The $500 Cat

[ManyDogs]

I haven't read the $700 Pony-yet-:), but somehow the price the vet quoted today sounds a bit more :eek:expensive:eek:. Guess I'm in too deep with equines to be shocked at costs anymore regarding their upkeep.
Now, we have 5 dogs, 4 horses, and live where there are coyotes. Our neighbors' cat was done in by a coyote. So DH and I decided it would be best not to have a cat, even though we love kitties.

Fast forward to this morning. I am out in the company car basically in the boonies, visiting a client. As I head out to my car and open the car door to drive to next client, here come a pitiful looking black and white cat with his right eye OUT of the socket and all grown over with skin? It is obviously infected. Looked like his nostril was infected, too.
"Kitty," sez I, "I can't let you in the car. I can't take you with me" (Had a schedule to keep and it was going to be 80 temp wise in the afternoon.) Of course I didn't shut the door soon enough ;) and in hops kitty. Dirty, thin, and rather odiferous.
So, sucker me sees a few more clients earlier than originally planned, and call DH.
Kitty knows he has hit the jackpot and has promptly fallen asleep in the back seat..
"Meet me at vet at 2:00", I tell DH. "I have a wounded cat".
DH doesn't bother to ask any questions.

We leave kitty at vet and vet calls twice in the late afternoon. Diagnosis:
so many fleas he has flea anemia
No "killer viruses" :yes:
eye will be removed when kitty is stronger
jaw is broken
he will need to be neutered when stronger
was eating yogurt like a maniac so that was a very good sign

So now we have a barn cat. A very expensive barn cat. But there was absolutely no way I could have driven off and left him.

His name will be Jack, as in one-eyed Jack.

Thanks, COTHers, for enabling me telepathically this morning when all of this happened!

[JoZ]

Oh hooray for you and Jack! I'm sure I was one of the ones sending out invisible, involuntary enablement vibes. I'm grinning from ear to ear just thinking about it.

Cats have the best sucker sonar. Today you were the mark. Join the club! I don't know too many people who REGRET falling for a kitty in distress -- most wouldn't have it any other way.

[shea'smom]

When you thought, I shouldn't do this, and then a little voice said "but I can't leave him"..... that was me!
Why doesn't telepathy work to help us win the lottery or something.

[hosshopper13]

as the owner of two cats I was (helplessly) suckered into, I commend you!

[3horsemom]

from one sucker to another good for you. our best dog was a 5.00 dog with a 1500.00 leg.
since you have coyotes, can't jack be an indoor cat?

[Zu Zu]

I have a 2,500.00 dollar cat named Smarty Jones -- what else would one name a fast * little chestnut feral kitten in the spring '04????? Long story short - captured him - vet -bugs in his head, kidneys not working but with 30 days and two vets ~ one local and one specialist in Chicago - Smarty will turn 5 on 6-02-09 and weighs 14# not an ounce of fat *long hair golden --Champion! Actually think his father was a Golden Retriever and his mother a Maine Coon. I have not regretted capturing him for one second. Sterling disposition , heart of gold, sharp as a tack and "Gifted Hunter" - furry mice ansd sparkle balls!!! Enjoy your new cat . Jack!!!!:D

[ManyDogs]

Thank you all!
I have always said cats adopt people, not the other way around.

Jack is certainly welcome to be an indoor cat but he'll have to knock the stuffing out of 5 dogs. Fortunately, 4 of the 5 are cat-sized! I know they'd want to play with him 24/7.

I think he can recuperate in our horse trailer, which is parked down the hill in the woods. We'll be at his beck and call, naturally.

[Tiki]

Yay Jack! Someone on another cat thread said the best cats are the ones who pick YOU out. Jack must have been 'shopping' for just the right person to hook up with, and along you came. You're going to love him like you would never, ever love another cat. Purrs to you and your DH for taking him in.

[Chief2]

OP, you had better stay sitting down. We brought in a stray cat to have an eye removed last August, and with take home meds it ran us $2,000. We bit the bullet, paid the bill and brought him home. Toss in FIV supplements, hyperthyroid and high blood pressure medication and it goes higher and higher. Then, after we owned him for 8 months, he did of a cardiac arrest. He was a wonderful cat while we had him, but I'm not looking for another high maintenance cat anytime soon.

[Daydream Believer]

We have a JRT that ate plastic piecds he shredded from a TV dinner tray that he got out of the trash. He had to have surgery for a perforated severely infected bowel. They laid him open from stem to stern and he had drains, etc.. 2 days in intensive care at the Emergency vet and we had a $4000 vet bill. We probably spent another $800 on him a few years ago for Rocky Mtn. Spotted Fever. He's now 14 and by some miracle still with us!

[goodhors]

With that kind of money invested in the cat, you probably better plan on him being a house cat. You will want to enjoy the benefits of cat living long enough to be a good pet for you.

I find the more you spend on a cat, then leave it outside in the barn, the shorter it's life. So now that I have a $400 cat, she lives in with us. I would probably not spent that much on any other cat. We got her as a tiny kitten and she has been our barn cat until age 12, was always a very nice cat anyway. After she got hurt, then repaired, I figured at her age it was best to bring her inside. Has been inside a couple years now, smirks when she looks out the french doors! Easily adapted to the inside life.

So congrats on your new waif, hope he makes a good transition to being a family cat with his dog brothers.

[Chall]

I'm in for a big (>1,500) bill. My 16 yr old needed ACL (ligment) surgery. I told vet I didn't want her PTS (watched my last cat PTS - I won't do that again), so do surgery and if she dies on the table that's OK. But surgery it has to be, because I don't see any kitty wheelchairs for sale anywhere. I did fantasize about one with an electric control though.:winkgrin:
She had the surgery, but now I am looking at 6 weeks of confinement in 2'x2' cage. She's already a picky, picky eater. Anyone have any experience with ACL surgery on a kitty? There is no literature out there, no special slings etc that I can find. :(
I'm going to have to get a fish tank so she can have kitty T.V. as a distraction.
(Sorry for the hijack of the thread)

[Petstorejunkie]

When you thought, I shouldn't do this, and then a little voice said "but I can't leave him"..... that was me!
Why doesn't telepathy work to help us win the lottery or something.
werd yo.
op, i am so glad you let your door stay open a bit longer

[Nes]

Good for you for taking him in! I'm sure you will find him to be the very best cat.

Our Miss Kitty (as in the salon owner, not the cat) adopted DH a couple years ago now, and she's so gratefull that we took her in, kept her warm and too well fed and she is completely inseperable from every member of our family. She never goes more then 20' from the house, follows me all over the garden while I work, and even puts up with our one year old "petting" and jumping on her (he tries to be gentle). I've had cats all my life and she definitely is one of the best!

I'd love to see some pictures of your new addition - uh, once his eyes is out and he's all better :D

[WhatzUp]

I'm in for a big (>1,500) bill. My 16 yr old needed ACL (ligment) surgery. I told vet I didn't want her PTS (watched my last cat PTS - I won't do that again), so do surgery and if she dies on the table that's OK. But surgery it has to be, because I don't see any kitty wheelchairs for sale anywhere. I did fantasize about one with an electric control though.:winkgrin:
She had the surgery, but now I am looking at 6 weeks of confinement in 2'x2' cage. She's already a picky, picky eater. Anyone have any experience with ACL surgery on a kitty? There is no literature out there, no special slings etc that I can find. :(
I'm going to have to get a fish tank so she can have kitty T.V. as a distraction.
(Sorry for the hijack of the thread)

Hi !

I am going to send your email to my surgeon Vet pal ...
Stay tuned ...

Yours in sport,

Lynn

[Wanderluster]

That is such a sweet story. I am so happy that Jack recognized a kind face when he saw one and jumped right in your car.
I had a $5000 puppy once. She got thrashed when she got into a corral with the wrong horse, crushed lungs, liver, several broken bones and she was less than 1 1/2 lbs. 48 hrs. on a ventilator, blood transfusions etc.
She is my sister's beloved pet now with one rule, no horses near her ever again.
May Jack live a long and happy life with you. :)

[Chall]

Hi !

I am going to send your email to my surgeon Vet pal ...
Stay tuned ...

Yours in sport,

Lynn
OK, so I did a better search and found this site for handicapped pets, so I'm posting it for dog owners with lame dogs out there. I think my cat is too small for it.
They have a nice alternative to elizabethean collars too.
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/no-cone-collar.html
and a bed that keeps your cat/dog dry after he pees in it
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pets-stay-dry/stay-dry-beds.html

Thanks Lynn!

[RiverBendPol]

We did a $3000 double knee surgery on a 4 month old barn kitty on THE September 11th. The poor little thing had to live in a dog crate for 2 months while he recuperated. He did get to grow up and was just about the very best cat I have EVER known. Then he got eaten by the Fisher Cat. Sometimes no matter how much it costs, it is actually worth it.:sadsmile:

[atr]

I've just rehabbed a very badly beat up stray as well. I think his lunch had tried to eat him. And, oh, my word, he stank to high heaven--a mixture of adult, sick tom cat living rough, and infected wounds. Even the vet was gagging, and he didn't have to share the car with him. He knocked him out and gave him a bath before he did anything else.

My vet was just wonderful, gave me a huge break on the bill, and took a great deal of trouble with him.

He spent a while with me rehabbing and having his wounds cleaned every day (much to the total disgust of my four haughty Siamese kitties, or I'd have kept him for myself, he is such a sweetheart,) and he's now just moved on to be a fullsomely affectionate barn kitty living in considerable luxury...

[McVillesMom]

I had a similar experience with a black and white cat three years ago. I was driving home from the barn (middle of nowhere, Indiana) and I saw a cat on the side of the road. Stop, pull over, get out of truck. Cross road to see cat. Usually if you see a cat somewhere, they run from you. Not this one. He runs over to me, put his paws up on my leg, and meows piteously. He is very thin, and obviously has an upper respiratory infection, but he also has a collar on. I already have way too many cats at home, so I say "go home, kitty!" and cross back to my truck. I look back and he's standing there watching me go. I look down the road and there's a big dump truck barreling down the road toward us. I look back and swear, run back across the road and scoop up cat. Get back in truck and drive away.

I realized after we got in the truck just how horrible kitty smelled. He could barely breathe due to his respiratory infection, was skin and bones, and covered in burrs. He more or less passed out on my lap during the drive.

I took him to work with me (small animal practice). We tested him for kitty viruses, and he was negative. Cleaned him up a bit. Offered food. He was enthusiastic about eating, but would vomit shortly afterward (I attribute this to a combination of his URI and the fact that he had been more or less starving to death.) He stayed that way for about 2 weeks - I kept him in the clinic in isolation, and he had to get antibiotics and antiemetics by injection, since we couldn't guarantee he'd keep anything down.

He eventually recovered, and moved home to my garage while I tried to find him a home. He eventually moved himself into my house, where he is quite content: http://www.fivebadcats.com/view.asp?page=Bad%20Cats (scroll down to G-Cat).

My kitty did not require surgery, but still needed quite a bit of intensive care. I don't know how much it would have cost the average client, since I pretty much just paid cost for everything, and did all of his care myself. You mentioned allowing him to recuperate in your horse trailer - that might not be the best idea, especially with the eye issue/post surgery due to the problem of flies. Just something to consider.

Best of luck to your kitty, and thanks for taking him in! :)

[Go Fish]

I've got you all beat...I have a $10K cat...

Took in a stray cat and my niece agreed to take her. I took her to the vet for a check up...$4500 later...

I'm a sucker for cats...I can fully sympathize with everyone who rescues and has to rob a bank to care for strays...you all will have good karma the rest of your lives!

[cheryl ann]

Great heartwarming thread here....!

[MistyBlue]

3dogfarm...congrats on being adopted by your new cat! But fwiw...with 5 dogs and a cat you might have to change your screen/farm name. :lol:
Maybe to just Sucker Stables? :winkgrin: :lol: :D
I was adopted by my cat too...little 6 month old grey and white tuxedo short hair kitty...she came free with a cheap kitchen table from Bob's Furniture. ;) See, our growing puppy had decided to use our old kitchen table to teethe on...not that I minded because it was an old one from my MIL ages earlier and ugly as sin. But the MIL was coming for a visit and if she saw that the dog had eaten through a table leg we'd never hear the end of it...so off to buy a different table ASAP and cheap! It was July, about 98 degrees outside with high humidity...stifling. Store was in the middle of massive acres of malls and highways...all paved, no trees...not a place for feral or dumped cats. Kitty approaches us in parking lot...after we go in store she's following us outside the store jumping on and off the outside window ledges...those ledges were steel and burning her feet so she kept jumping down. :no: After we bought the table...we left. Kitty was following me, panting. Hubby says without turning around to look, "You're carrying that damn cat, aren't you?" Ummm, yeah. Duh. Vet gives her some shots...won't spay her. Apparently she was too far along...2 weeks and 6 kittens later...:lol: :lol: :lol: It's now 10 years later...Olivia is Queen of the household...all her kittens are with friends and family. (and ugly...the dad(s) had to be homely as heck because Livi is gorgeous!) Never regretted one second of it. (as long as I don't dwell on the vet costs, LOL)

Chall...I don't think I've ever heard of a cat with ACL surgery. When I started reading your post I thought you meant a dog until I got to the part where it was a cat. Which surgery did you have done? The TPLO? My last dog had that one and he healed very well...surprisingly since he was 164 lbs. :eek: (umm...it was my above mentioned cat that broke him, LOL! She vaulted onto him when he was sleeping, but his ear and vaulted off to get him to pay. He jumped up and took off too quick for the tile floor and crashed hard resulting in his ACL injury) Huh...I'm just surprised I never even thought of a cat having ACL surgery...just never crossed my mind. Is the cat on pain patches?
Oh, for picky eating cats...try heating the food a tad above room temp. Warmer food smells better to cats. Also try buying cans of tuna in water or cans of chopped or minced clams or cans of those tiny baby shrimp. Drain the liquid out of the can and use that liquid to sprinkle on cat food. That smell makes a LOT of cats eat, even cats that don't seem to like seafood flavored cat foods. The smell of canned seafood is extremely strong to cats...and they like that smell. You can even use some of the minced clams or baby shrimp mixed in the cat food. Or use the liquid from those cans mixed with their drinking water if the cat's not a big drinker. I learned that trick rehabbing wildlife...most of the weasel family is tricked into eating that way. Even eating meds that way...and you'd be surprised at how close a weasel and cats' eating habits are. Same with raccoons and opossums. :yes:

[MistyBlue]

3Dog...we're going to want photos of the new guy when you can get them. :)

[Holly Jeanne]

Thank you for giving this kitty a chance! I lost my equivalent cat at 6 1/2 back in January and I miss him every single day. :cry: At the time I said no way was I taking him as I didn't want/need a 5th cat. He turned into my 4 legged soul mate. He made me feel special every day. :)

[Chall]

Thanks Misty Blue. I still don't know which surgery was done, but not the TPLO. My vet was attending, the surgeon is a consultant. They opened her up and it was so bad they had to put a pin in for the next 8 weeks, so I'm guessing more than the ACL was replaced (call is in for the surgeon for more info).
Thanks for the tip on the sauce. I don't cook *EVER* (S.O. is great cook) but found myself cooking chicken liver, then lamb at 6:00 in the morning which I then rushed to the animal hospital to tempt her and yeah! she ate some lamb.
Isn't that web site for handicapped animals great? I love the helmet for blind dogs
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pet-safety-wear/blind-dog-helmet.html
It would make a great dog Halloween costume - looks like some sci-fi military outfit. General Patton meets Hunter S. (Gonzo) Thompson:lol:

[Foxhound]

I have a $1000 hound dog that I found on the side of the highway. She had Heartworms, worms, Lyme, and Eherlichia.
She's a super doggie though, and eternally grateful.
I did get a grant to help with her vet costs from United Animal Nations: http://www.uan.org/

I now include them in my Combined Federal Campaign donations.

[Alagirl]

Isn't that web site for handicapped animals great? I love the helmet for blind dogs
http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pet-safety-wear/blind-dog-helmet.html
It would make a great dog Halloween costume - looks like some sci-fi military outfit. General Patton meets Hunter S. (Gonzo) Thompson:lol:


***laughing so hard I am crying***

I hope the dog isn't into butt sniffing...

[MistyBlue]

:lol: Even the infaltable model dog looks embarassed to wear that thing. :lol:

[Bluey]

My cat came from a collector lady, that had over 90 cats, not altered, inside her house.
They found her out and took her to the psychiatric hospital, our animal control shelter got in there with masks and took care of the cats that were not terminal and this litter of half siamese the local feed store took them in.
They all died but one, that ran wild in their barn and one day just came to me and decided I was her person.
She was following me around and the owner of the store told me to take her, as she was mean and he was going to get rid of her anyway, so home she came.
I had to get welding gloves to pick her up, she was not fond of that.;)

She went first to the vet and they had to bathe her for flies, had mites in her ears, all kinds of worms, etc and they kept her overnight, because she was so weak and they were worried about her.

Well, she pulled out of that and here she was, grown now and a sweetheart, always snuggling in the evenings and even learned to use the toilet:cool::

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Missy2.jpg?t=1242956893

Will be pulling for your cat and hopefully you may have some pictures for us some time soon.:)

[Lori T]

Bless you!
One of our techs brought in a stray puppy this morning..her dad found it and it fell off his 2 story balcony last night, breaking his elbow. So, the tech brought him in to the clinic. We are a vet dermatology clinic and next to us is the VERY EXPENSIVE SPECIALTY clinic...cancer, neuro, ortho, etc. With her "discount" (how GENEROUS...we NEVER charge them for derm consults), it will be $2500. Well, thank God we work for awesome vets, one is going to pay the bill! It is a damn cutie too, broke my heart to see him lying in his cage, unable to move, but his tail going so fast when I spoke to him.

[pj]

[QUOTE=3dogfarm;4108634]I
Fast forward to this morning. I am out in the company car basically in the boonies, visiting a client. As I head out to my car and open the car door to drive to next client, here come a pitiful looking black and white cat with his right eye OUT of the socket and all grown over with skin? It is obviously infected. Looked like his nostril was infected, too.
"Kitty," sez I, "I can't let you in the car. I can't take you with me" (Had a schedule to keep and it was going to be 80 temp wise in the afternoon.) Of course I didn't shut the door soon enough ;) and in hops kitty. Dirty, thin, and rather odiferous.
So, sucker me sees a few more clients earlier than originally planned, and call DH.
Kitty knows he has hit the jackpot and has promptly fallen asleep in the back seat..
"Meet me at vet at 2:00", I tell DH. "I have a wounded cat".
DH doesn't bother to ask any questions.

QUOTE]

I think an Angel whispered in kitty's ear and said "this is the one, the one who will help you. Go to her, little kitty, she's one of God's helpers."
Bless you.

[Parker_Rider]

Oh kitties... our cat used to be our crazy neighbor's cat, until she decided our house was probably a better option. She had kittens in our window well the first time when I was in 4th grade. When the neighbor moved, she tried to take kitty with her, but kitty would have none of it. She bolted in our house and wouldn't leave! 2 litters, 6 kittens and 13 years later, that cat is still with us. She's a hunting machine and a survivor - all her kittens but 2 got eaten by coyotes, and one of the ones who survived that died of diabetes last month :( Fortunately for us, no massive vet bills, just 13 years of care and kitty food ;) Now she lays in the sun or on her bed and pretty much rules the house and keeps the dogs in line! Cats are s-m-a-r-t when it comes to picking out owners!! Good job 3dogfarm on recognizing that you had no choice ;) I hope Jack recovers quickly!

[fordtraktor]

I adopted a two kittens from the pound over Thanksgiving -- a seven-toed tabby and an adorable little tuxedo. My lovely tuxedo chewed off part of a cat toy (the elasticy-bouncy part) and ate it. It caught in her throat and worked its way back through her intestines, almost all the way through. They had to cut her intestines in three places to get it out. She is fine now, but it was very scary -- it took a few days to figure out what it was, and I thought we might lose her.

All in all, my little pound kitty has cost well over $2,000 -- and she is seven months old. She is so worth every penny. She sleeps on me every night and soothes herself to sleep by nursing on my shirt. Adorable!

Moral of the story, though -- those bouncy cat toys, while fun for kitty, are NOT SAFE. Throw them away, folks!

[WhatzUp]

I haven't read the $700 Pony-yet-:), but somehow the price the vet quoted today sounds a bit more :eek:expensive:eek:. Guess I'm in too deep with equines to be shocked at costs anymore regarding their upkeep.
Now, we have 5 dogs, 4 horses, and live where there are coyotes. Our neighbors' cat was done in by a coyote. So DH and I decided it would be best not to have a cat, even though we love kitties.

Fast forward to this morning. I am out in the company car basically in the boonies, visiting a client. As I head out to my car and open the car door to drive to next client, here come a pitiful looking black and white cat with his right eye OUT of the socket and all grown over with skin? It is obviously infected. Looked like his nostril was infected, too.
"Kitty," sez I, "I can't let you in the car. I can't take you with me" (Had a schedule to keep and it was going to be 80 temp wise in the afternoon.) Of course I didn't shut the door soon enough ;) and in hops kitty. Dirty, thin, and rather odiferous.
So, sucker me sees a few more clients earlier than originally planned, and call DH.
Kitty knows he has hit the jackpot and has promptly fallen asleep in the back seat..
"Meet me at vet at 2:00", I tell DH. "I have a wounded cat".
DH doesn't bother to ask any questions.

We leave kitty at vet and vet calls twice in the late afternoon. Diagnosis:
so many fleas he has flea anemia
No "killer viruses" :yes:
eye will be removed when kitty is stronger
jaw is broken
he will need to be neutered when stronger
was eating yogurt like a maniac so that was a very good sign

So now we have a barn cat. A very expensive barn cat. But there was absolutely no way I could have driven off and left him.

His name will be Jack, as in one-eyed Jack.

Thanks, COTHers, for enabling me telepathically this morning when all of this happened!


Hi !

I sent you a PM from my Surgeon Vet pal ... I hope that this
helps you and your lovely kitty !!

Yours in sport,

Lynn

[ManyDogs]

We went to visit Jack today at the vet. The kennel assistant (who lives on the property and is wonderful) said Jack loves being bathed :confused: He will have his eye removed tomorrow.
I think I'll call him Jackson. It seems more fitting. The kennel assistant also said Jackson is very, very affectionate.
I have a feeling he'll get alone just fine with the dogs.

[Bluey]

We went to visit Jack today at the vet. The kennel assistant (who lives on the property and is wonderful) said Jack loves being bathed :confused: He will have his eye removed tomorrow.
I think I'll call him Jackson. It seems more fitting. The kennel assistant also said Jackson is very, very affectionate.
I have a feeling he'll get alone just fine with the dogs.

:cool: :D :cool:

[Astraled]

If it makes you feel better, I have about $3k in my orange kitty, Spillsby Beauregard. He was hit by a car at some point and his hip was crushed and is misshapen now. He has ongoing issues related to that. He's really cute, though.
It puts the kitty in the basket (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/astraled/spill.jpg)

I hope Jackson heals up quick. It's sweet how he jumped into your car for help, he must have been able to tell you'd take care of him. Post a pic when he's feeling better.

[tikihorse2]

What a wonderful thread! :yes:

Cats are special animals--they choose you, not the other way around. This kitty knew you would help him. Bless you both!

Kim

[ManyDogs]

The vet called earlier this afternoon. In addition to the blown eye and broken jaw, Jackson's tongue was almost bitten completely off. :eek: Now I KNOW I was supposed to find him!
We will pick him up Tues or Wed and then back to the vet in a couple weeks for the snip snip operation ;) .

[Zu Zu]

Thank God He found you!!!! He is a lucky cat to be so loved - hope you will share updates during recovery and after that some photos when he is looking handsome again!!!

[CallMeGrace]

Hooray that kitty found you! We had a $1000 guinea pig once. We have spent way more $$ on our dogs, birds, fish, etc. in vet fees than on our three horses!

[ponykick]

I feel your pain in the expensive kitty dept. I have an ex-barn cat that has owned me for eight years now. One year into his tenure at my house and mr. kitty was diagnosed with diabetes. He has been maintained since then with twice daily insulin shots. I jokingly tell kitty that he owes me thousands of dollars to which he promptly looks pointedly at his food dish. A few years ago during a bad stormy night, kitty woke us up with loud, weird meows. I grumpily arose from my nice, warm bed to go yell at mr. kitty when a loud rumbling and cracking sound stopped me/scared me half to death. The hill by our house had given way and snapped off two big oak trees. Now, I don't know if kitty knew this or if the bastard was just hungry, but I like to think the lil guy has our backs and appreciates being "saved".

[CHS]

What vet did you take him to? I usually use Dr. Smith off exit 14 in Abingdon for routine stuff. For Emergencies I've used VCA at exit 19. I also used them once to give a litter of puppies shots/worming. I was taking them to a horse show and needed it done at the last minute. VCA charged 3 times what I usually paid for the same shots/worming with Dr. Smith.

Forgot to mention, we lost a cat to coyotes when we first moved here. Some of the coyotes by us are the size of german sheperds.

[ManyDogs]

We go to Dr. Ghent (sp?) at exit 13. His kennel guy is so good with the animals and lives on the property. He even knows how to handle our JRT :).
Where is Dr. Smith at exit 14? Off of 11?

[WhatzUp]

I'm in for a big (>1,500) bill. My 16 yr old needed ACL (ligment) surgery. I told vet I didn't want her PTS (watched my last cat PTS - I won't do that again), so do surgery and if she dies on the table that's OK. But surgery it has to be, because I don't see any kitty wheelchairs for sale anywhere. I did fantasize about one with an electric control though.:winkgrin:
She had the surgery, but now I am looking at 6 weeks of confinement in 2'x2' cage. She's already a picky, picky eater. Anyone have any experience with ACL surgery on a kitty? There is no literature out there, no special slings etc that I can find. :(
I'm going to have to get a fish tank so she can have kitty T.V. as a distraction.
(Sorry for the hijack of the thread)

I sent you a PM from my Surgeon Vet pal ...

Yours in sport,

Lynn

[CHS]

81s to 14, make a left at the bottom of the ramp, then make the first right after the 81 entrance ramps. It's right on the left. You can see the kennels from 81.

[ManyDogs]

Well,
Kitty never got near the barn :winkgrin::winkgrin:. At the moment he is resting comfortably as possible on DH chest. The dogs didn't go nuts, but we will definitely keep them supervised and/or separated.

He goes back in a couple weeks for shots and neutering. Ca-ching!

But Jackson has a home now and will be totally spoiled!

[ManyDogs]

Oh yes, CHS-
Next to the church off of exit 14/81. Pass by there just about every day going to and from work.

[Wanderluster]

You will never get a rational answer about rescuing and giving extreme veterinary care to an otherwise worthless cat from a group that loves and honors animals that can be aloof, dignified, and difficult. :D

[Huntertwo]

Well,
Kitty never got near the barn :winkgrin::winkgrin:. At the moment he is resting comfortably as possible on DH chest. The dogs didn't go nuts, but we will definitely keep them supervised and/or separated.

He goes back in a couple weeks for shots and neutering. Ca-ching!

But Jackson has a home now and will be totally spoiled!

Awww, what a great story. You will go to Heaven... :)
I wonder who left this cat in that condition or how many passed by him and didn't stop. :cry:

You're husband sounds as wonderful as you. :yes:

Please post pictures - I'd love to see him.

[Huntertwo]

Hooray that kitty found you! We had a $1000 guinea pig once. We have spent way more $$ on our dogs, birds, fish, etc. in vet fees than on our three horses!

Haaaa haaaa, I had one of *those* Guinea Pigs once too.

Oh, and my $20,000 cat, Chester who is in my signature. :cry:

Is it any wonder why most of us animal lovers are broke?

[Lori B]

Weirdly, the street kitties who I am currently owned by have been bargains so far. Nothing but spaying and shots. They are less work than goldfish most of the time.

I think we cat people have a flashing sign on our heads that says "Sucker". The manager of the laundromat that I used to go to told me to go out in the parking lot, because there was a kitten out there.... how would he know that I was supposed to end up with the kitten (who is now spread out like royalty on my bed....)

Good job threedogs. :-)

[Wigwag]

I have a $2,000 cat....wish I was kidding. It's actually probably more than that, but I stopped keeping track after the 2 grand mark.

I'm not really even a cat person. This one is just extra special. :)

[ManyDogs]

Sigh. Barn kitty. Right. :winkgrin: He is sleeping in the bed with DH :lol:.
NOTHING bothers this guy. Dogs? Ho hum. Oh, your going to use vacuum on me? Borrr-inggg! I need another bath? Yawn.
We have to keep the puppy away because Jackson lets him tug on his cheek on his "bad" side.
He ate two (small) cans of cat food today. Guess his wired-shut jaw isn't too much of a problem.

I think we have a keeper!

Thanks for all of the kind words. We do love kitties.

[Zu Zu]

How WONDERFUL!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! ENJOY!!!