There are a number of kittens in the frame, it seems, some newly caught, some only half-wild, and discussion has continued about which kitten, its age, gender and suitability, plus, I suspect, an element of a besotted carer not wishing to relinquish one to me yet. We have agreed that a male kitten might do better in this household, given Lottie's dream of world domination.
The possible sticking point, if I am to be a carer, is that of vaccination. I quite understand that rescue organisations may insist on vaccination, but there are opposing schools of thought on the matter, and much research literature, and I choose not to have my cats done. I focus on optimising their health in other ways, through their diet and their environment, I have them spayed and microchipped and try not to get too intense and unorthodox about things, but the anti-vaccination literature makes for compelling (alarming) reading. And the only cat I ever had who died of a disease that these vaccinations are intended to prevent caused the vet great surprise: he said "there must be an underlying cause; he should have been immune at his age". Figure that one out.
So, we'll see; I might either be considered a good-enough carer/potential owner, or I might not. Either way, having just read the papers that came with Millie and Lottie, I see that vaccination was part of the agreement I made at the time. I'd forgotten that bit, somehow (maybe my girls will be confiscated.......over my dead body, maybe).
So, no kitten for me yet. I'll keep you posted.
7 comments:
Oh dear, I didn't know there was any debate about vaccinations. Don't tell me, though. Our furry friends have been done and I don't want to know why this wasn't a good idea.
My girlhood cat had no attention from a vet, I would have to say, and seemed fine. Until ultimately she wasn't, of course.
Tricky subject...I can only say that in our family's conventional household, all cats were vaccinated, and all lived, and are living, to very old ages. They are inside-outside cats.
Estorbo has not been vaccinated, except for rabies, because of the sleepless nights I endured after his contretemps with a raccoon, on the roof, leaving a nick in his leg.
I tend (highly subjective alert!) to think that vaccinating is the lesser of two weevils.
I'm with you totally.
Big fat BleetNess will be 11 in January and he has had not a one shot since his neutering vet apt at 6 months when he had the first round and follow up booster - much like we do when we're children. Aside from his obesity he's a very healthy, albeit a little weird, cat (I weighed him the other day and he weighs 24lbs - yikes!)10.43 kgs for you metric types. (We Canadians are only half metric).
Thankfully all my animals have lived (vaccination free) very long healthy lives. I'm also quite leery of many drugs that vets propose, pet foods sold at vet clinics and all flea medications (unless I actually see a flea).
I believe as you do in good food, lots of exercise, play and stimulation and of course plenty of love.
I'm sure where you live is much like it is here - there's no shortage of kittens needing homes. So if not this kitten another awaits. A boy I think is wise.
Pardon - tres long comment. Oliver of course awaits news of Millie (patiently)
Rupert, 16yrs and 11 months, must be one of the most vaccinated cats in blog-land.
Because him mother was killed (by a tractor) when he was tiny, and I took over his care at 4 weeks, he was quite poorly. The vet gave him every jab he could think of. I didn't really have a problem with that then.
What really annoys me though is that no cattery will take him unless his vaccinations are up to date. He has a passport, which the vets stamp and sign every year after his jabs. This has to be presented on each delivery to the cattery. HE IS NEARLY 17. Surely he has enough immunity by now?
You are so lucky in having neighbours who will look after your little tribe when you go away. The alternative is very expensive!
Susan is right - there are always kittens looking for homes. Rupert came from a "Free to Good Home" ad in the local paper. I feel like going back to the farm now and saying "Well, he's still going strong. Was this a good home?"
Have so enjoyed catching up with your previous posts and Aussie visitor's adventures. As a South Australian I remember being intruiged by my first glimpse of a pheasant in Scotland,and took many photots. Rounding the bend to a tearoom there were heaps of them!Good luck with the kitten dilemmas.I hope it all goes well.
I couldn't get insurance for Percy unless I got his boosters also he is always in scraps plus he always finds the mankiest gardens to play in so it puts my mind at ease a bit, couldn't live with myself if anything happened to him and I could have protected him from it. But all the cats we had when I was growing up only had their first injections when they were kittens and never a booster and most of them lived very long lives (Katie was around 26 when she died) and they were mice and ratters x
Yes, it's a controversial subject all right, and I wouldn't argue with anyone who took an opposing view to mine. In fact, I feel less strongly about initial shots than years of boosters. And of course, we don't have to worry much about rabies in the UK. So far.
Post a Comment