I found my first cat wandering down my street when she was a very tiny kitten. I wished I had done the same thing again this time around.
I was looking for a new kitten and researched some adoption agencies. I went to PetSmart and saw the Cat Adoption Team. There were two other adoption agencies out there as well. I looked at several kittens, and fell in love with one little male in particular. I returned a few days later and that same male was still available for adoption. So I took him home.
Two days later, I noticed that the cat had started sneezing. I figured it was an allergic reaction. He was also scratching at his ears. He hadn't been acting like this the two times I had observed him at CAT. The following day, the sneezing became much more frequent, and I noticed he had trouble breathing. I called the vet as I became very worried. The cat had picked a spot on our couch and would not move. It wouldn't eat or drink, even when I put water on my finger and tried to rub it across the kitten's lips.
I wrapped the kitten in a blanket and took him to the vet's office. I was told that the cat had bad ear mites, and an extremely bad respiratory problem. I had not heard any such problem when I observed him at CAT. I wound up paying $115 for the visit and medication. He needed more, but I could not afford it at that time. I had just gotten the cat, and had planned on spending no more than $60 for immunizations, and those had not even been due yet (certainly not within one week!)
The next couple of days were spent in anxiety. When I got home, my kitten decided to go back to his spot on the couch. I put a blanket underneath him and observed him carefully. I was so afraid that he would die. He would not go to his bowl and eat. I tried to offer him food and water, but he refused it. When I finally did get him to eat a morsel and take a little water out of my hand, he threw it up. It was difficult giving him his meds, as I was afraid he would throw that up as well (and he did throw it up one time).
After three days went by, he was able to hold down a bit of water. The next day I got him to eat a little. Then he started walking around the couch. Fortunately, he got better, but he still has a bad respiratory problem. I've never heard a cat breathe as heavy as he does. I have spent much at the vet's office, and I have not even had this cat one year. Now it has gotten to the point where I can't even afford to take him to the vet any more.
The little kitten I found walking down my street had no problems like this! The worst thing she had was fleas, and I was able to treat that myself.
If you ever are in the market for a kitten, ask friends who have female cats, check the local papers for freebies, adopt a stray, but don't go to Cat Adoption Team. If your kitten is not fixed, you can get it done as low as $20-$30 (as opposed to their $55 "donation").
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