Vet says my foster cat is "Retarded"...

breellablue

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
394
Purraise
1
Location
Syracuse, NY
So... Monday Rags, one of our littlest 11 month old fosters finally got to get spayed. She's still not 3lbs but we couldn't wait any longer. Those of you who remember last year we had a lot of problems with fosters from this group (brothers, sisters, cousins all from the same horder) dying very young.

Well we got a note back on her paperwork saying she's "Retarded" What kind of a diagnosis is that?! My mother in law is going to ask the vet for more info on what she means by this when she drives the clinic down on Monday but what kind of a vet says something like that!

Yes, Rags is small, she has tiny eyes and ginivitis already-- which nothing seems to clear up-- but for the love of everything I want to string that vet up by her toes.

I think she could have Down Syndrome-- but that is no reason to go and use the R word to describe it.
 

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
You're likely attributing negative slang to the word when the vet did not mean it that way. If you want to make the word into an insult - that's your doing and not the vet's.

She's slow to mature and undersized - retarded could be used to describe her as that is one meaning of the word.
 

zoeysmom

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2008
Messages
971
Purraise
4
Location
SW Ontario, Canada
Was the term used by itself or in relation to your kitten's growth? I've heard the term used in the context of "retarded growth" or "retarded development"...meaning slower than normal.

Not necessarily politically correct, but not really meant to be offensive, in that context.
 

ruthyb

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
No, I agree that's not a very nice thing to put. My cat Candy has the feline equivalent of down syndrome and if any one called her retarded I would not be best pleased. x
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

breellablue

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
394
Purraise
1
Location
Syracuse, NY
Originally Posted by Ruthyb

No, I agree that's not a very nice thing to put. My cat Candy has the feline equivalent of down syndrome and if any one called her retarded I would not be best pleased. x
I have friends with Down Syndrome, It is why I dislike the use of the word to describe living things... My mother in law has a cat with CH and if anyone ever used the R word to describe him I'd have a fit about it.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

You're likely attributing negative slang to the word when the vet did not mean it that way. If you want to make the word into an insult - that's your doing and not the vet's.
No, It's the people in the world who have used it to describe my friends and family that make me dislike the use of the word.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

She's slow to mature and undersized - retarded could be used to describe her as that is one meaning of the word.
Originally Posted by zoeysmom

Was the term used by itself or in relation to your kitten's growth? I've heard the term used in the context of "retarded growth" or "retarded development"...meaning slower than normal. Not necessarily politically correct, but not really meant to be offensive, in that context.
It was verbalized as "This cat is retarded." when my mother in law was there (she drives the low cost clinic down to vets). My mother in law overheard the vet while she was assisting with the intake paperwork. We work with the public at this clinic... I think it's just inappropriate. What if it was one of the clients had overheard her say that? Maybe I am making it bigger than it needs to be, and I understand what you mean about "Retarded growth" but when dealing with the public it should be explained as such.
 

the_food_lady

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
716
Purraise
14
Location
Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
The word "retarded" just means "slow" - like someone said, "retarded development" or "retarded growth." That word isn't a negative word per se....it's just that people choose to attribute negative connotations to it with respect to those with Down Syndrome. I work in healthcare and specifically with people who have disabilities and their doctors have to submit paperwork to me that includes their diagnosis. Many times the doctor will write "mentally retarded" and I don't take that as offensive because in all honesty, it's an accurate description.........it's just that people, over the years, chose to bring negative meaning to it (eg: calling someone a retard). I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about it, quite frankly. It was hardly meant as some kind of "slam" against your cat.
 

kailie

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
9,025
Purraise
25
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
Poor little Imogene... Wishing all the best for her.

I have a 16 year old brother with Down Syndrome who is the love of my life and I personally think "retarded" is a horrid work, be it accurate or not. In my personal opinion it is a very derogatory term and should not be used.
 

ruthyb

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 28, 2009
Messages
5,314
Purraise
16
Location
Derbyshire UK.
Originally Posted by Kailie

Poor little Imogene... Wishing all the best for her.

I have a 16 year old brother with Down Syndrome who is the love of my life and I personally think "retarded" is a horrid work, be it accurate or not. In my personal opinion it is a very derogatory term and should not be used.
I totally agree. x
 

blueyedgirl5946

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
14,593
Purraise
1,695
I knew a man who had Down's Syndrome. He was the most lovable person in the world. He was so sincere in his heart. Once when my husband had burned his wedding ring to his finger in the bilge of a boat, working on the battery, this man prayer for him. The pain went out of the finger and my husband was able to go on with working that boat for the summer. Also, this man never forgot anything. He once picked up the phone from NC and told the operator to call his brother is Georgia, who was on a military base. Somehow he knew enough the operator got his call through. Never assume that a person with Down's Syndrome is "retarded". They compensate in other ways. I have never seen a cat with this diagnosis. The answer to your problem is simple, "just ask the vet to explain his words." Don't take what he said out of context and don't cross that bridge until you get there. When you ask, then you will know. I am sure your little cat is very precious. Just love him anyway.
 

bunnelina

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
538
Purraise
88
Location
Boston, MA
I can't imagine my vet saying ANYTHING remotely like that without explaining her meaning in detail. Actually, I know she'd never say that about any cat. Sure, you've got a teeny-tiny cat who may have developmental delays, too. But "retarded"? That's not useful information. It can mean too many things, or nothing much at all. And "retarded" is always a negative term; there's no way it's EVER neutral.

From what you said about her, she must be an unusual, tough, and lucky cat. The fact that she's survived despite being so frail means she's got a strong spirit. She's obviously got plenty going for her. Can she eat, play, and use her litter box? Does she enjoy her life? Does she avoid obvious dangers? That's about all that it takes to be a successful cat. She won't need to take SATs, get into an Ivy League or have a high-powered career. ALL cats are smarter than we are!
 

merrytreecats

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Oct 16, 2005
Messages
252
Purraise
1
Location
new jersey
The term "retarded" originally was meant as a neutral term to describe something {or someone} who is "slowed down" in growth/development. You can still see its use this way in related words such as "flame retardant". This is almost certainly what your vet was referring to, as your cat being the weight she is at the age she is is definitely behind in physical development.

Over time, "retarded" has taken on a derogatory slant because that's how people began to use it.
 

icklemiss21

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 14, 2005
Messages
16,465
Purraise
20
Location
in the land of poutine and ice
I still see retarded on a lot of vet paperwork, they use it to explain slow development, unlike people, doctors & vets (usually) don't use it in a negative way to hurt someone, but he should have explained it and what nutrients your foster needs to grow properly. I think it really is a vet term and they don't see the issue in using it
 

ziggy'smom

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Feb 15, 2010
Messages
659
Purraise
42
I think they mean she's growth retarded. It just means that she's behind in growth. Not that there is anything wrong with her mentally. The term is sometimes used in the medical community for something that is slow or behind. For example the term for a fetus that is not the size it should be is fetal retardation. That does not mean that the baby to be will be mentally handicapped.
Because some people use the term as an insult it now has negative connotations but in this case that's not how it's meant.

Could this cat be suffering from dwarfism? There is a form of dwarfism where the cat is completely proportional but very small. Basically an adult cat looks like a kitten. I can't remember the name of it but I'm sure you can find info about it on the internet.
 
Top