| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 3910.1 | A phone call away (?) | CIMNET::M_MCCARTHY | | Thu Aug 16 1990 17:28 | 30 |
| Hi Donna!
You're a kind soul for caring for and adopting your two new tom
kitties. It can be an expensive proposition, I know. I don't know
where you're from, but I take my "kids" to the Hudson Animal Hospt. and
they offer an insurance deal where you pay a certain amount yearly and
it covers most of the basics. I haven't taken them up on it because I
recently discovered that another animal hospital in my area will take
care of all my kiddies and reduce the cost with each. It's the Apple
Country Animal Hospt. in Stow. I haven't met them, but will probably
try them next time we're due for the annual check ups. As it was
explained to me, if you have a cat and dog, they'll do both for the
price of one, and the same applies for any other combinations. If you
have more than that, multiples, they'll figure it out, but it's a
really good deal----provided that they're GOOD.
Having a good VET is ultra important to me/us. I'm very very fussy,
but who isn't that loves their furry friends??? Although I am
satisfied with my VET, the prices are getting sky-high and looking
around may just be the thing to do.
So I'd recommend that you make some calls to VETs in your area and ask
their prices and policies. If you explain your situation, I'd bet that
they will be more forthcoming with money saving possibilities. Mind
you, they often will NOT tell you unless you ask, so speak up!
Good luck!
Cat(hy)
|
| 3910.2 | call the board of heatlth | VAXWRK::SKALTSIS | Deb | Thu Aug 16 1990 17:31 | 6 |
| Call the board of health in your town and ask if they have a rabies
clinic for cats, and if so, when. I know in Waltham we have one once a
year at the fire station and the cost is only $5/shot (With 8 cats, I
save a small fortune).
Deb
|
| 3910.3 | low cost or no cost? | NAVIER::BRODEUR | | Thu Aug 16 1990 17:34 | 8 |
| You might try to negotiate with your (or other) vet to spread the
payment out over some months to reduce the sticker shock, or barter
some service that the vet may need like cleaning cages or floors
or snow removal etc... or you could keep the cat indoors until you
find a solution. (are you married? you could always ask a vet out
to dinner while he hands out the shots). Also try some of the shelters
or animal groups if you really have a financial problem they may
offer some help.
|
| 3910.4 | Thanks! | DPDMAI::HUDDLESTON | | Thu Aug 16 1990 19:31 | 29 |
| Thanks for the advise everyone. Lets see, first, I'm in the Dallas,
Texas area. I will call the board of health, vets, shelters, etc and
check to see whats available. And I'm married, so getting friendly
with the vet is out of the question.
Winter (the big, fluffy white tomcat) was litterally bones when I found
him. It hurt him whenever I would touch him. But he looks normal now
and has a great fur coat, and I can't feel his bones anymore. And he
minds me (more than I can say for Sam). Its funny, this big tomcat
has the highest pitch meow.
I adopted Sam (beautiful beige Simese, with brilliant blue eyes)
reluctantly. I'm getting used to him too. He bit me (brought the
blood) and I had a rabies scare for a couple of weeks. He's kind of a
bully, and a little pushy. But he's getting used to being petted--and
boy does he like that! I have to use a spray bottle --used to spray at
him, but now I just spray at the wall---to get him to go on before
Winter comes by for his food. (Nothing like a cat fight to wake the
neighbors) Guess I was predjudiced against him because Winter has been
my favorite for so long. (not including my little girl Pumpkin)
But I'm getting attached to him too.
Anyway, I want these guys protected from the critters of the night, and
I want to put collars on them so no one will bother them.
Donna
|
| 3910.5 | tisk tisk, just kidding | MARX::BARLOW | | Thu Aug 16 1990 19:35 | 5 |
|
re 3.
Some VET's are female and might not appreciated being asked out by another
woman.
|
| 3910.6 | Anything for a free meal?!?!? | OFFPLS::SPINGLER | | Thu Aug 16 1990 19:42 | 7 |
|
Why not? It might make for a pleasant evening of good conversation!!
We can start a bumper sticker "VETS ARE PEOPLE TOO!!"
Feline Silly,
Sue & Panther & Spot
|
| 3910.7 | No, I thank you!!!! | BOOVX1::MANDILE | | Thu Aug 16 1990 19:44 | 12 |
| Say hi to my sister....she lives in Mckinney! She has a
vet that gives her a break for "charity" cases. I suggest
you give some of the vets in your area a call, and see if
any are a softy like hers. I was out visiting her this
past Sept., and we found three abandoned kittens. I went
with her to her vet, who didn't charge her anything for
the first visit, and discounted the second, etc.
P.S. Very good of you to help out the poor guys. They
sound like they certainly needed a friend.
Lynne
|
| 3910.8 | Give it yourself? | HDLITE::SCOTT | | Thu Aug 16 1990 20:37 | 4 |
| Jeffers Vet Supply sells the shots, and if you live in MA, I believe
you can administer them yourself. Personally, I'm weiry of doing this
myself, but thought I'd present the idea...
|
| 3910.9 | | CIRCUS::KOLLING | Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca. | Thu Aug 16 1990 20:52 | 3 |
| Out here in Calif, the local humane society runs low cost shot clinics
from time to time.
|
| 3910.10 | tried to give Aubrey her shots once... | BEDAZL::ZICKEFOOSE | LENNICE | Thu Aug 16 1990 22:04 | 10 |
| a personal anecdote re giving shots yourself:
While a student and very broke, I decided to get the stuff from the
local feed store and give it to her myself. First, I found out tht
cat hides are *very* tough. Aubrey was an angel and held very still,
but after the 2nd attempt to get the needle through her elephant
hide I was a little shakey. I dropped the needle, and caught it -
needle-end first, right in my hand. Gave myself a rabies shot, not
a good thing to do.
|
| 3910.11 | | WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO | set home/cat_max=infinity | Thu Aug 16 1990 22:45 | 6 |
| Re: .10
You and I should get together. I am fully vaccinated for Feline
Leukemia thanks to my cat, Monroe. :^)
Jo
|
| 3910.12 | | CRUISE::NDC | Putiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313 | Fri Aug 17 1990 15:25 | 7 |
| re: .8 - When the cats are young and healthy this is probably
fine. I gave the kittens their shots. However, when you're dealing
with strays and/or x-ferals the condition of which you can't know,
I feel it is best to take the animal to a vet for an expert
examination.
Just my .02
|
| 3910.13 | shots | DPDMAI::HUDDLESTON | | Fri Aug 17 1990 21:42 | 8 |
| I agree with .12. I wouldn't have the nerve (after having been bitten
before--badly) to do this. I'll let the vet do it.
Oh, I found rabies shots at the vet for $10. Is Distemper necessary
for stray cats? How about inside cats?
Donna
|
| 3910.14 | | EMASA2::CUNNIFF | | Mon Aug 20 1990 12:50 | 12 |
| re .13:
"Is Distemper necessary for stray cats?"
I wouldn't expect an indoor-only cat to be exposed to it, but I'd
vaccinate an indoor cat for it just the same. An outdoor cat would
DEFINITELY need all the protection a person can give it, and that
would include inocculations against everything one could afford.
jack
(sparing yet another two cents!)
|
| 3910.15 | | CRUISE::NDC | Putiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313 | Mon Aug 20 1990 12:58 | 7 |
| Distemper, Rhinotrachiatis etc are very very nasty diseases and an
indoor cat is definitely at risk for these. I believe some of them
are airborn. There is another note in here about someone who lost
a kitten to distemper and how devastating an illness it is. The
Three-in-one is the absolute minimum vaccination that a cat needs.
I believe my vet charges all of $7 so there really isn't an excuse
not to get it for a cat.
|
| 3910.16 | | WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO | set home/cat_max=infinity | Mon Aug 20 1990 16:29 | 21 |
| $7 isn't a bad price for vaccines, but when you have 5 cats, the
cost adds up. Plus, most vets will not vaccinate without charging
an office call first, which usually runs $18-25 depending on the
vet.
At the very minimum, the three-in-one should be given to all cats.
My feeling about ferals/strays, is that I will give them whatever
shots they need myself, and care for them the best that I can myself.
I can't afford to take them all into my vet. My feeling has always
been that they are better off with the little that I can do for
them myself, than if I did nothing for them. I save my money for
their Felv test just before I place them.
Some states have laws against a person vaccinating their own animal
for rabies, but other than that, anyone can learn to vaccinate their
own cats. You can buy your three-in-1's, Felv vaccines, and rabies
vaccines from catalog companies. You can also get syringes from
the catalog companies. If you live in NY, you have to get a special
release to buy these though.
Jo
|