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I can't believe it's so difficult to get a cat!

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Posted 1/17/2014 7:16 AM (GMT -5)
I know this is not exactly an RA topic but I also know a lot of you have pets so you will understand. Our beloved cat died last year. She was 16. When it comes to cats things have changed utterly since we got Tibby. It used to be that everyone knew someone with a litter of beautiful kittens. Not any more. If you want a kitten now you have to book one from a breeder at a hefty price. I have no idea about pedigree cats. Don't know where to start. You can adopt adults from shelters but that's not what we want. Although we are all disappointed I think I will have to put it on the back burner for now because I am not well atm and is all too much for me. I hate how being ill makes living life so difficult at times. Neenaa
Posted 1/17/2014 9:40 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Neena,

Just wanted to let you know that all three of our cats came from a rescue shelter.  And all three were kittens when we adopted them.  It's largely a question of timing.  Sometimes a shelter will have all adult cats, but if you ask staff, they may be able to let you know when a litter of kittens is available.

Elcamino

Posted 1/17/2014 10:28 AM (GMT -5)
Neena,
I got one of my kitties from a shelter (they had him fixed at 1 lb, which was like 5 weeks, but we couldn't take him unless he was fixed), We got 2 from Hope at Petsmart both of these were about 4 months and finally a friend gave me a little black kitten, we got him by chance and chancellor became his name.... I have 4 boy toys in all....You will find a kitty, sometimes they come when you least expect them...Try looking at Petco and Petsmart on the weekends, they usually have adoptions from noon time until 3-4 p.m. on the weekends...
I'll say a prayer for you and will tell you to keep hope, you'll get another love in your life...
Posted 1/19/2014 9:51 PM (GMT -5)
How's your search going? Do you have a furry baby yet? Many Prayers that you find a furry baby soon...
Posted 1/19/2014 10:18 PM (GMT -5)
Historically all my "working" farm cats have litters in the spring just after Easter and then in late summer so I don't think it's "kitten season" :)

Just had my indoor "old girl" she's 16 to the vet for a URI. She's not liking her amoxicillian one bit! The good news is I had her to the vet in the beginning of Dec. because she was sharting, and had grown very thin. She is a very petite cat but she was down to just 4 lbs.! He took all kinds of blood tests thinking she had either thyroid problems, diabetes, renal failure or cancer but she checked out in good health. He suggested I feed her anything her tummy would tolerate and find a way to encourage her to drink more as she was very dehydrated as well. He suggested letting her drink clam juice which is smelly and salty. Sometimes old cats don't eat because they lose their sense of smell. Well I ended up buying some wet food for sensitive stomachs as she has lived her life on dry only. She loves it. I also found out she enjoys ice water after her meal. At this visit she is a plump (for her) 6 1/2 lbs.! He was amazed! Guess she'll be sticking around for a few more years :)

Good luck with your kitten quest!
Posted 1/20/2014 9:10 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Elcamino, Chartreux, and wearyRAsufferer, Thanks so much for your lovely replies full of well wishes and good advice.

I’m sorry I took so long to reply I have been unwell since the New Year. No luck so far with the kitten. As per your advice we have decided to wait till the spring when I will hopefully be better and more importantly there will be more kittens around. My daughter was off college up to yesterday and we thought it would be nice for her to be here when we got the kitten. She will have two weeks’ vacation in the spring so maybe it will all come together then. An adoption at a pet shop sounds like a great idea but unfortunately we don’t have Petco or Petsmart in Ireland. I have been in touch with a few cat adoption agencies who have put us on their lists. Also Pet shops in Ireland are not allowed to sell cats; I guess it’s for the cat’s protection. I suppose it’s the same in other countries too.

On a different note; I have had a low grade fever (38.3C or 101F) since the New Year. My GP thought it was the flu at first because of the very bad pain I experienced all over at the onset. I have also had pretty bad diarrhoea and have been feeling very unwell generally along with the fever. Have any of you experienced this kind of thing? My RA is not in a flare-up at the moment. Thanks again, Neenaa.
Posted 1/20/2014 8:50 PM (GMT -5)
Sorry your feeling ill and sure hope your getting better soon, the flu is nasty this year so take precautions.

So very sorry, I did not realise you are in Ireland. Here in the USA pet shops can sell pets, and sometimes they are poor quality pets, sometimes I wish they didn't sell them in petshops here.
Maybe you can visit your local animal doctor and ask if there are any cats roaming about that need homes.
Sometimes animal doctor are worth asking. It's always good asking the local animal doctor as he/she will have to treat your pet at some point.
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