kitten

[Jet888]

Last night my DD's friend gave us a kitten, 4 mo.'s old. They have 7 cats and 4 kittens and need to get the kittens homes or they'll go to the pound. DH and I really aren't cat people but she's sweet and our DD's love her. When I called the vet this morning I made an appointment for next week and they told me about feline leukemia and AIDs which has me really nervous. I don't know much about cats and now I'm hoping I didn't make a mistake by taking this kitten in. I just felt bad for her and didn't want to see her end up in the pound. I think I need to hear I did the right thing and won't regret getting a cat.

 

[Cebhfhionn]

You did the right thing! I'm sure that your new kitten will bring you much joy!

 

[mommytotwo]

Sounds like your vet is just letting you know what sort of diseases are out there, so to bring your kitten in for a check up and for it's shots so that your kitten doesn't get sick.
You helped to save a little kittys life

 

[helenabear]

I agree, sounds like your vet is just telling you diseases out there that they normally check for in kittens (at least mine). So you'll see them take blood for those and then give shots when you go get your kitty checked out. Then after that is done enjoy the furbaby! Kittens are so much fun

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

Feline lukemia and AIDS only affect cats. There is absolutely no chance of them passing it on the humans. All pets come with risks of illness, not just cats.

Speaking as a cat person, I have had cats all my life, they are pretty self sufficient and low matenance, but do require alot of love. I think it's great that you want to help the little sweetie out, but if you don't think you can provide a great home for her, you shouldn't take her.

Here is a website with alot of great information:

http://cats.about.com/

Check it out, talk to your DD about the responsibilities of owning a cat, ask your vet about any concerns you have, and make your decision from there.

Good luck with your decision, and keep us posted as to how it goes!

 

[septbride2002]

If your friends cats were up on their shots then you probably have very little to worry about. Only cats can give cats AIDS so that is also not a concern.

~Amanda

 

[Hercules10]

One drawback to kittens...they turn into cats.

I will tell you this. My 90lb German Shepherd's vet bills are less then my 15lb tabby cat vet bills. The checks/shots for all the feline nasties out there add up!

BTW...good for you for keeping her off the streets and out of the pound.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I'm sure she'll be fine.

Thank you for taking in this poor creature. You are doing a very good thing and I think the cat will bring you much joy. Cats are wonderful companions and relatively easy to care for.

There will be vet bills though. At first the bills will be a little higher, for kitten shots, tests and having the cat spayed. Then it will be annual shots, barring any unforseen illness.

Your vet is just warning you about what sorts of things the cat might possibly have. Feline AIDs can not be passed to humans. If the cats mother had it's shots, chances are the kittens do not have it. But theres no way to tell without the test. They checked my friends cat for these things recently too and he got a clean bill of health.

It's unfortunate that the kittens mother is apparently owned by irresponsible people who are not willing to take responsibility for the lives they created when they decided to let their cat breed. I have very little tolerance for people who get pets and don't have them spayed and then wind up dumping the kittens in the pound.

Thank you for saving one of them. I hope it works out. But if it doesn't, at least you cared enough to try.

Best of luck and post some pictures of your new furbaby when you get a chance!

Sheri

 

[CheshireVal]

Awwww kittens are so cute and loving. You already said your daughters love her.... I'm sure you will too before long!

I guess I'm not totally objective since I'm an admitted cat person, but I don't think you'll have any regrets. Well, many regrets anyway. (Kittens can be brats sometimes!)

 

[catsrule]

Kitties bring such joy and happiness. One look at that little face and you are hooked. Checking a kitty out for feline aids/leukemia is a normal precedure done to all kitties. They only pass it to other kitties.

conCATulations on your new kitty!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There are shots for feline leukemia as a preventative measure. I forget about Feline Aids--not sure if a preventative shot is available.

Your kitten's blood can be tested for both. As long as she is indoors and not around other cats--her chances of getting these diseases would be really really low.

We have 5 cats--are biggest issues right now are--2 littermates have plaque and gum issues--i.e. need their teeth brushed, 1 outdoor cat got a serious laceration that was stitched up and has since healed, 1 of our 5 sustained 2 debilitating knee injuries which has never before been seen in a cat (her chances were better for getting a disease). All of our cats were adopted--1 stray from outside of a shelter and 1 adopted from the shelter. Others would have gone to the shelter. The littermates--we were only going to adopt one--but noone wanted the brother b/c he looked very funny and didn't seem lovable. So we saved him too.

None of our 5 cats have had any blood diseases to speak of.

Keep your kitty healthy by regular vet visits and keeping her shots updated! And be sure to have her spayed! Train her to be an inside kitty--if you can. Our last two adoptees left presents for us when we tried to do that--so they are indoor outdoor. All are spayed/neutered.

Good luck--you have saved your kitty from certain death (too many animals are euthanized each year b/c they aren't adopted). Her chances were good of getting adopted, but you never know. Kudos to you!!

 

[Ronda93]

FIV (the feline AIDS) is not fatal in itself. Much like AIDS in humans it leaves a cat vulnerable to other infections. Those infections are usually transmitted from other cats. If this is an exclusively indoor cat, the opportunity to get a cat disease is very low.

Those that go outside should be vaccinated against feline leukemia. As for FIV, there is a vaccination, but getting it creates the added delima that they will test positive for FIV from then on. Many shelters destroy cats that test positive for FIV.

Best bet, get the tests, have it spayed and then keep the cat indoors, always. Another reason for spaying - FIV is often transmitted by intact toms during mating.

I learned too much about FIV this past summer when we tried to rescue a young cat in a friend's neighborhood.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We found a 7-8 week old kitten in our front yard a few weeks ago. It was very skinny and it's eyes were nearly shut with scabs and crud. Poor baby. So we took her to our vet's office to see about euthanizing her.

Long story short - we now have a very healthy, nearly three month old kitten named Abbey. She's been tested for FIV and other diseases and she is very healthy. The staff at the vet's office is amazed how much she has grown and how good she looks.

We're out a bundle of money between meds and tests and special food to get her healthy. But she is doing great. Even our 13 yr old dog is learning to tolerate the kitten.

In about 4 months or so, we'll take her to get spayed.