it all down just to make sure you haven't missed anything. When I'm upset about something, especially something like this, I tend to be all over the place when a confrontation is looming but it's so much easier if I'm prepared.

 

I'm sure he'll pick up after a few days at the vet but the enlarged kidney is a worry. That's usually a sign of age - my old cat was 21 when I decided to it was time to let her go last year. Good luck Olly, I'd really like to know how you get on - please keep us posted.

[Egluntyne]

How dreadful for you and him Olly.

 

I hope you get a resolution.

 

The charity should pick up the tab for all expenses you have had given the circumstances.....and take him back if you feel that you are unable to take him on.

[Guest]

This so-called charity should be hung out to dry. They are clearly NOT acting in the animals best interests and abusing the good nature of someone who is willing to take on a more difficult to place animal. All too often older animals are hard to place - someone willing to take on a "middle aged" animal should be treasured!

[The Dogmother]

I'd be furious allright!!

[Olly]

Well I'm feeling a little calmer now ... I was practically shaking with anger when I posted earlier! The vet rang back with some better news - he was so pessimistic this morning that I honestly thought the poor old fella was going to have to be put to sleep, but he said the blood tests haven't revealed any major organ damage.

 

He does however have raised white cells indicating a chronic and long-standing infection (so why didn't the previous vet pick this up? ) and will need antibiotic treatment. The good news is, he can probably come home tomorrow. However in the vet's opinion he is much nearer to 15 than 9 or 10, even making allowances for his having had a hard life.

 

I'm very relieved, I have only had him a short while but already got attached to him. Unfortunately my faith in 'animal rescue' charities has taken a severe hit. I don't feel they were honest with me. Of course I'll keep the poor old puss, I could have done without another large bill this month, but heigh ho - but realistically I don't think he's got a long life expectancy, and it's not what I'd planned.

 

I'm afraid I already had a low opinion of animal rescue charities, some do a lot of good work, but I feel there's sometimes a tendency to preserve life at all costs rather than look at the realities of the situation.

 

Right, now I know he's coming back, I need to block up the space behind the desk so he can't 'go to ground' again! From now on he's going to be hauled out and checked over every day, whether he likes it or not. Will keep you posted, thanks for the support.

[dogs and chickens]

That is awful you poor thing, and poor cat as well, I hope the little chap recovers.

 

That 'charity' needs telling !

 

Good luck with it all

[buffie]

Sorry to hear this Olly, we adopted a cat that I was told was a 9 month old who'd had a hard life but would be just fine. This was years ago in Wales, anyway he was about 18 years old and had some serious illness that meant he never could keep food in him and I nursed him for 12 months and then he died. I never regretted the time with him but he never should have been rehomed so ill, once I had him just had to keep going until he died in my arms and the time had come.

 

I do hope this all works out, for you all

 

 

Buffie x

[chickenlass]

I know it sounds a bit hard but I have found with very nervous cats that they sometimes feel more secure if kept in a large dog cage/crate for a while until they start to trust you a bit better. [i used to run a cattery and have also rescued and tamed ferral cats/kittens in the past.] Obviously it would need to be large enough for a litter tray and a bed.

Good luck with this poor puss...It is very rewarding when you can turn a cat around and make them into a pet.

I'm disgusted with the charity though for allow ing this cat to be put up for rehoming in such a poor state of health.

[keyhole kate]

Oh Bless

At least he has been lucky to have found his paws with you

and despite you being horribly and unkindly misled by the charity he still has a new mummy, new home and a new start for however long he has left.

Given time I am sure he will reward you with love & devotion

 

Kitty

[The Dogmother]

I'm so sorry to hear that Olly.

 

The little fella is so lucky to have you to look after him, but you have every right to be annoyed with the charity - this isn't the first time that I've hard ef similar circumstances.I think you should speak to them and seek to recover at least some of the costs that you have borne so far in respect of their mis-representation. It doesn't mean that you're any less fond of him, just that you are making them aware that you know what has gone o and that you don't want it to happen to anyonese.

 

Give him a cuddle from me, and if you have any Avipro for your chooks, then slip that in his water.

[Olly]

Thanks - didn't realise you could use Avipro on cats, that's helpful! Chickenlass, thanks for the tip about the cage, I had wondered about a dog crate or something. I don't have anything like that but I keep meaning to try and Freecycle one in case I need it for emergency chicken-care.

 

I'm going to rearrange the room so that, while he can't hide away completely, he can have a place where he feels safe and doesn't have to make eye-contact with me. He had seemed to be getting a bit more confident but I reckon the trip to the vets will have destroyed that!

 

Thanks for all the advice, and I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, Buffie! I have decided to defer ringing the charity until Tuesday when I'll be feeling calmer and in 'work' mode. I'm going to write it all down as someone else suggested. I'm just grateful I could come on here and let off steam - I'm afraid most of my friends think I'm bonkers to take on another cat anyway!

[BeckyBoo]

Good on you for taking him on, poor old puss, what a life, no wonder he's so shy, must have been traumatic enough being neutered when he wasn't used to human contact, never mind if he was feeling rough anyway. As well as a crate (which I've only used with our dog, and which has been VERY useful, gave her somewhere safe of her own to go) you could try those cat igloo thingies. My cat wouldnt' give one houseroom, but my friends cat LOVES his, it's all dark and snuggly, he might like it. (Mind you my experience of cats is that they mainly like the places they're not supposed to go and can't be bothered with anything I buy )

Anyway, good luck with him, once he starts to come round I bet he'll be a real treasure.

 

MRs B

[Olly]

Ah, another good idea. I've got a cat bed, which he has actually USED - the first cat I've ever had that's done so so he might like an iglu. Wonder if I can get to Pets At Home tomorrow before he's ready to be picked up!

 

(Sorry, that word seems all wrong now. Everyone knows the proper spelling is Eglu!)

[Egg Lou]

Poor little chap but sounds like he has ended up with you for a reason.. I agee you should be seeking help with costs as cannot believe their vet missed these signs!

 

Sounds like he is going to be very loved for the rest of his life..

[Cate in NZ]

Nothing to add, I think you have every right to be severely disenchanted with the charity and I would ring to complain. But good on you for giving the cat a home and reat care and attention, I am sure he will thrive with your care and attention, and whilst he may not have a great many years left to live they will be safe, happy and loved ones .

[The Dogmother]

Wish you were nearer Olly, I have a crate that you could borrow; got it from Freeecycle, brand new!

[Janty]

I do hope your cat picks up soon.

 

I rehomed a border collie from a rescue centre about twelve years ago. I already had a two year old male and I took in a female (both with vital bits removed ). I was told that she was very nervous and that she had been kept in a shed with her two sisters for most of her life as the old couple that owned them had health problems and couldn't walk them. Bess was a lovely dog but couldn't walk along the road without hitting the pavement and spinning around every time a car went past which made walkies a lot of fun.

 

We made slow progress but we were getting somewhere with her. Then, one morning, after we had had her for about 18 months, she bit the postman. I was four months pregnant at the time and I felt that I had no option but to take her to the vets. It was difficult but I believe that once a dog has crossed that line, then there is no turning back.

 

When I phoned the rescue centre to tell them the bad news, the man I spoke to said that she had lasted at least a year more than her sisters who had all been put to sleep soon after being rehomed. Then he told me that they had not only been living in the old couples shed but that the couple's grandson had been sentenced for using the dogs to bait his pitbull terriers. I was not impressed to say the least and so I have found it very difficult to trust rescue centres since, even though I now that a lot of them do good work.

[Egluntyne]

My word...what an appalling story, Janty.

 

How unfair that you should have put in all that effort with her to find it wasted.

 

If you had been in full possession of the facts you might have come to a different decision about taking her.

 

It is almost as if the charities have targets to meet and will employ any tactic to do so.

 

At what cost?

[Janty]

I do think that in cases like this, it would be kinder just to put the animal to sleep. Bess was lovely but looking back, we were never going to succeed given the circumstances and I would never have taken her on if I had been fully informed of her background.

[Ms Marple]

Olly - at least you are giving him a chance, that is more than alot of folk would do. I definitely think you should be negotiating with the charity. I did not think any vet operatedwithout doing bloodtests. I hope he is ok

[Olly]

Well he came back from the vet this morning, he had antibiotics and a litre of fluid - however he would not eat a thing while he was there. Spent the whole time hiding apparently. He's been back behind the desk (my blocking-off tactics didn't work!) since about 11.00 today, and eaten about a tablespoonful of coley fillet.

 

I'm in here to use the computer, and I keep talking to him, but I'll leave him alone again shortly as he's reverted to the state he was in three weeks ago when he first arrived - too scared to make eye-contact. The vet could not find anything specifically wrong with him other than the diarrhoea which the antibiotics should have cured, but in his view he is not a well cat. I'm not holding out much hope to be honest, unless he starts eating.

 

The vet's bill was £314, which I could ill afford this month, however it won't mean I can't pay the mortgage - but I know a lot of people for whom that would be a crippling blow. To be honest it's not about the money - I don't think the charity were honest with me, and I don't really think that plucking this old chap off the street and trying to patch him up was the kindest thing for him.

 

Thanks for all your kind support, I haven't phoned the charity yet as I need to feel calm and clear, and also I want to be able to tell them how he is. Fingers crossed that he starts eating.

[Joojoo]

What a nightmare for you and him

 

I would definitely approach the charity to refund the vets bills as they have seriously misled you on this and you certainly shouldn't be out of pocket to the tune of £300+. I can understand that you are trying to do your best for him, as would I, and you aren't being mercenary by expecting them to sort this mess out. I know at the local Cats Protection if a cat needs veterinary treatment within a certain period of time after rehoming, they will pay for it as they appreciate the fact that the animal has been given a home and understand that new owners probably wouldn't have taken them on if they were going to be faced with a huge vets bill.

 

I really hope that everything works out well for you and him. Poor little devil

 

xx

[Janty]

Hope he comes round soon. You do need to talk to the charity but you are right to wait until you feel calmer. As I said earlier, I was livid when I found out about poor Bess so I know how you must be feeling.

 

Best wishes,

 

Jan

[The Dogmother]

Rob and Chris would be the best people to ask about this, but I haven't seen them online for ages now

 

Olly, the poor chap sounds catatonic with fear; I do hope that he ventures out soon.

We have a rescue cat a bit like that - she was dumped at the local centre, very pregnant and very young (sink estate mum). She had been kicked black and blue, poor wee thing; when we saw her, she'd had 2 kittens, who already had homes, understandably, she was wary of strangers.

Georgie spent her first week with us hiding under the desk (just like yours) but has now become really affectionate so long as she can come to you on her own terms rather than you going to her. She is still mistrustful of big feet and people walking near her; she finds it hard even now, after 4 years, to make eye contact, but then will snuggle up beside me on the bed so long as I don't move... so we're making some progress.

 

Janty, you are so lucky that she snapped before you had the baby and not afterwards - the consequences otherwise don't bear thinking about.

 

These experiences are all too common when dealing with animal charities, and rescue critters aren't always the easiest to live with. I just hope that any future adoptees go into it with their eyes open.