Discussion
Ok, we put down out 19yro cat a few weeks ago and our 10yro cat is now looking very lonesome.
We have found a mother and daughter pair with the local RSPCA centre that will cost us about £100 to adopt but they have been fully vet-checked and vaccinated.
We have also found a brother sister pair from the local "cat rescue lady" who does it out of the goodness of her heart and will accept a donation of any kind to get the cats a home. Now these cats have not been vet-checked or vaccinated at all, but have been spayed/neutered and may need some dental work according to the cat lady.
Does anyone have any idea (yes I know its like a piece of string) of how much it will cost to totally vaccinate and check and do whatever else.
We have found a mother and daughter pair with the local RSPCA centre that will cost us about £100 to adopt but they have been fully vet-checked and vaccinated.
We have also found a brother sister pair from the local "cat rescue lady" who does it out of the goodness of her heart and will accept a donation of any kind to get the cats a home. Now these cats have not been vet-checked or vaccinated at all, but have been spayed/neutered and may need some dental work according to the cat lady.
Does anyone have any idea (yes I know its like a piece of string) of how much it will cost to totally vaccinate and check and do whatever else.
If you insure them right away then you can take them down the vets after I think about two weeks (depending on policy) and then if they need dental treatment etc. it can be covered. You do have to be quite honest with them when you get a quote and go ahead though, it's a rescue etc.. so you don't know history etc. and ages and if it's been vaccinated.
Vaccinations etc.. I think at our vet £35 or so (which is a pain at 4 cats and annual) which you should do right away.
Rescues are always such loving animals.
Vaccinations etc.. I think at our vet £35 or so (which is a pain at 4 cats and annual) which you should do right away.
Rescues are always such loving animals.
Unless you are willing to go straight from the cat rescue lady to the vet, I'd go with the first set that have been treated and tested. Your current cat isn't young and I wouldn't just bring in an outside cat if I didn't know hands down it was healthy. If they have Feline AIDS or Leukemia or heart worms or something else terrible you can get your first cat sick.
If vet costs are anything like they are here in the States, 100 quid would be a small price to pay.
HTH
If vet costs are anything like they are here in the States, 100 quid would be a small price to pay.
HTH
staceyb said:
Ok, we put down out 19yro cat a few weeks ago and our 10yro cat is now looking very lonesome.
It may be lonesome but that doesn't necessarily mean it wants new cats in its house... incumbents rarely mix with new arrivals.staceyb said:
We have found a mother and daughter pair with the local RSPCA centre that will cost us about £100 to adopt but they have been fully vet-checked and vaccinated.
We have also found a brother sister pair from the local "cat rescue lady" who does it out of the goodness of her heart and will accept a donation of any kind to get the cats a home. Now these cats have not been vet-checked or vaccinated at all, but have been spayed/neutered and may need some dental work according to the cat lady.
The RSPCA 'quote' doesn't mention dental work. Dental work to me is a sign that the cat is elderly (which may or may not bother you) but a quick knock on the head followed by extractions and scaling is usually sufficent. Bad breath usually means bad teeth as well.We have also found a brother sister pair from the local "cat rescue lady" who does it out of the goodness of her heart and will accept a donation of any kind to get the cats a home. Now these cats have not been vet-checked or vaccinated at all, but have been spayed/neutered and may need some dental work according to the cat lady.
I'd be inclined to choose the cats you like most - the odd vet's bill is really secondary IMHO - and one thing's for sure - the cat lady needs your donation more than the RSPCA!
Here's mine popping in to see what I'm up to in the studio:
Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 18th April 22:31
Hammerwerfer said:
Wow! I have never thought of paying anything for a cat. Had a good few ove the years, and of course the odd vet bill, but nothing serious.
My local cat place asks for a £20 donation, and considering their vet's bill is £30K a year, seems more than fair. The cats come with full MOT and microchip, so it's a good deal.I'd go with an 'official' source if I were you.
Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
Alfa_75_Steve said:
I'd go with an 'official' source if I were you.
Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
How much would you say you spend on food a month ?Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
ipwn said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
I'd go with an 'official' source if I were you.
Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
How much would you say you spend on food a month ?Don't worry about introducing new cats into the house - it'll be nasty for a few days, but soon settles down.
As for running costs......
fiver a month per cat for insurance, 50-70 quid every year per cat for injections and checkups.
Ours eat loads of dry biscuits, and only have 1/4 of a tin each of wet food per day - that's their breakfast.
They appear healthy on this diet and the vet says they're very healthy and happy cats. Some people may say they need more tinned food, though.
We probably use a box of biscuits / week at around £1.50 / box and tins are around 50p each.
It's not a lot, anyway.
I know the local cats home is trying to do her best but I would be very wary of the cats carrying or picking up viruses whilst in her care. The RSPCA ones have probably been tested for FeLV & FIV (Cat leukaemia and cat 'AIDS') Check this with them.
In my experience those that mean well often create a bigger problem by not doing the basics properly. I work at a vets that are not the cheapest so chances are you will find cheaper costs but just for an idea.
Full vacc £66.30
I/d chip £31.00
Spay £60.00
Castrate £53.00
Worming tablet £4.36
Frontline Combo 6 pack $£29.00
Insurance - depends who you use but ~£5-£8 per month
Checking for FeLV and FIV - can't remember I think approx £30
There are other viruses that lots of cats have nowadays but you should ask if any of the cats have been chronic sneezers or have sore looking mouths (esp if a young cat) as this may indicate Feline Calicivirus or Feline Herpes virus. Both viruses that are fairly prevelant in cat rescue places.
The other big topic of conversation at present is how cats do not like multicat households apparently even cats that appear to get on can actually find living in a group a very stressful experience (Having had 4 myself until recently this is quite an interesting topic for me). I think your 10year old may find 2 new cats quite stressful. Think carefully beofore taking on new cats, if you do try some of the following.
Provide plenty of hide away spots for all of them, make sure they have there own sleeping places, gets some feliway pheremone diffusers plugged in, you need at least 4 large litter trays (you should have one more than the number of cats you have) Lots of scratching posts. Most of all don't force them to be together, they have to have space.
In my experience those that mean well often create a bigger problem by not doing the basics properly. I work at a vets that are not the cheapest so chances are you will find cheaper costs but just for an idea.
Full vacc £66.30
I/d chip £31.00
Spay £60.00
Castrate £53.00
Worming tablet £4.36
Frontline Combo 6 pack $£29.00
Insurance - depends who you use but ~£5-£8 per month
Checking for FeLV and FIV - can't remember I think approx £30
There are other viruses that lots of cats have nowadays but you should ask if any of the cats have been chronic sneezers or have sore looking mouths (esp if a young cat) as this may indicate Feline Calicivirus or Feline Herpes virus. Both viruses that are fairly prevelant in cat rescue places.
The other big topic of conversation at present is how cats do not like multicat households apparently even cats that appear to get on can actually find living in a group a very stressful experience (Having had 4 myself until recently this is quite an interesting topic for me). I think your 10year old may find 2 new cats quite stressful. Think carefully beofore taking on new cats, if you do try some of the following.
Provide plenty of hide away spots for all of them, make sure they have there own sleeping places, gets some feliway pheremone diffusers plugged in, you need at least 4 large litter trays (you should have one more than the number of cats you have) Lots of scratching posts. Most of all don't force them to be together, they have to have space.
Edited by becksW on Sunday 19th April 07:58
Jasandjules said:
Rescues are always such loving animals.
Hmmm, not always! Our mummy cat was rescued after being found abandoned, heavily pregnant, in a rainstorm in an alley. Bless her. We adopted her and fostered 5 kittens till they were old enough to leave. We kept mum and 1 kitten. Mum is the most aggressive cat I have ever known. We just have to accept that she won't change now! She'll walk into the living room, growl and snarl, then just walk out. Funny really. Oh, and she now hates the kitten with a passion!OP, I'd go with the ones already chipped and checked out. Oh, and nice one for adopting the little guys
I have just had a cat obtained from a member on here (couldn't keep him because he and his wife have a newborn baby) fully vaccinated and chipped plus worm tablet and parasite (flea and ear mite) treatment and ear cleaning stuff - about £130.00 in all. As the cat had not been outside he had to be treated as a kitten although he's adult. He felt ropey for a while but he's fine again now.
Chilli said:
She'll walk into the living room, growl and snarl, then just walk out. Funny really.
Yep, one of our rescues does that. She will also cross the room (if she's been told off) then attack one of the dogs....... It's mean, but so funny. But she is a very affectionate cat with us (except at tablet time where growling and spitting can be the order of the day).
motco said:
I have just had a cat obtained from a member on here (couldn't keep him because he and his wife have a newborn baby) fully vaccinated and chipped plus worm tablet and parasite (flea and ear mite) treatment and ear cleaning stuff - about £130.00 in all. As the cat had not been outside he had to be treated as a kitten although he's adult. He felt ropey for a while but he's fine again now.
I know it varies depending on the animal but I don't get this. We have two cats (rescue cats about 13 now that we've had from kittens) and two kids of 1 and 3. They love the cats but the cats are terrified of them and just keep out of the way.I suspect some people hear stories of babies being smothered by cats lying on them and just decide that the cat has to go. Know what, shut the door, problem solved.
To the OP, we got ours from Animal Action and made a voluntary donation, I'd be a bit put off by being told how much like the RSPCA have to you. Ours hadn't had any jabs or anything but they were too young when we got them (I could hold both of them in one hand).
Thanks for all the replies guys and gals.
We are going to leave it for a few weeks and have a think.
Eric is definitely lonely, since Chloe went he has been following us around the house a lot more and spending more time sleeping on the sofa whereas before he would be with chloe in the garden and mooching around together. He has always been around other cats to keep him company.
Also both sets of cats are older cats, the youngest is 5 and all of them are very submissive and Eric is quite confident.
We are going to leave it for a few weeks and have a think.
Eric is definitely lonely, since Chloe went he has been following us around the house a lot more and spending more time sleeping on the sofa whereas before he would be with chloe in the garden and mooching around together. He has always been around other cats to keep him company.
Also both sets of cats are older cats, the youngest is 5 and all of them are very submissive and Eric is quite confident.
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