Is this taking the pee or is it me?

[Desley (booktigger)]

That isn't good, seems like she wants the nice side of cat ownership without the cost and hassle of going to the vets.
Ela, there is a big difference between you offering to pay for a cat to have an MOT and Dawn doing it - you have ways of raising money that Dawn simply doesn't have, being a one man band.

[Millys Mum]

But have all your friends been checked over at the doctors at someone’s else's expense and pronounced A1

Mine have, i wont hang around with potentially ill or dirty people 


Dawn, yes it takes the pee. How is she managing to feed the cat if she cant afford a drontal, what a see through lie 

[Ela]

Ela, I don't like the idea of fixed donations,

Neither do Cats Protection and that is why it is only a suggested donation and not written in stone. As previously posted a good home is more important.

would rather take on a cat who hadn't been MOT'd or chipped etc, and get these done myself.

It would be irresponsible to home a cat and not know it was in good health, what if a person adopted a cat took it to the vets, then found there was a problem.  I also doubt everyone would take the cat to the vet immediately. It would also be irresponsible for us to home a cat not wormed, flea, chipped and neutered/spayed etc.
The vet MOT could also help to decide what type of home is suitable e.g a home where there are no other cats or an indoor home only. It would be terrible if one adopted a cat and then when the new owner took the cat to the vets found out that their home was  suitable., Also many rescues offer free insurance for a number of weeks via Pet Plan and would rather take on a cat who hadn't been MOT'd or chipped etc,  to get that the cat has to be seen by a vet prior to re homing..

Paying £50 for two cats merely adds to the initial expenses of new cats,

How can the suggested amount of £50 add to the initial expense? A consultation round here is about £20,  flea and worm treatment approx £8  at vets, chipping £20, injections £35 so that would be £166 plus the cost of anything found wrong and the neuters/spays etc. A bargain I would say. Also nowadays so many cats of all ages seem need a dental which is often pointed out when the cat has the MOT, I don't think many new owners would be happy to pay for a dental when they have just adopted a cat. When one goes to a rescue to look at the cats they may well see healthy looking cats but it may have cost that rescue a lot of time and money to restore the little ones to how they should be. The suggested donation just helps to offset the huge expense of rescue and enables a rescue to carry on a help more cats that are so desperate.

but I do object to the idea of BUYING a cat,

It is made very clear on the phone that the suggested donation is to help with the cost of the 'services' that cat has received, it is also made very clear that is not compulsory.

I don't pay to have friends,

But have all your friends been checked over at the doctors at someone’s else's expense and pronounced A1

[Hippykitty]

Dawn, I agree with you about the woman whose cheek began the thread - she's obviously taking the pee.

Ela, I don't like the idea of fixed donations, and would rather take on a cat who hadn't been MOT'd or chipped etc, and get these done myself. The vet is usually the first port of call for any new cat anyway. Paying £50 for two cats merely adds to the initial expenses of new cats, as I like to get them new bedding, toys, etc. rather than use those of my former cats (it saddens me to see old toys around, so I throw them out).

I have no qualms about paying for vets, as needed (Polly, bless her, is costing a fortune, but I don't mind), but I do object to the idea of BUYING a cat, which is what a fixed donation is: a purchase price. I don't pay to have friends, likewise I don't pay to have my furball friends, but I give them all the love and care they need.

It's a shame that more people who can afford it don't regularly donate to animal charities.

[Ela]

I do this on a regular basis otherwise they won't get done 

I know exactly what you mean, if a voucher has not been used after 1 month, I offer to pay the full cost and arrange for the cat to be taken to the vet f necessary. Donna takes at least a cat or more usually cats from a home every single working day, some days she picks up from  2 or 3 homes.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

With the neutering, even if working, I will get them sorted for them......I have come across too many peeps that just can't be bothered.  I don't think half of it's to do with money on this either, I think they want "you" to pick the cat up, take it to the vets, and drop it off home again........I do this on a regular basis otherwise they won't get done    Treacle who is Huey and Louie's mum just went home last night as the owners were adamant they wouldn't be able to keep her in, so she's been here for a few days.......again, another mouth to feed, no offer of a donation 

[Ela]

it's a tenner I can't afford and especially seeing as she's working, why should I go further into debt. 

I do understand, honest, what we need are more rescues and less cats. Also even in these educated times far too many people still think it is necessary for a female to have at least one litter.

Only today a man asked for the pregnant cat back that he had given to us via a neighbour about 4 weeks ago, I lied and said someone had now offered her a home once the kittens have been homed, he then said well I will have a kitten then.. Over my dead body, says I (well not exactly those words but that is what I was thinking). He lives on one of the busiest roads in Chesterfield and we have been told he and his girlfriend are absolutely covered in flea bites. I asked if he had an other cats and he said he had a male, I asked if it were neutered and he asked why should a male be neutered, I explained the reasons and also said we cannot consider placing a cat or kitten to a home where there was already an unneutered cat, I just forgot to add but you won't get one from us anyway.  He has agreed to have it neutered at our expense of course, but I would rather pay the full cost than risk he wonlt have it neutered.

[Ela]

Yes  and that is how folk keep their money by getting MUGS to pay out for them

You may call me what you like, I am no ones fool but I am not prepared to let a cat suffer, although we are not fools and do know when someone is trying to pull the wool over our eyes but until the cat is safe and well we keep our gobs shut. Then the person is made aware that we re not as daft as they think we are.

All we care about is the cat and if it costs us then so be it.

[MBll]

 Even if a millionaire had a cat and would not pay for its treatment I would.

Yes  and that is how folk keep their money by getting MUGS to pay out for them

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

We all do what we can  all I can say is if I know a cat needs help I personally cannot sleep.

I spend my life not sleeping through worrying about cats 24/7 but sadly I don't have a bottomless pit and I refuse to feel guilty if I can't help.  I'm not having a go at you, I am just saying that yes, I do rescue but I don't get paid, I chose to do what I do off my own back, I go into debt to do what I do, I have a fab vet who will let me pay when I can, but I also have a family.  I have got another mum and kittens that I need to sort, and I also have a female, her kitten and a tom cat to sort out as well.......all will cost money which will put me further into debt and even if the "stray" only costs me a tenner, it's a tenner I can't afford and especially seeing as she's working, why should I go further into debt. 

[Ela]

Is that you as in out of your pocket or the CP?

I did say

I can see where you are coming from and know your funds are very limited

.

But actually I often do pay out of my own pocket, even sometimes when I am in the vets and someone has not been able to afford treatment sometimes for dogs I have offered to pay.  I have also  often spent £100's of pounds a year for postage and cartridges for the printer etc as I like to spend the money we have on the cats. When the shop first opened I spent at least £500 purchasing goods from various wholesalers to see what would be viable to sell. Even now the shop is established I sometimes but £100 or £150 worth of stuff to help it along. The fosterers pay their own expenses for electric, petrol , phone etc and most pay for special diets chicken, fish etc out of their own pockets. They could claim but chose not to. In the past our treasurer at the time had often paid the full months vets bills out of her own pocket as the branch could not afford it. I think most people in rescue even if you are with an organisation in costs you to foster or help in some way. So please don't think we have an easy time, we too put in financially

[MBll]

  I asked her if she was working and she replied she was,

Listen ...this is what is called as 'doing a fast one on ya' type person....she HAS THE MONEY ...but DOSNT want to part with it when theres folk like dawn around

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

We pay for a full MOT which would include initial flea and worm treatments.

Is that you as in out of your pocket or the CP?  I am just an average person who works part time and do rescue on a voluntary basis and the money comes out of my pocket........like everyone else, I can only afford to pay out so much and at the moment, I'm well in debt with my vets.  I am paying out for 30 odd cats/kittens at the moment, most are kittens that have potential ongoing problems so I really can't be paying out willly nilly for everyone's cat just because they think oh I'll get some mug to pay for it and save myself some money.

[Ela]

Anyway...as someone mentioned the subject of donations....could someone explain the whole CP "donation" thing? In order to adopt a cat, CP asks for a donation of £30 [last time I adopted a cat it was £30]. As a donation is voluntary, could someone still adopt a cat but decline to make a donation

It is only during the last couple of years that CP branches hae been allowed to suggest a donation. It is not compulsory and each branch can set its own suggested do0nation. With us we suggest £30 a cat or £50 for two. For this not only does a family get a lovely pet, it is neutered/spayed, if it is approx 6 months or over, it is chipped and fully injected and has been treated for fleas and worms. i always say that a good home is more important then a donation, however, I cannot think why anyone would not wish not to donate and in all honesty if they cannot afford a donation I would worry how they would be able to cover vet fees, including annual boosters, regular flea and worm treatment and even litter. If they could obviouslyj afford a donation but just did not want to give one then perhaps it should be a worry what type of family are they.

[lilycat]

Are you sure that the cat really is a stray? If she's cheeky enough to ask for help with basic things like worming and such, maybe she's cheeky enough to 'try it on' with free stuff for her own cat! Either that or she's a bit dim... 

Anyway...as someone mentioned the subject of donations....could someone explain the whole CP "donation" thing? In order to adopt a cat, CP asks for a donation of £30 [last time I adopted a cat it was £30]. As a donation is voluntary, could someone still adopt a cat but decline to make a donation?

I'm just curious as when I got Mavis, my OH and I had a discussion about whether a donation of a lesser amount would be acceptable - would CP be obliged [legally] to accept an offered donation of, say £10? Now I'm not saying that it's ok to do that [personally, I'd die of embarrassment], as I said, I'm just curious.

[Ela]

I smell    or am I being cynical,  (sorry its the way I am )

Sometimes there is a rat to be smelled. However, usually when this happens gut feeling tells you, and always when they tell you the cats age and name. In these cases I always say I will still help you but  please tell me if it is your cat as then we can find out more about it. They then usually come clean.

Some people take kindness for daftness!!!!!!!!

Believe  me very few people  pull the wool over our eyes. But the bottom line is the cat and as long as it receives the care it needs that is fine by me.

[Ralph's mum (angie)]

If this cat is a genuine stray would she not need to get it MOT'd by the vet.  Check to see if it is neutered ,chipped etc than it would need its jabs (the usual stuff)

I smell    or am I being cynical,  (sorry its the way I am )

Some people take kindness for daftness!!!!!!!! No wonder your cheesed off

Anyway hope it gets sorted out

[Ela]

In these circumstances we do not ask for a donation. In fact we are not really allowed to ask for donations at any time although when homing we can suggest a donation. In a way they are doing us a favour as if they did not help the little one as we know about the situation we would have to do something about it, and it is not fair to make the cat wait to see a vet until such time as we could bring it in. Thankfully people do take the cats to our vets themselves after I have authorised it and this in itself saves us much time.

[Bazsmum]

What about asking for a donation?

[Ela]

I can see where you are coming from and know your funds are very limited. However, in cases like this and someone is willing to keep the cat or until at least we can bring it in, (often they then fall in love and keep it anyway). We pay for a full MOT which would include initial flea and worm treatments. If they say they will keep the cat we do discuss the future financial implications and most are happy to take it on. Even  many folks with load of money for some reason seem to want us to ensure all is well with the cat initially. I personally fully understand that. The bottom line is we have no room and the cat does need help or at least until we can take it in.

[Bazsmum]

As this lady is working I would gently  explain to her that the treatments she needs for her cat you do not cover as this is routinely done by cat owners themselves.....I would also say to her to get her cat insured 

But yeah, i do agree with you on this one!

[Hippykitty]

It does sound like she's trying to pull a fast one. If she was genuine she'd realise that the cat would need these things as an ongoing expense, not a one off. What would she do if the cat was involved in an RTA and needed expensive treatment? (Or out-of-hours vet!!)

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

The thoughts have been going through my mind as well    I've got her phone number and I said I will contact her in the next few days to see if she's sorted anything, if not, I'll get her to take him to the RSPCA clinic and I'll clear it with them beforehand.  I am actually wondering if it's her cat and she just doesn't want to pay out but then again, I have a very untrusting nature when it comes to some peeps and their animals 

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Seeing as this woman has displayed an awful sense of what's expected in caring for a cat, it might also be worth checking if the cat really does need it's claws trimmed. If it's stray, it's surely been wearing them down in the usual fasion; climbing walls, running from dogs?  

All sounds a bit odd... and v. cheeky!

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

To be honest Mags, I'm been so tired today, it was only afterwards when I thought about it that I thought the cheeky  , I don't mind helping anyone if the need arises, but I think some people think my money grows on trees and at the moment, money is really tight and I've got a few vet visits still to do over the next few weeks, possibly some I've got in at the moment will need ongoing treatment........I have to draw the line somewhere, and buying wormers and flea stuff for someone who's working, I'm drawing the line at 

[MBll]

Awww jesus dawn i would have told her where to go

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Although I agree, it is indeed taking the p s maybe you could find out her nearest local vet and send payment directly to them or get them to send you an itemised bill.

The reason why I disagree with that is, if someone is prepared to take a cat on, they should also be prepared to pay out and I do have my own ever growing vet bills to contend with and I only work part time, and if she can't afford worming, flea treating and nail trimming, could she afford to pay out if the need arises for any future treatment or is she going to contact me, and expect me to pay it    There is an RSPCA clinic a few miles away from where she is but theoretically they only treat animals where the owner is on Benefits.......if need be, I can arrange for her to take it there and it will cost her about £10.

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

She has actually taken the cat in.  Re the supermarket, I would rather pay for the cat myself than her use supermarket wormers and flea stuff, it really is a false economy buying off the shelf......you should always purchase these items from the vets, they probably work out cheaper and they do the job they are intended to do      Being a soft cow, I nearly did offer to go over with some flea/worm treatment but she does want the cats claws doing and I don't like trimming claws 

[JackSpratt]

Supermarket treatments aren't particularly effective as a rule.

Although I agree, it is indeed taking the p s maybe you could find out her nearest local vet and send payment directly to them or get them to send you an itemised bill. If it's the only way the cat is going to get flead and wormed, that is!

[blackcat]

Ummm she could get everything required to do the job at the supermarket, and in five minutes have it all sorted without even having to change her routine. In what way is she 'looking after' the cat?? Sounds like she needs looking after herself!!

[Dawn (DiddyDawn)]

Had a lady on the phone earlier and she's been looking after a stray cat which is very nice of her.  Anyway, she said she was prepared to keep the cat but it needed treatment.  I was sort of thinking it had mega things wrong with it and maybe she wasn't working and couldn't afford it.  All it needs apparently is claws trimming, worming and defleaing and this is what she wanted help with      I asked her if she was working and she replied she was, so why is she asking me for help with this?????????  Is it me or does she think she's doing me the favour cos she's prepared to look after the cat and does she think I get my vet bills for nothing    It would cost me more in fuel to go and pick the cat up, get it to my vets and back again than what it would for her to get it in and treated