some kitty questions

[foundakittyNYC]

Hi,
I took a kitty that a lady rescued from a garage. She's really sweet, but she's sick. We have an appointment tonight to see a vet for her green snotty nose. I plan to keep her despite the fact that she's sick. She should be able to get well, and I've been wanting a kitty for a while. So, I just went out and spent $50 on some cat toys and saw some toys that I thought were cute - but before I spend more money - - is it worth it?

They have these things you hang on door knobs and they have catnip in them - cats will come and scratch them.

They have these other things you put on door knobs that have a wire attached and they say the kitty will go to it and swat at the wire.

They have these "crinkle" beds that are like sacks that a kitty can hide in.

They have regulalr scratching posts.

Do you guys have these? Do your cats like them? Or is it a waste of like $25 and up for each item?

Oh and before anyone asks - yes - I will get shots for her and will have her spayed - - she just has to get over this infection first. I am financially able to care for her, so I know what I'm in for and will do it the right way.

Any other toys you suggest to get for her?

[Cleo]

Congrats on your new addition! I rescued my Keeks at 5 months old but she wasn't spayed and vaccinated until 9 months old because she was so sick early on.

Where are you shopping for toys that are 25.00 bucks and up? Catnip shouldn't be introduced to a kitten until they are at least 11 months old (I think). Make sure anything stringy can't be bitten off and swallowed. Keep all rubber bands, hair ribbons, string of any kind out of sight and away from where kitten might find it. You'll find that no matter how much you spend on "toys", they will play with the simpliest and at times, stupidest, things. My sister's cat goes after q-tips from the bathroom garbage!

In my experience, a nice sisal scratching post, a few jingle balls (those plastic balls with a jingle bell inside), some furry mice (toy kind of course) and plenty of interactive quality time will keep your kitten happy. I remember the first toy I bought for Keeks (we still have it too) was supposed to be hung on a door handle. Never owning a cat, I did not know this and just put it next to her expecting her to go at it. I learned fast. In this house, anything that gets hung on a door handle doesn't stay there for long. As far as cat beds go, mine like anything with a hood or dome. Then again, when the novelty wears off no one sleeps in them anyway.

Good luck and please keep us posted as to kitten's condition.

I just realized I'm referring the the kitty as "kitten" thinking it is young. Let us know how you do.

[foundakittyNYC]

Thanks. I was at a pet shop looking at toys. I live in NYC - but I was told that Target has some cheaper toys - I'll go see.

We spent $50 at the vet and $30 on antibiotics - the kitty has a respiratory infection. We go back this weekend for another check up, stool sample, and maybe shots. Then we are going to go to the ASPCA for spaying - it's only $25!!!!

The kitty is sleeping in my 9-yr old son's bed. It loves it there and is very happy. It follows him around and totally adores him. He loves her, too.

When I went to take her to the vet, she was clinging and scratching as I was walking to my door - she knew we were going outside and has decided that she really does like being an inside cat! She's 4 months old (approximately)

[Cleo]

Glad to hear so far, so good. I'm right outside the city, in Westchester County, and yes Target will have a good enough selection. One very important item when taking kitty out ... a carrier. Keep her safe and secure in a carrier. It can be a hard top, soft sided, whatever; as long as she's locked tight when outside your home. Just last week there was a story in the paper here about a family who moved to Mamaroneck from Manhattan with their 9 year old indoor all it's life cat. The mother was carrying him into the new home and he bolted right out of her arms and hasn't been seen since. They went to great lengths with search dogs, psychics, body heat sensing devices and to my knowledge, haven't found the cat.

Target sells carriers. Petco, Petsmart has reasonable ones. WalMart too. Not sure if there is one in the city, but White Plains just opened a big WalMart up. There's always online sales too.

So does kitty have a name yet?

[Traci]

Wholeheartedly agree with Cleo, get a carrier for your kitten NOW. Never, never never assume she is safely in your arms, they will bolt and escape from your arms in a nano-second.

I would strongly advise you let your primary vet spay your kitten. Your kitten obviously contracted the respiratory infection at the shelter, you don't want her suffering another viral or bacterial infection if she's exposed to the shelter premises again. Add to that, that the shelter probably won't provide optimal services during the spay, let alone followup care. Your primary vet can provide optimal care, observation, and followup care, the price is worth it to get quality care, is it not? I'd also suggest waiting at least 2 weeks or so to spay after your vet has determined your kitten has thoroughly healed from the upper respiratory infection, and prior to the spay, get a presurgical blood screen done to monitor her anesthesia candidacy. Get her tested for FELV/FIV.

Toys that hang over a door, are risky. If they contain string, elastic, fishing wire, etc, they are a risk if you're not supervising at all times. These toys also need to be put away and out of kitty's reach when not in use. If they are left on a door, kitty could get caught or strangle.

Never leave any toys out that have string or elastic or wire, of any sort, without your strict supervision, put the toys away after use. Toys that contain bells, plastic parts (like eyes, nose, etc) ....you should remove bells and parts before giving to your cat. They don't know the difference, make the toys safe.

Despite what Cleo said about her sister's cat, don't leave out q-tips....

A scratching post is essential for kitty to scratch on.

A small kitty tree is a good option to help her keep fit (climbing, reaching, jumping, playing on) If it has a ledge, place the tree near a safe window for her to enjoy viewing the outdoors. Make sure any kitty tree has a wide, stable base, you don't want it to tip over or fall if she is climbing on it.

Small stuffed animals are also fun for kittens and cats. Again, remove parts that could be loose and at risk for ingestion.

As Cleo said, no rubber bands, ribbons or any strings, including yarn or threads etc. (of course, keep ALL sewing notions kept locked away)

[foundakittyNYC]

Thanks! and thanks and thanks.

I did go back and buy one of those things that goes on the door and I see what you mean about she could get stuck - don't want her ripping any kitty paws. This one is made out of that same stuff that a cat scratch post is - and it can go on the floor or the door, so I'll put it on the floor when I am not home.

I've secured all hair bands - q-tips are always put away.

Thanks for the info on spaying - someone else told me that they call the shelter spayings "chop shops" and that the kitty really needs to be watched afterward - so I am going to discuss this with the vet instead. We have only had this kitty for a week and we are really attached. In fact, she's curled up and purring in my lap right now. She always wants to sit in someone's lap - and she purs and loves to be pet. She accidently scratched me once - I was playing with her and had a pen in my hand - and she went after the pen and her paw caught me - and she accidently scratched my son's hand once - so she's not a mean, scratchy cat - she's just a little fuzzy ball looking for some love and attention.

We gave her a paper bag and her toy ball (With a bell inside) rolled into the bag and she went in and then came out and jumped on the bag and heard the bag make the bell ring and she kept jumping around on that and inquiring about that sound - she'd go in and out and jump around that bag - it was hilarious. So - do you think bells inside balls are ok???? We are trying to be careful - - so thanks so much for all the kitty advice.

Oh - she also has worms - they are round worms (I paid attention in my zoology classes) So I panicked and called the vet. They said it will be ok and it's normal and tomorrow when we go back for her respiratory check-up, I will bring in the worms - plus they gave me a plastic thing to put a poop sample in. I'm going to pay the $95 to have an analysis done on the poop. Then we ARE going to have her tested for FeLV, FIV, and I forgot one other thing the vet said. And she will get shots - but they are over a period of time - - and they will do blood tests before surgery to have her spayed and everything - they seem really thorough and have been giving me information sheets to read.

One more thing - Although she's going to be an INDOOR KITTY (I'm nervous about letting her out) I plan to get something with an ID and my phone number on it so that IF something happened and say a kid came over to visit my son and left the door open and kitty runs out - - she can be reunited with me. Do you know of a place that makes collers where that info can be put ON the collar - or is it ok to get one of those things that DANGLES from the collar? Also, what's your opinion on microchips? Perhaps I'm just being paranoid - but like I said we've fallen in love with this kitty - so we want to make sure that she stays with us. And if I had a microchip put in - what if I moved - - can they somehow update that info in a file?????

Sorry for the million questions and long message. I'm just really excited over the new kitty.

[Traci]

Balls inside toys: as long as the toy itself is strong and sturdy, and that there is no chance for the toy to break and the ball falls out.

But, balls actually attached to the outside of a toy, remove them please before giving the toy to her.

Get the roundworms effectively treated by your vet tomorrow, despite their comments, roundworm infection is NOT ok, they need to be treated with an appopriate dewormer given by your vet. She should also be treated for tapeworms as well.

After testing for FELV/FIV, do NOT allow your vet to vaccinate for FIV or FIP, these vaccines are controversial, no evidence to suggest they are effective, and they can actually cause a positive on testing if the vaccine is given. DO however, vaccinate for FVRCP, Rabies and FELV depending on your vet's advice, kitty's health status, and age, etc. I would not vaccinate/spay her for anything until after she has completely healed from the upper respiratory infection.

Microchipping is a good idea, the chip number is placed in a national database, and depending on the type of chip your vet uses, should be readable by a universal scanner....so if you move, etc, the chip will contain a number in a national database for retrieval. If you feel you must provide a collar and tag for her, you need to also keep the chip tag on the collar, since this provides the information on the chip manufacturer, etc. If the tag gets lost, the pet can still be scanned, but not every clinic or shelter thinks to scan a pet.

If you have a collar and tag for her, make sure it is a break-a-away collar, so that it is not too tight. Tags should include your phone number AND your vet's clinic name and number (both sides of the tag can be engraved). Your vet may have a tag service right at his clinic....you select a tag from his display, or info, and either the staff orders it for you, or you can order it from their display info. Otherwise, your local pet stores should carry tags and engraving services.

The best solution is to teach your son and his friends to be extremely careful and mindful so they do not let your kitty outside, period. It's not just getting lost you need to be concerned about, it's getting harmed or worse, see Indoors Only.

[foundakittyNYC]

I'm back from today's vet visit. She has gained 1/2 lb since I took her in on Monday! I asked if that means I'm feeding her too much, and they said - no it's good - she needed to gain some weight. So Whew!

They said she looks a lot better than she did on Monday and were happy to see the respiratory infection is gone - but we will keep her on antibiotics for another 5 days. They gave her a distemper shot and took the cat poop in the container I had - and agreed the worms that came out were round worms - and said they probably came out because of the revolution stuff they put on her for fleas the other day. Her teeth look good - and she has her baby teeth - so they will fall out and new ones will come.

We go back on Monday - that's when the poop tests will come back - and we will pick up the appropriate worm medicine then.

Then in 3 to 4 weeks, we go back and she gets her next round of shots.

In 2 more months, when she's 6 months, we are having the FIV, FeLV, and is it FIP or something like that tests done - they also have to get blood to do some tests before she goes under for surgery. And they take the certificats from http://www.muffins.org - the spaying is FREE - but I will pay for the blood tests and other things that she has to have - and they will keep her over night. Also, while she is under, they will put the microchip in her - which is $55 extra.

So - - kitty is doing well - getting bigger - not sick anymore - had a normal temp - and is so hyper now - like kitty on crack - she's just running and diving into things and jumping - - sooooooo active. When we first got her, all she did was lay down and didn't move much. It's like in this week that I've had her, she's all of a sudden became alive.

[Traci]

Your vet should not have vaccinated your kitten until he was certain the upper respiratory infection was completely cleared. He should have, however, dewormed your kitten right then and there, for both roundworms and tapeworms.

The test is an FELV/FIV snap test. It could have and should have been done at your appointment today, do you know why it wasn't?? If negative, then you should vaccinate ONLY for FELV. As I mentioned above, do NOT vaccinate for FIV or FIP, and be absolutely sure you tell your vet that!!

Your kitty will probably need another booster for FVRCP (maybe two), FELV, and later, a Rabies vaccination.