Never doing rescue again: too (censored) expensive!

[Hippykitty]

CC - sorry if that sounded harsh, was just letting off steam.....so annoyed with the vet. The receptionists' there were very 'so what' ish when I tried to explain the position; so I had to get stroppy with them.

Things look so much worse written down, don't they? I am trying to avoid becoming too attached to the cats, though it's very hard, as some may have to be released; though I'll probably put this off till the spring. The two female older kittens are tameable (they were spayed today), but the neutered tom may not be. All the younger (about 15wks) kittens are homeable, and 3 have potential homes: one with my best friend (provided his bloods are okay - she's concerned about her other 4 cats), and the other 2 with her (grown) daughter's friend, if I think she's suitable. I may keep either one of the older females or one of the kittens, depending upon Samantha's reactions - Polly has seen them all, but she gets on with all cats.

CC, these cats are making up for lost time, foodwise, especially the kittens. Rebekah, who's having one of the kittens she's called Alfie, is helping lots with contributions of supermarket cat food. The corner shop just sells Whiskas at 66p per tin!

But vets bills really hit hard. I qualify for PDSA treatment, but don't think they would treat cats who weren't actually mine. Up till now, Polly and Sam have seen a private vet when necessary, because they WERE very good, but I'm going off them.

Will send my contact details to Helen and Pinkbear; though I started this thread to have a moan rather than for any other reason.
Thanks lots.

Time to go and sing them goodnight and give them their supper. Silly cats like my singing.....must be mad....

[ccmacey]

I know Helen, but I took that as she didnt want to pay if she is getting nothing in return. Which is not how rescue goes, you should feel proud of yourself for helping someone that cant help themselves. 

[Tiggy's Mum]

CC, HippyKitty didn't say she wasn't going to treat them for fleas/worms just that she couldn't afford the vets prices and was going to do it herself more cheaply.

Thought I'd try to do them more cheaply myself.

[ccmacey]

Don't see why I should pay so much for cats I have no emotional investment in,

THESE ARE NOT MY CATS AND I DIDN'T SIGN FOR DEFLEAING/DEWORMING.

I dont understand that, it seems a pretty harsh thing to say and I thought all vets these days would deflea and worm any cat that had come into be seen?

BTW I have fed a few strays and never had a single stroke in return, but it did not stop me buying food, frontline or wormers for them.

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Well, I replied to HK.... I don't seem to have the time to keep up these days. 

If someone can chisel out of HK her contact details and let me know, I'll chuck in a few bob too. 

But as I said my PM, life for a feral rescuer is a lot easier if you do it under the flag on a group such as CP or CAT77, so you have things in place before you start. Go to the vet and thrash out a deal before you even start is my advice. Make sure the funds are in place. 

Once you've explained your mission to the rest of the group and got the backing behind you, vets bills are a not the problem and you've got enough to keep you occupied... and I'm sure everyone will join me in thanking those wonderful fundraisers who make these things possible. 

I am just in awe of peeps like DiddyDawn and Teresa and Lesley who do it all on their own. I just don't have the time! 

[Mark]

If you do volunteer for CP, they will accept any kid of help and it's not like a regular job where you get sent off on missions they will (or should) work around the way you want to help. If you drive, you can claim mileage allowance etc so you will never be out of pocket by doing it and never under any obligation.

[pappilon]

Sorry Tigi's Mum didnt mean to take over your offer, its just you said you havent got your cheque book, may be you can send money for their food/cat litter? Or the other way around .

Not thinking straight tonight. I can send a cheque and Hippykitten cat use it towards some thing for the cats.

[pappilon]

Hippykitty , i am happy to send you a cheque towards what they charged you for deworming/flea.

If you PM your address and the name you want the cheque payable to i send you the cheque, you have done a great job .

I am sure there are organizations that will cover the costs , for future. But dont give up on the mum cat if you trap her then she might be able to get ahome , specially if you think she is pregnant      

[Hippykitty]

Thanks ever so much, Helen. Will do some ringing round tomorrow, see if I can get help from the local cat people, and maybe become an official volunteer for the CP, once I've found out what this involves.

Have pm'd Pinkbear for advice.

I'm so glad there are such nice peeps on here. Thanks.

[Tiggy's Mum]

That's a shame, I can't send a chq as I haven't got a chq book at the moment, I could do an online bank transfer but completely understand if you're not happy giving out personal details.  If not I could send cash recorded delivery say?

Let me know as I really would like to help 

[Hippykitty]

Thanks Helen, but I don't have Paypal.

Mark, I'll pm Pinkbear for advice. I don't think my vet has any stipulation concerning treating cats with worms/fleas. Will find out more tomorrow.

Isn't it strange how interested people are (the local shopkeeper, hairdresser, chemist) till the problem moves off their patch? But not for long, though, cos the mum has a very round tum. Looks like the problem will start again.

I have potential homes for 3 of the 5 smaller kittens. Unless the source of the problem (mum, and maybe the remaining older kitten) can be caught and neutered, the shopkeepers will have a growing colony on their hands again.

Oh, I'm just soooooooo annoyed!!!!!!

[Mark]

You could also try your local CP branch - they might be able to help - or better still, sign up as a volunteer and offer to be their "feral woman" 
Pinkbear has a special attachment to feral cats and specialises in dealing with colonies. CP pay the vet bills. In fact, she even got a special grant from HQ.

The thing is, some vets won't even treat animals with fleas/worms. Mine has a sign up about it.

[Tiggy's Mum]

That's not good, don't give up though - think of all the good just sorting out this one family will do and prevent many thousands of cats in the future from ending up in the same situation.

Do you have paypal? I'll chip in towards their flea treatments if you do.

[Hippykitty]

I've had my one and only attempt at rescue. Never again. It's costing me a fortune in cat food, litter and....

VETS!!!          

Collected the three older kittens from neutering earlier, and they presented me with a £33.50 bill    for defleaing and deworming (with Frontline and Profender). I had ENQUIRED about the defleaing and deworming, but when told their cost over the phone, I told them I'd leave it. (Don't see why I should pay so much for cats I have no emotional investment in, especially when I'm on benefit). Thought I'd try to do them more cheaply myself.

Imagine my shock. 
I had signed the form consenting to anaesthetic, spaying/castration.
They showed me the 'form I'd signed'; beside the 'anaesthetic, spaying/castration' they'd added, in handwriting 'deflea and deworm'. That wasn't there when I signed the form. I had an argument with them. They told me to call tomorrow. I thought they'd probably not hand the cats over (it crossed my mind: then they'd be the vets problem!), but they did, which is just as well for the cats.

I explained: THESE ARE NOT MY CATS AND I DIDN'T SIGN FOR DEFLEAING/DEWORMING. But this fell on deaf ears.

Going off this vet something rotten. I used to like them because one of them is a great diagnostician. But sod it. I'm changing vet and not doing this expensive rescuing lark again.

I had thought that rescue was my forte, cos I'm good with cats and have the time to do it, but not the money.
If any of the local shops has a problem with a colony again, they can go sing for it. I've not noticed them contributing even one can of food since the problem has become mine.

Well the mum must be ready to drop her next litter soon. Poor things. But I can't afford to deal with it.