I’m Thinking About Returning A Cat To Shelter They Lied And Gave Me A Diseased Mean Cat I Feel So Bad : (?
Posted by: Alan in Cat Health Problem, tags: About, Diseased, Feel, Gave, Lied, Mean, Returning, Shelter, They, Thinking
Ok tell me if I’m being unreasonable from a non-crazy cat lady point of view please. A little over a week ago I adotped what I was being told a 8month old shy cat who was in healthy condition with all of his shots. This is my first cat but I figure I’ll work with him he’s a cutie. Since getting him home I’ve realized he has a constant weepy eye with brown discharge, an upper respiratory infection, and a major attitude problem because of it. I also found out the cat was not altered but it said he was on the website and during a follow up call with the shelter the lady accidently told me the entire shelter had an upper respiratory infection going around which they neglected to tell me.
I’ve been doing all the standard things to help him (lysine +bathroom steam) and I have a vet appointment scheduled for tomorrow. The problem is he’s so scared or just stuck in his ways one day he will let me pet him another day he will let me begin to pet him then bite me and scratch my hand very hard. I can never know his mentality and it’s almost to the point where I’m scared to pet him because he may bite/scratch me with the intention of hurting.
My problem is I do not believe he is in the initial stages of a respiratory infection so there probably will be no cure. He will be a drain on my pocket and I won’t even get any love from him I’ll just be feeding cleaning up his poop and taking him to the vet his entire life.
Honeslty I’m 23/m this is my first cat and he wasn’t mean at the shelter just shy. Since getting used to me he’s become very mean and the fact that I was not told he was diseased really makes me mad because thats a huge financial difference as opposed to a healthy cat.
Given all these circumstances would it be unreasonable to return to the cat and just say sorry I didn’t know what I was getting into this cat is simply to much work for me plus I would prefer a healthy cat.
I love this cat it’s just I’m scared to pet him and I’m scared of future vet bills because after the adoption I found out the cat had been on clarimax for sometime to no prevail.
Am I a horrible person for even thinking of returning him or is it understandable given I was lied to regarding his health which is why he is shy in my opinion. Since getting him all I’ve done is worry about him getting better which I doubt now knowing he’s in later stages of a respiratory infection… I’m not even the same person because of this cat and constant worrying and I kind of want it to end.. problem being I don’t think my cats condition will end so I see no light at the end of the tunnel.
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November 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
“I know I reacted wrong and I smacked him a couple of times he got very mad.”
And you’re wondering why he’s hissing at you now?
YES – take him back to the shelter immediately before your temper ends up making you kill him. I agree – you “don’t have the maturity” to keep this cat. You also don’t a clue about cats. It’s VERY NORMAL for cats to leave shelters with Upper Respiratory Infections since they’re contagious among cats. And the medication is Clavamox – an amoxycillin – not Clarimax.
And no – since you signed a contract for this cat the shelter does not have to refund your money. Shelter contracts usually state that the cat may have been tested for FIV and FeLv, deflead and dewormed but they do not state that you’re getting a cat that’s completely healthy since URI’s are so common with shelter animals.
As for it not being neutered – did you fail to notice THAT IT HAD TESTICLES?????
Sad, though, as now they’re going to have trouble finding a new home for this animal since you’ve been abusing it.
Please don’t get another pet – EVER.
November 24th, 2009 at 3:09 am
1 he is NOT diseased. He has a cat cold. These can be brought in on clothes from anyone that visits a cat shelter and the entire group of cats can get it literally overnight. It’s as common as our colds, and it’s treatable.
Take your cat to the vet and ask about liquid antibiotics. The pill form is amoxicillian or clavamox, but you-not knowing cats-likely can’t pill him easily so fluid antibiotics are better. They can clear it up in 5 days. I had a persistent upper respiratory that needed azithramyacin just last month for one of ours. Your cat is no more diseased than YOU would be if you had a cold. Get over it.
You have a shy cat, he doesn’t know you and he doesn’t know your home yet. Gawd knows what he went through already in his life, so being pushed when he’s fearful could be triggering memories of abuse in him. You need to be patient. He’s got love, he will show it. Right now you’re just a stranger who’s afraid to be around him.
YOU need to show ‘the love’ too, and it doesn’t mean petting him. It means talking quietly to him and acknowledging that he’s an individual who’s scared right now. We took in an abused cat who was barely a year and a half, and she was immenslys kittish, she paniced if she was picked up (kids had fallen on her), she’d been hit with a broom (scared to death of long thin things) and loud voices had her running into walls trying to get away. We just talked to her quietly, acknowledged when she came into the room without reaching for her. Called her for food when we put something down.
I’d put down small bits of chicken for her every so often, calling her for them. No reaching to pet her, as she interpreted that as a grab. She came around fairly quickly for an abuse case–about 1 1/2 months. Her fear of brooms stayed 8 years. She still is iffy about being picked up but if we talk to her as we do it she stays calm.
Living with a pet is a compromise. They do offer love, but not if they’re fearful of you. There isn’t any ‘thousands’ of dollars to clear up a cat cold, the azithramayacin cost me $31, the pill form was $20. A lifetime of vet care—you take that on as your responsibility with ANY pet, doesn’t matter what kind it is. Look at what you spend on food for yourself for all year, is that begrudged? Health care for your pet should not be an annoying thing for you–it’s expected. It’d be far higher if you had a kid, believe me.
Your cat needs interaction from you, if you can’t find it in your heart to have affection for him, then return him so they can find a better home for him, but the money you gave them for him was a donation for his previous care, which isn’t refunded. The shelters and feline rescues often operate in the red as it is.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:21 am
my story is kind of like yours I got my boys, they seemed healthy but turns out they had feline herpes (chronic upper respiratory infections). yes it cost me a lot of money to get him all healthy again, but he is worth every penny I have spent on him. he knows I saved his life. his brother hasn’t had many illnesses.
just keep in mind that if you return him to the shelter they probably will take him right back and euthanize him. very sad. can you live with yourself being the cause of the death of this cat?
my cats are almost 4 years old and in the last year I have only had to take them to the vet for their vaccinations and wellness exams oh and last year it was time for their dental cleanings. I didn’t have any sick visits to the vet with him.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I would return him. You got a cat for company not for fixing his health problems.
If it was a cat you had for years and he got sick, then I would definately pay to fix him and get him better, but if you just adopted him and he is sick then they should either take him back or pay all his vet bills/give you free vet care at the shelter.
Don’t feel bad. You seem like a good person who just wanted a nice pet to keep you company. Plain and simple, they either sort him out for you or they can keep him and get him better themselves.
Good luck!
November 24th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
NO!!! don’t get rid of him. I think that would be mean, what happens if he wasn’t looked after properly at the shelter?? And you are going to take him back there!!!!!??? Be patient with him, and show that you love him and care for him and eventually he will learn to trust, respect and love you. Remember cats are funny in nature anyway!! and also keep in mind the fact that we all needsomeone when we are unwell, and he obviously needs you nw!!
Don’t send him back, help him and love him. And give him a fantastic life, one that he obviously deserves. Please let me knw what your descision is, but please take my words in to account.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Well, I understand where you’re coming from (this being your first cat and all). Just keep in mind that most animal shelters work for little to no money and most of the pets they have were given to them by someone who neglected their animal(s). It’s unfortunate that he is sick, but just because a kitten has an upper respiratory infection doesn’t mean it’s permanent. When you get a cold do you have it forever? No. A lot of shelters, due to overcrowding caused by irresponsible pet owners, don’t have the money or resources to care for all of the pets that are dumped on them. My best advice? Talk to them about the cat problem. They may help you out. If you are going to want to give your pet away every time it gets sick then you are not ready to own a pet. Period. The cat is only being a jerk right now because he/she is sick, all cats act guarded and fussy when they’re sick. Good luck.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
i say wait it out. see what the doctor says. i wouldn’t give up on him just yet. that was a bad call on the shelter but you picked this cat for a reason. just stick with him and wait to see what the vet says.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Stick with it! When you come through the other side you’ll have a new friend for life. Seriously. Cats take ages to adjust so be patient.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Most shelters want you to return the pet if it doesn’t work out in your home. If you have the original paperwork that says he was neutered and he’s not, thats enough to demand a refund, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
Make sure you have the vet paperwork that says he has the URI since day one so they can’t dispute that it happened while he was with you. Though, logically, cats just don’t GET URI’s unless they’ve been exposed to other cats that had it. Yours wasnt, at least not at your house.
I would return it, say it wasn’t working out, and if they have any qualms tell them they gave you an unhealthy animal and you aren’t afraid to make it public. They shouldn’t have a problem taking it back if its not working out.
Before bringing another cat into the house, disinfect the bowls, wash the bedding and wait awhile so the new cat doesn’t catch the URI from residual germs in the house. Give the vet a call and ask whats a good waiting period.
In the future, if you want an outgoing cat, look for the ones that reach for you or headbut the cages as you walk by. Some of the scared cats just don’t like cages and aren’t scared when they’re out, but alot of people drop off feral kittens (or half feral) and they try to adopt them out as well if they feel they can be handled.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:34 am
One thing to think about: if you were miserably sick, you probably wouldn’t like being touched, either. Your kitty just probably feels so miserable right now that any kind of interaction really stresses him out. You’ve only really had him a short while.
If it were me, I’d treat the URI (which are very common, esp in animal rescue/shelters) and then wait for kitty to feel better to determine his temperament. If he’s anything like my shelter cat was, he’ll come around. Years ago, we adopted a female that hid and hissed all of the time.. she was also sick. After getting her well and using treats and affection to bond with her, she became a much-loved family pet.
The rescue should have neutered him, and you should be angry that they did not do that. I would definitely haul him in when you can and demand that they fix him or give you a voucher to have him neutered.
It’s totally understandable that you would be angry, your first ever adopted cat is sick and as a result is not being at all social. But URIs are extremely treatable and chances are, your young cat’s true nature is being clouded over by his illness. You should have an affectionate cat when the whole ordeal is over.
The choice is yours, but I’d keep the little guy.
EDIT: In the future, please do not hit the cat. The animal is sick right now and does not want to be messed with; leave it alone. Hitting an animal is never the proper way to discipline it. I know you are frustrated, but the cat has no other way of telling you to leave it alone. This incident will not have an impact on the future if you take the proper measures to actually bond with the cat.
If you really do not want to care for this animal any more, by all means, return it to the shelter. Just remember that animals do get sick and this could happen to anybody.
Best of luck, regardless.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
This poor cat is ill and you expect him to warm up to you. Upper respiratory infections are easy to get rid of and you probably wouldn’t have any further problems – especially if you kept him indoors.
Relative to the shelter. Those folks are mostly volunteers and a lot of things slip through the cracks. They are overworked and underpaid and have an impossible job. I suspect it was an honest mistake and not a matter of trying to deceive you.
But quite frankly, if you aren’t prepared to give this animal the chance to get well and get used to its new home – which is all it really needs – then you should probably take it back. Cats, just like humans, occasionally require health care and if you aren’t prepared to provide that, you really aren’t prepared to own a pet.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
URI is very common in shelters. It’s not that hard to cure if you get treatment in time. My vet charges $40 for diagnosis and treatment of URI. 80% of all cats have feline herpes. Some cats have flareups more often and some never have a flareup. It’s just dependent on the cat. Using the l-lysine will help keep his symptoms under control. If the shelter failed to neuter him, they are responsible for that. Take him back and make them do it. He should also be tested for FIV/FeLV by the shelter. A little over a week is not enough time for him to bond with you and the fact that he isn’t neutered has an affect on his friendliness as well. If you want to give him a chance, have the shelter do their part by neutering and testing him, have a vet take care of the URI, and have patience with him for a couple of months till he gets used to you and his new home.
You should turn this shelter in for not giving you Clavamox to take home for him if he was taking it there. It sounds like they are unethical and are running the shelter poorly but it’s not the kitty’s fault. Call the police and ask who you need to talk to have the place investigated.