Would you take on a cat with a lumpy belly from a Rescue?

[madkittyrescue]

this is just a comment based on Lucy we had a wee while ago that at 16wks she had lumps on her mammary glands which did turn out to be hormonal though at that time she wasn't neutered - they settled down of their own accord within a couple of weeks too.

Lesley - I think you did the right thing and the right thing to do is to not take the little one and raise concerns with management or HQ.  By taking the little one its only going to encourage them that they can do it and get away with palming people off - without a reasonable explanation of back up from the rescue then the woman is right to walk away.

[Pudding]

Actually, I'd report the branch to HQ.

The cats should be confirmed healthy before they go or if a pre existing condition that they know about, fund it.
Thats what we would do and were not rolling in it......

But of course then you will not be sure of where the cat will end up..... Tricky.

By taking the kitten you are allowing this rescue to slip into shoddy practises. If it is R***A you really should report it.

[Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ]

I would take them so they are out of the hands of the rescue and get them to my own vets so they could be looked after properly.

I took Bourneville on after being told he had a sensitive tummy but was fine as long as he had Hills Sensitive...over £300 in vets bills later he was pretty much sorted because there were other problems (just has to have JWB).

Financially this wasn't ideal for me...I was 21 and had just bought my first home and was on a trainee wage...but I would have done anything for him and just used my credit card! I know not everyone would/could do that but it didn't do me any harm

[Millys Mum]

I would adopt it because i'd wonder who they may fob it off with and if they would care as much as i would! If the cats were pregnant spays but the staff didnt want to say so it could explain the 'hormonal' response from the vets

[Janeyk]

I would probably take the cat on and the vet has now assessed it but it does seem odd that the rescue hadn't sorted this out before they adopted the cat.

[Mark]

But of course then you will not be sure of where the cat will end up..... Tricky.

That is the problem. If the people are willing to take the kitten on as is but want some reassurances about possible vet bills, they sound perfect. Otherwise, I think I know what the kitten's fate may be 

[Desley (booktigger)]

What an awful situation - how old is the cat?

[Angiew]

Actually, I'd report the branch to HQ.

The cats should be confirmed healthy before they go or if a pre existing condition that they know about, fund it.
Thats what we would do and were not rolling in it......

But of course then you will not be sure of where the cat will end up..... Tricky.

[nickynoo93]

Lesley what a horrible situation. I think you've done the right thing. I can't believe the centre won't test her. They are potentially letting her suffer!!!
It was one of the places I rang before finding You and My little furbabes. They won't even consider a flat/indoor cat, weren't interested in taking My name incase an indoor cat came in to be rescued either.

Feel sorry for the couple who are just trying to do the right thing.

Hope they have a kitten of you instead.

Nikcy x

[Pudding]

I don't like emotional blackmail and R****A do it a lot. I would find some kittens that are ready for homing as this little fella clearly isn't.

[Mark]

I know when I took on Alice, Sharon said due to her having had cancer, the branch would pay for anything cancer related (obviously I have her insured but cancer won't be covered)

If their vet insists there is nothing wrong and doesn't think testing is necessary, they could ask for a letter stating that - then when they insure her, if the worst happens, she will be covered?

[LesleyW]

If I mention R***A, maybe you will be able to understand why they won't budge on the issue or offer any sort of compromise.

[Tiggy's Mum]

I think for me it would be the potential heartbreak of losing her through illness so young, obviously anything could happen to an animal of any age after they've been adopted but at least they would have pet insurance in place to cover themselves.

A compromise could be for them to offer to pay for the tests to put their mind at rest. If it was something sinister and something that could not afford to treat themselves (obv insurance would rule it out as pre-existing) then at least she would still be under the care of the rescue centre. I know the rescue may not be rolling in money but at least they have the opportunity to fundraise to pay for the treatment. If it's nothing untoward then they can all live happily ever after.

[Corporal Smokey]

Sounds a bit fishy that the rescue aren't concerned for the poor girl's health, all costs aside! I think they should still offer to take the cat with the understanding that any medical bills as a result of the tests are picked up by the rescue. They could blame the insurance and say their insurer won't cover them for known problems. Or something.

Either way, I hope it works out for them, it must be heart breaking.

[Tiggerman]

Taking on a cat with an existing medical condition is fine as long as you have loads of money to meet the possible medical bills.

I would have thought that most people dont fall into this category.

It is a bit strange - to me anyway - for a rescue to try and offload a cat like this. Or is it?

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

I am in agreement with you and would not take such a cat on, seems to me that possibly this rescue is being naughty cos they really should make sure this cat is Ok and dont like a vet who will not test when he should.

Sounds like a fob off the cat on someone that has become attached and avoid any medical costs and other issues 

[LesleyW]

Just had a call from a lady who is looking for a black kitten.  Her husband phoned a week ago and I advised him of Miaow Miaow and suggested he call in a week to see if she had given birth.

Lady called today to say they had been to a large rescue in our area looking for a kitten/young adult and were advised that they only home in pairs (even if they did not come in as pairs).  After much umming and ahhing they decided they would take two on and chose two young females, both spayed very recently. 

They had been visiting on a daily basis and late last week the husband noticed one of the cats had lumps in her belly.   They mentioned it to one of the staff who said "yeah I noticed that too".   After husband mentioned concern, the staff member said she would mention it to the Supervisor and they would get the vet to have a look.

The couple received a phone call from the Centre and were advised that the Vet had decided the lumps were "strange" and the cat needed a blood test which would be carried out last Friday.  Friday evening the couple got a call to say the Vet had looked at the cat and decided that it was hormonal and she did not now need a blood test and was fine to go but advised that they monitor her "closely" weekly over the next three months.

Obviously, they had become pretty attached to the cat and were in a quandry as to whether to take her now or not and phoned me for advice.  The Centre they are getting the cats from will not be liable for any veterinary care once the cats have left their care so if the lumps should turn out to be something "sinister" the couple will be liable for all vet bills.

I feel hard but I advised them that I, as a per owner, would not take on a cat that could possibly turn out to have medical problems in the near future.  I advised her of mammary tumours and she said she had read about these.  The Centre will not let them take the other cat without taking this one, so they are now in a position of getting attached to two cats and not being able to have either of them.

Did I do the right thing?  I think she had probably made her mind up but just wanted to talk it over with someone to see if she had made the right decision.