Awful situation

A woman I know from work, but did not know very well, contacted me yesterday regarding her cat and it's kitten. She at first told me the cat just had a kitten and there was no placenta yet, and the mom wasn't caring for the kitten.
Well, I at first had said to keep watch, she had probably missed the placenta and explained that the mother eats it so she may not have seen it. I assumed the cat was still in labor. The cat was not caring for it's kitten, so I said that perhaps she was confused, being a young, first time mom, and that they should leave her be somewhere quiet with the kitten and wait a bit but to make sure the kitten did not get cold.
I decided to go over to her house because I was concerned after a couple of hours the mother was still not caring for the kitten. I packed my tube feeding equipment, a syringe and some saline, a kitten nurser bottle, a packet of kmr, small scissors etc... anything I thought I might need ..... (I raised siamese for 15 years and have a degree in animal sciences, have worked at vets as well as animal welfare societies etc fostering and caring for sick and injured animals, as well as many pregnant cats to raise their kittens in my home rather than in a shelter cage)
I get to her house, and she had the poor kitten in a box with a towel in the middle of her livingroom with a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old (two legged) running around, yelling, carrying on, almost stepping on the kitten, touching it, I was horrified. The mother cat was understandably agitated. She was pacing around the room, not wanting any of them to touch her, and was staying as far from the kitten as possible. I asked the woman what time the cat had the first kitten, she said 8:30pm last night! (Yesterday around 6:30 pm is when I went over,so it was almost 24 hours old and I was thinking it had just been born) The kitten was dry, but not cleaned off, it was very tiny, my guess only about 50 grams, obviously premature. The mother cat had chewed the umbilical, but didn't stop, and had chewed right into the belly. The kittens entire abdomen was not even an inch across, and half of it was an open wound. The cat had not punctured the gut, but the hide over that part was GONE. The mother cat seemed so relieved and grateful when I took over, I laid her and the kitten with me on the couch on a blanket, and sat with them sheilding them from anyone else who tried to come near, her kids, her other cats, even her. I was so mad. The mother curled right up against me, and finally allowed the kitten to nurse and began cleaning it a bit, and I saw she was still having mild contractions, I believe she has one more in there. I told her she should take the cat to the vet, and the kitten needs stitches or it is wide open to infection. (I know though that after almost 24 hours it is a bad idea to stitch closed a wound like that sealing in all the infection, but I just wanted her to have someone other than me tell her she is doing everything wrong)
She said no, she can't afford it. I said I would pay. She said no, I have no car it is too far to walk, I walked 20 minutes to her place because my car is broken down right now, so I didn't have one there either, but I offered to get a cab and take them in. She said no, lets just wait and see.
I agree with wait and see to a point. That kitten does not have much chance, and helping it survive would be painful and not likely successful. I wish she would have let me take her though.....
I am just so frustrated. I told her she needs to get the cat a more comfortable box, with soft cloths or rags or a softer blanket, and put it upstairs in a bedroom away from the kids and her guests who kept coming and going, all loud and frightening to the mother. She didn't seem to take me seriously. I wanted to choke her. I managed to convince her to take them upstairs somewhere private and quiet and out of reach of the children, but later last night I asked how things were going and she said they brought them back downstairs to keep an eye on them. UUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!
I am just so frustrated. I wish I could do something, anything to help that poor cat. The mother cat took to me instantly, she just seemed to know I wanted to help, and I feel horrible that she has to stay there. I can't just take this girls cat away from her, she loves it, but is just so IGNORANT! She has no clue..... the anguish and tortured feeling the mother cat must have, the pain of that poor kitten.....
I really doubt the kitten will survive, if it does it is one little fighter, a miracle.... I hope the mother cat is ok, if she is retaining a kitten or a plcenta, she won't be, but they won't let me do anything about it.
Ok, I'm done ranting now... thanks for letting me vent, and any suggestions are welcome

Originally Posted by pondwader

I can't just take this girls cat away from her, she loves it, but is just so IGNORANT!

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Nothing wrong with being ignorant but she must be pretty stupid not to take advice from you. Why else call you if she didn't want advice? This makes me mad too, now I have steam coming out of my ears also.

What I'd do is offer to take the cat for 'a few weeks' - that way you won't be seen as a cat stealer! - just to get her out of that house. Then you can take mum & baby to the vet. Then I just wouldn't give her back - to be honest with two very small children in the house perhaps this is the best thing for the cat and the people, even if the people don't know it yet. Or, take the cat, care for her & kitten, then get mum cat spayed before giving her back to this ignoramus. At least that way there would be no more kittens.

Good luck,

Sue

I salute you for your restraint and patience. I think I would have blasted this ignoramus and taken the cat and kitten with me.

Please let us know how it finally turns out.

I would have taken the cat and the kitten out of there quickly if it were me.If she had protested, I would have just told her, look, this cat needs vet intervention NOW- this kitten will not survive without the proper care. It is clear you can't provide proper care so why in God's name you let this cat have kittens in the first place is beyond me! You may have your cat back once the kittens have been weaned (if they even survive) and the mother has been spayed.You can then pay me over a period of months to reimburse my out of pocket expenses on a cat that isn't even mine. You are welcome to visit once everyone is out of the woods." Then I would have left with cat and kitten in tow. She might have called the police, but then she risks opening herself up to animal abuse charges. But that is just what I would do, when it comes to animals being in this type of danger, my gloves come off!

That's exactly what I wanted to do, however, if she had called the police I know they would have charged me with theft, not her with animal abuse. As much as I am angry and feel the cat is not being cared for properly, this is a country town, cats have kittens, sometimes kittens don't make it, the motto for most is let nature take it's course. I don't agree with it, except in exceptional cases when nature should take it's course, but my opinions on the matter are not going to matter in terms of the law. She provides aduequate shelter, and food and water, that is all that is required by law. She doesn't knowingly neglect the cats needs, and though I feel it should go to the vet, the police won't likely feel that way.
I am quite familiar with what I can and cannot do in cases such as this, since I worked for many years with local animal welfare societies and the vets.... and unfortunately at this point I know I just cannot win. The best I can do is keep an eye on things... and help out if I can....
Perhaps trying to convince her to let me take the cat on a temporary basis would work though, I am going to suggest it to her as soon as I can get a hold of her..... which is also frustrating...... grrrrr......
Thanks for listening.... I'll keep you posted.

Oh dear ... while I can certainly relate to what the others have posted about wanting to simply take kitten and cat under my arm and run to the nearest vet, I do see your problem ... it would be a hard call under the circumstances.

My suggestion to you is this:

As nicely and with as much kindness as you can muster up, explain yet once again that baby and Momma both need privacy and a place where the normal routines of the household won't upset them. Explain to her that this is why Momma isn't taking to caring for her baby the way she should. Explain that if Momma doesn't start caring for this baby as she should, Baby ~will~ die. Offer yet again to take Momma and baby into your home so as to ensure the appropriate care (if you are still willing that is) and that you will see to it Momma and Baby both are seen by the vet. It is up to you what to do about repayment from this woman, but if I were you, I wouldn't expect it or even broach the subject with her. If you are willing to take the cats, then I suspect that you should also be willing to absorb the costs.

I feel your frustration ... and share your anguish over these two little ones. Please talk to her again and if we can be of any assistance to you at all, don't hesitate to ask us.

~gf~

I went over and took the cat to the vet, it took a lot of convincing, but I really scared her with all the things that can go wrong, infection etc...
The kitten died this morning, honestly I was glad to hear it, the poor thing must have been in pain, I only wish it hadn't had to suffer as long as it did.
I explained the situation to the vet, and both he and I tried to convince her to give the cat to me, or at the very least set up something private and quiet for the cat and LEAVE her there. Neither the vet or I were sure if there was a kitten or placenta retained, but the cat was still contracting mildly, so we gave her a shot of oxytocin and a shot of antibiotics against infection since her cervix has been open so long and also in the likely case that there is a placenta or stillborn kitten yet to be delivered. In case it is alive though, I told the girl in no uncertain terms is she to allow her kids to even be able to get into the room that she is setting the cat up in.
The cat is now at home with her, and I hope so much that she is LISTENING to the vet and I.
I'm hoping to hear from her soon... I'll let you know how momma cat does. Thanks for your support guys

The vet gave her oxytocin and released her??????? Oh dear ... I hope she doesn't rupture.

We kept an eye on her at the vets for a while, but the girl wouldn't wait longer, her kid was acting up and needed to go home to be fed etc, and I think the girl was afraid if she left the cat with me I'd take it home not back to her....

I'm just doing what I can......

Oh honey, I didn't mean to sound like I was yelling at you. My heart just breaks for this little kitty and her departed baby though ... forgive me if that came across like I was somehow blaming you. I didn't mean for it to.

There are just days when I want to shake people until they rattle. I guess today is just one of those days. *sigh*

How sad for the baby who never had a chance. I am glad he is at peace now, over the rainbow bridge.

And what a lesson for her human kids! How can you learn to respect others, if you have no experience doing so? My kids are older now, but still don't get a lot of time with the kits until they are a few weeks old. Even my dog's schedule had to change, so she won't upset our Momma cat by barking nearby!

Bless you for getting involved. My hope is that the owner will spay poor MommaCat as soon as possible. Poor thing. You were right. It's an awful situation!

I think I may be a little over sensitive about the whole thing gayef.... no worries
I feel so bad for the momma cat too, and that little baby....
I have been checking up with her, the cat continued to contract for a while and nothing has happened, but not major contractions and no pushing.... we'll see.... maybe there is just nothing left in there....
I'll let you know

Originally Posted by pondwader

I think I may be a little over sensitive about the whole thing gayef.... no worries

I feel so bad for the momma cat too, and that little baby....
I have been checking up with her, the cat continued to contract for a while and nothing has happened, but not major contractions and no pushing.... we'll see.... maybe there is just nothing left in there....
I'll let you know

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How horrible. I wish there was a way for you to get that poor cat. Would she perhaps sell it to you, do you think? She sounds like a very bad owner, I am afraid. And it doesn't seem like she wants to learn how to be a better owner either.

Well, apparently the cat has stopped contracting, has no abnormal discharge, and is eating and drinking normally, so I'm guessing that's it. It has been 48 hours since the first kitten, so it wasn't likely, however I'm glad there doesn't appear to be a retained kitten or placenta... she seems fine, no thanks to her owner
Now I'm trying to convince her to get it spayed.... I can't afford to pay for all of it, after spending 100 on this cat already, but I offered to help..... the vet agreed to let her do a payment plan, because he knows me, however, getting her to actually take it in is another story. I think she actually wants it to have more kittens! She said maybe next time it will be ok!!! I yelled at her there shouldn't be a next time....

Could you print this thread out and show it to her, so she can see for herself how ignorant she is? What is the "fun" of dead kittens? How very pitiful that this poor cat landed in such a home. I wonder who gave her the cat originally? They might feel different now to see how uncaring she is of the cat and kittens welfare.

I cannot believe after all that the poor mother cat had to go through; the ignorant owner, the disruptive kids, no privacy and quiet to deliver, and the owner wants to let her have babies again!! That is the most horrible thing I have ever heard! I can't believe people could be so stupid! That poor, poor momma cat, I feel so sorry for her and her horrible owners. I hope you do print out this thread and show it to her! She needs to know how awful she is treating that momma cat. I bet when she was having her kids that she didn't want somebody elses running and screaming around her at the time she was delivering. I bet the owner and her children were sitting right in front of momma cat watching and pokin at the kitten when it just came out. Man, how stupid some people are!

Good news and bad news....
Bad news, the cat is full of milk and has nothing to nurse (I called all local shelters to see if there were any orphaned babies who need a momma, fortunately/unfortunately there are none) I think she should take the cat in to get a shot to prevent mastitis. She cannot afford it. *sigh*
However, the good news is I may have convinced her to give the cat to someone who CAN care for it, another woman at work.
The other woman is going to see this sweet kitty tonight, and I'm sure she will take her, and has promised to take her to the vet immediately to be spayed! It's just a matter of dung-for-brains being able to give up the cat. Keep your fingers crossed!

Every single post you make cries out that this person should NEVER own a cat, or, probably, so much as a goldfish. Or even a cactus plant. I just hope and pray that this poor cat gets away and finds a loving responsible home as soon as possible.

This sweet girl looks just like your white cat in your pic