| Subject: I'm here! *yawn* |
Author:
Shannie
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Date Posted: 08:50:28 06/30/01 Sat
In reply to:
LeeAnn
's message, "Sorry Shannie, but I have a cat question too!" on 07:37:51 06/30/01 Sat
It's 7:35am *yawn* (getting ready for work. wait! how do I get ready, sitting here? LOL)
Here's my suggestion. Before you bring kitty home, get a good grooming brush. Any pet supply store will have one, even WalMart. While at the Shelter, ask if you can take kitty aside and brush really good. This will get rid of any loose hair/fur. and YES!...apply the Allerpet-C *BEFORE* going home......apply only as directed on the bottle (don't overdo it haha).
I'd still suggest keeping kitty in a room by him/herself for a day, anyway. Even if it's a single kitty, it's very stressful for a cat to come home to a new place. They need time to adjust, get used to the new 'smells', the new atmosphere. If you have a spare bedroom or whatever, that's great. Just put kitty in there with litterbox, food (get good quality food/ask them what they've fed cat at Shelter....it probably wasn't the highest quality stuff, but if you buy BETTER stuff, mix half and half with what cat was eating there (dry stuff)......and gradually increase the mixture of new stuff over a good 5 days (otherwise it can cause upset tummy/diarrhea -- adding a new food too quickly). Get some good quality canned food cuz these poor shelter kitties no doubt could use a good meal. DON'T ever feed canned Tuna....too much salt and iodine in that, it's bad for cats (except a few bites...AND only if you use the kind 'packed in WATER'/not oil)
Spend as much time in room with kitty.....brushing, petting, letting cat get used to you. Make sure room is CAT PROOF...no venetian blind strings hanging (cats can hang themselves)....no small objects.....don't buy any junkie cat toys (so many are unsafe).
Even after a full day, depending on how kitty seems, you might be able to let her out then....you just have to judge how stressed/friendly cat seems.
Apply the Allerpet C daily as it says on the bottle.
I suggest you also make a Vet appt for Monday.....to have kitty health-checked: for worms, fleas, earmites, tested for Feline AIDS (FIV), Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and discuss about getting vaccinations. If Vaccs given, request that they be given in hind leg muscle...not shoulder/scruff/neck area (there's a tiny risk of something called "Vaccine Related Sarcoma"....a type of cancerous tumor FROM the "diluent" in the vaccines.......it's best for Vets to now give them in hind leg muscle/hip area...so that if cat EVER does develop it, to save cat, they simply amputate leg. Do a search on www.google.com for "Vaccine Related Sarcoma" to get all the info. It doesn't happen often but something to be aware of. Vet might also want to do a Urinalysis......just to make sure kitty doesn't have a Urinary Tract infection, no signs of diabetes or kidney problems (urinalysis can tell a lot). Vet should also check cat's temp and the condition of cat's teeth/gums. Listen to heart/lungs, feel abdomen, etc.
Be SOOOO careful that cat doesn't get outside......cat will be scared. Ensure that boyfriend knows to watch when coming into/leaving house. Kitty might be scared to be in a new place and try to get out. That's why it's best to leave kitty in a room by themself for a day...let them get used to house/smells/you, etc.
If you can get your boyfriend to take a NON DROWSY Anti-histamine, like Chlortripolon ND or Allegra or Reactine or something like that, just to help him not have any reaction, that would be good, too. It sure would be a shame to get kitty them have to re-home him/her :-)
Hope this helps!
When getting cat there, ask them if THEY have done any health checks on the cat (does Shelter have a Vet there?).
One last tip!!! WHen you go to GET cat, PLEASE get yourself a proper CARRIER.....it is sooooo dangerous to leave a shelter/vet clinic with a cat in your arms....especially a NEW one. They are scared......and will often try to bolt/jump from your arms.........also, driving in a car can make them motion sick. Most Vet clinics and Pet Supply stores sell cheaper carriers...some even have the cardboard kind, for $10 or so. Even a cardboard box with some airholes and a towel in the bottom is BETTER THAN NOTHING!!!
Most cats get very 'motion sick' during car rides..due to everything whizzing by....I usually take a light towel and cover up any openings in carrier..so they can't see out.....this makes a big difference.
I'll check back here later to see how things went. BEST OF LUCK!!!
SHan :-)
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