Tips for bringing another cat home please *UPDATE*

sassyblue

Hi all,

Just an update.... I got quite friendly with this little cat and eventually caught her to take to the vets to see if she was chipped and to see what the vet thought before bringing her home.... turns out she was a HE :rotfl: about 10 years old (at least she said they go by the teeth don't they?) and he had a heart murmur. His little belly was distended which could be another problem - anyhows it would be £200+ (+£20 per month for heart tabs) for all the tests the vet wanted to do and even then his prognosis was poor because of the heart murmur , however me and the vet agreed that the little chap did have quality of life so l didn't want him put to sleep.

She also said not to take him home with my cat in case he had feline AIDS, so for the time being l've bought him back to work and keep feeding him here, l know one or two of the neighbours are feeding him and l've let them know the outcome. We don't know where he sleeps so it's something we're keeping an eye on with the weather turning cold.

Do you think we've done the right thing? Should l go for the tests anyhow? The vet believes (and l bet she's right) someone's dumped him because of his heart murmur.

Bloomin_Freezing2

When I was considering getting a kitten to go with my 13 yr old cat I would visit the kitten with a tea towel and rub it over her, then when I got home I'd leave it where my other cat could see it and have a bit of a sniff etc so she could at least get used to the kittens scent. I decided against the kitten in the end but thought it a good way to get my cat familiar with someone new.

Sooz00

sassyblue wrote: »

Hi all,

Just an update.... I got quite friendly with this little cat and eventually caught her to take to the vets to see if she was chipped and to see what the vet thought before bringing her home.... turns out she was a HE :rotfl: about 10 years old (at least she said they go by the teeth don't they?) and he had a heart murmur. His little belly was distended which could be another problem - anyhows it would be £200+ (+£20 per month for heart tabs) for all the tests the vet wanted to do and even then his prognosis was poor because of the heart murmur , however me and the vet agreed that the little chap did have quality of life so l didn't want him put to sleep.

She also said not to take him home with my cat in case he had feline AIDS, so for the time being l've bought him back to work and keep feeding him here, l know one or two of the neighbours are feeding him and l've let them know the outcome. We don't know where he sleeps so it's something we're keeping an eye on with the weather turning cold.

Do you think we've done the right thing? Should l go for the tests anyhow? The vet believes (and l bet she's right) someone's dumped him because of his heart murmur.

You may be right - someone may well have dumped him, poor lad! I'm not sure there is a right or wrong thing... I'm terrible and would most likely take him in & go for the tests and treatments, they can test for feline AIDS too, can't they? I'm guessing if you mistook him for a her, he's already neutered because if so, he's less likely to carry it as wouldn't be fighting like a tom would.

If no-one can take him and the charities aren't interested, is it an option to put the heart meds in the food that you're already giving him? You could tablet him directly but it might scare him off... Is there an a shelter for him where he is? If not, between you maybe you could always ensure he has that.

Good luck and well done for helping him x

Froglet

I think with all his problems,the nicest thing you could do for him is bring him home.Have him tested,yes,and if he does have feline aids he will suffer from that as well as the heart murmer so it would be kinder to have him put to sleep than live outside throughout a very cold winter.

But if he doesn't,and you don't want to pay out for tablets,then at least he would have a much better quality of life indoors,where you could keep a closer eye on him if he started going downhill.

Would you be able to forgive yourself if he died of heart failure,which involves not being able to breathe properly,all alone in the cold?

rita-rabbit

I would start with keeping them in separate rooms - esp when you are not around to monitor `behaviours'

sassyblue

Froglet wrote: »

I think with all his problems,the nicest thing you could do for him is bring him home.Have him tested,yes,and if he does have feline aids he will suffer from that as well as the heart murmer so it would be kinder to have him put to sleep than live outside throughout a very cold winter.

But if he doesn't,and you don't want to pay out for tablets,then at least he would have a much better quality of life indoors,where you could keep a closer eye on him if he started going downhill.

Would you be able to forgive yourself if he died of heart failure,which involves not being able to breathe properly,all alone in the cold?

yes this is true.....:( l've got to catch him again now he's not too keen on me since l took him to the vets, he comes for food but doesn't come too close at the moment.

We were going to make a box within a box for him to keep the little fella warm.