Found 2 kittens in a box on the street! Need help!

ondine · May 24, 2014

KoolKats: You said they were brothers - but it could be they were just two unrelated cats that were abandoned together. Then Donut would not necessarily have FELV. There is really no way to know they are brothers unless you have a DNA test done, so I wouldn't worry too much about Donut. Concentrate on Sparks.

The treatment Stephen cited may very well be the one your vet is using, although I am not sure about the confusion concerning "surgery" vs. "injection." But either way, don't panic. Just get a second opinion if you can.

stephenq · May 24, 2014

The treatment I cited (which is rarely done i suspect - just because its approved doesn't mean it does much good, and many cats with FeLV live for quite some time, especially if they are adults, but in any case the treatment i cited is not surgical, its an injection under the skin.

@KoolKatz Please tell us you are going to get an independent second opinion.

I saw in another thread that you adopted from Anjellical Cat Rescue but was that these kittens or a different cat? If you have a relationship with them (they are a great organization) please contact them and tell them what is going on, they will offer you great advice as well.

msaimee · May 24, 2014

Kool, you said they apparently already did the surgery. They did it without your consent? You have to sign a consent for in order for you cat to get anesthesia.

If I were you, I would insist on speaking with the vet who treated the kitten either on the phone or in person. Not a vet tech--the actual veterinarian. Take a note pad and pen and ask very specific questions about what was/will be done to the kitten. Take a lot of notes and make sure you understand exactly what he is saying. Then contact another vet and get a second opinion. If it turns out that the first vet has swindled you out of money, then you need to confront the first vet and get your money back or you will report his actions to whatever licensing board he is resonsible to (you should do this anyway!)

koolkatz · May 24, 2014

MsAimee said:
Kool, you said they apparently already did the surgery. They did it without your consent? You have to sign a consent for in order for you cat to get anesthesia.

If I were you, I would insist on speaking with the vet who treated the kitten either on the phone or in person. Not a vet tech--the actual veterinarian. Take a note pad and pen and ask very specific questions about what was/will be done to the kitten. Take a lot of notes and make sure you understand exactly what he is saying. Then contact another vet and get a second opinion. If it turns out that the first vet has swindled you out of money, then you need to confront the first vet and get your money back or you will report his actions to whatever licensing board he is resonsible to (you should do this anyway!)

They did get my consent for the surgery, but I didn't know that felv didn't require any kind of surgery. They just told me that poor Sparks needed surgery to insert antibodies into his bloodstream.

I know more about what the virus is, and I will not be going to this vet again. Thanks for the advice.

pamela derouen · May 24, 2014

I am so happy for you ! You are a good person.

StefanZ · May 24, 2014

I wonder what is happening with Sparks.

Re payment, I gather you can refuse if you dont get a good explanation, at mostly paying a standard fee. No fancy "advanced surgery" payment..

You simply threat them you will tell the veterinary association about what they did, and tell people around too..

Malpractice is serious. Especielly in the USA.

Unless they DO have a good explanation, of course, it could perhaps be some misunderstanding of sorts..

pamela derouen · May 24, 2014

I have never heard of this but..it may BE NEW! I thought that you were getting him fixed(neutered) which is a good idea.

stephenq · May 24, 2014

Ok so I didn't realize that you had the surgery. And it was not spay/neuter surgery? Could there be a miscommunication? Would you be willing to share the name of the vet via PM? I won't contact them but i'm curious. How much were you charged for this surgery and do you have an itemized copy of the bill?

msaimee · May 25, 2014

kool, I hope you aren't staying away because you feel badly about the situation with the surgery and your vet. Whether or not what the vet did what helpful, it's clear you have certainly saved this kitten's life. I just hope that, for your peace of mind, you will call this vet and try to get a clarification about exactly what was done, and why. It could be that he has a logical explanation about what was done. If not, then you can decide what steps to take next, even if it's only to try to get a refund. People here are not judging you--they are upset at the idea that a vet might have taken advantage of your kindness and generosity. Please let us know what happens.

koolkatz · May 25, 2014

MsAimee said:
I need to add him to the gif in my profile picture.

stephenq · May 25, 2014

@KoolKatz

It is medically impossible for any procedure known on this earth to overnight (or really at all) change a cat from FeLV+ to FeLV-. In some instances, a cat may throw off the virus on their own, over many weeks or months, but this is due to the cat's own immune system, and not any treatment.

This is what I think happened. Since the vet claimed only one kitten was FeLV+ and since that is very unlikely if they were found together and were from the same litter, I believe your kitten was always negative, he pretended it was positive, did a fake procedure (again antibiotics no matter how administered can do nothing against a virus) and now claims he cured the kitten and any vet who does a snap test will see that the kitten is negative.

I am completely confident that you have been scammed by a completely unethical and probably criminally liable vet.

Edit: and i'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this vet is the only vet in his practice and that he is male. How did I do?

koolkatz · May 25, 2014

StephenQ said:
@KoolKatz

It is medically impossible for any procedure known on this earth to overnight (or really at all) change a cat from FeLV+ to FeLV-. In some instances, a cat may throw off the virus on their own, over many weeks or months, but this is due to the cat's own immune system, and not any treatment.

This is what I think happened. Since the vet claimed only one kitten was FeLV+ and since that is very unlikely if they were found together and were from the same litter, I believe your kitten was always negative, he pretended it was positive, did a fake procedure (again antibiotics no matter how administered can do nothing against a virus) and now claims he cured the kitten and any vet who does a snap test will see that the kitten is negative.

I am completely confident that you have been scammed by a completely unethical and probably criminally liable vet.

Edit: and i'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this vet is the only vet in his practice and that he is male. How did I do?

Wow, that's right.

That actually makes sense. There's actually no evidence of surgery on his body, I don't know if there usually is though. I'm glad that Sparks is doing well though.

I'm actually going to a different vet to get them neutered, so I hope that turns out well. Never going to the other vet again.

About how they're doing at home, Donut is already in love with me, Boogie, and Gandalf. Sparks is coming out of his shell a bit but is still hiding when I make fast movements. Donut and Sparks look pretty similar, but Sparks has a white spot on his neck and he has white mittens and the rest is dark while Donut is all dark except for a little spot on his belly and his white mittens. They adjusted a lot faster than I expected.

ondine · May 25, 2014

I'm so happy to hear you are changing vets - that one does sound a little fishy. Glad everyone is adjusting - with what Sparks has gone through, I am not surprised he's a little jumpy.

catwoman707 · May 25, 2014

Can you please tell us first of all, what he charged you, and next, do you have a billing statement/receipt?

Can you possibly show it on here, or recite what exactly it says?

I think you realize now with all of us here telling you, this is WRONG.

It makes absolutely no sense, and now your cat is miraculously cured and negative? That is not possible, not in any way.

Scammed? Sure looks like it from here......

He must have given you something when you picked your cat up, yes?

I would love to see it!

koolkatz · May 25, 2014

catwoman707 said:
Can you please tell us first of all, what he charged you, and next, do you have a billing statement/receipt?

Can you possibly show it on here, or recite what exactly it says?

I think you realize now with all of us here telling you, this is WRONG.

It makes absolutely no sense, and now your cat is miraculously cured and negative? That is not possible, not in any way.

Scammed? Sure looks like it from here......

He must have given you something when you picked your cat up, yes?

I would love to see it!

I was actually a bit suspicious of the price at first, it was low for surgery.

It was $350.

I'll see what I can do to get my $350 back. Not going back to this vet, I'm going to another place to get them neutered that is hopefully better.

I am pretty sure I've been scammed.

catwoman707 · May 25, 2014

KoolKatz said:
I was actually a bit suspicious of the price at first, it was low for surgery.

It was $350.

I'll see what I can do to get my $350 back. Not going back to this vet, I'm going to another place to get them neutered that is hopefully better.

I am pretty sure I've been scammed.

Right. What surgery, the cat would have a freshly shaved area before the skin is cut because hair/fur holds bacteria and is an easy infectant.

He would have something indicative of surgery, stitches, something.

Do you have any receipt from pmt?

A statement on what procedure was done?

I would most definitely be contacting AVMA, American Veterinary Medical Association.

Let me investigate this.

koolkatz · May 25, 2014

catwoman707 said:
Right. What surgery, the cat would have a freshly shaved area before the skin is cut because hair/fur holds bacteria and is an easy infectant.

He would have something indicative of surgery, stitches, something.

Do you have any receipt from pmt?

A statement on what procedure was done?

I would most definitely be contacting AVMA, American Veterinary Medical Association.

Let me investigate this.

Yup. He has all of his hair, and I got no sort of receipt or paper.

I called the AVMA (I found their number 800.248.2862 on avma.com), and they said they would find out more about it.

More about Donut and Sparks, Sparks is still skittish, and they both like the food I give them, so I got lucky. They all seem to be compatible, except for how Donut loves Boogie's favorite toy, so I got another one in a different color that is for Sparks. Donut is a bit on the heavy side for a 4-month old, so I'll look into if before it gets too bad. I'm also getting them neutered soon. Poor guys, especially Sparks.

catwoman707 · May 25, 2014

KoolKatz said:
Yup. He has all of his hair, and I got no sort of receipt or paper.

I called the AVMA (I found their number 800.248.2862 on avma.com), and they said they would find out more about it.

More about Donut and Sparks, Sparks is still skittish, and they both like the food I give them, so I got lucky. They all seem to be compatible, except for how Donut loves Boogie's favorite toy, so I got another one in a different color that is for Sparks. Donut is a bit on the heavy side for a 4-month old, so I'll look into if before it gets too bad. I'm also getting them neutered soon. Poor guys, especially Sparks.

Excellent! Don't let this go, if not for you, for any future patients he sees and scams......

Are Donuts paws pretty big? He might just be a growing big boy

Sparks will be fine soon, he will forget all about whatever it was he had during his vet stay.

Yes, most definitely want to get them fixed within the next month for sure.

The last thing you want is for them to start maturing sexually and thinking they need to 'mark' their territory......

pamela derouen · May 26, 2014

@ Klutz I would definitely go back to that vet (the surgery guy) and get a receipt!!! Did you pay with a check..card..cash??

Norachan · May 26, 2014

That sure sounds like a scam to me.

But on the plus side, both kittens are healthy and back together again and seem to be settling in really well with your two other cat.

Please report this to the AVMA and let us know what happens, Sparks got off quite lightly but the next cat and owner might not be so lucky.

So glad that Sparks and Donut have you as their person now, you sound as if you're doing the best for all four of them.

Found 2 kittens in a box on the street! Need help!

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