Should I adopt ASAP?

As you'll see in the crossing the bridge section...

I just lost my kitten today, I had her for one week and she died today from a viral infection. It's a sad thing but the problem i'm facing is as sad as I am I can't let it cloud my judgment about what I need to do...

Other then talking to the pet-store who sold me such a young kitten, I have a little situation. The vet who took care of her told me he has a few kittens ready for adoption... I know i'm not directly repsonsible for them, but I just felt it would give Angel's death a big meaning if in her name I went and adopted these kittens... I just feel guilty because if Angel can see me now, I don't want her to think she didn't mean anything to me.. basically, I just wanna give these kittens a home and raise them in honor of Angel.. her death has really affected me tonight and to see her lifeless body there... it hreally hurt me.. since just Friday she was jumping around all happy and full of life...

Any advice would be appreciated..

Thank you for understanding.

I see nothing wrong with adopting another kitten so fast. It makes no difference to Angel or how you feel about it.

BUT BUT BUT

Are you sure what Angel had isn't contagious and still lingering in your house? That's what I'd worry about.

I think it is important to find out what caused Angel's death. Ask the vet if an autopsy is possible. Some viruses live in the environment for a very long time.

In general, I think you could bring another cat or kitten home right away but it would be best if that kitten were at least 4 months old and fully vaccinated, just to be safer.

Originally Posted by eatrawfish

I see nothing wrong with adopting another kitten so fast. It makes no difference to Angel or how you feel about it.

BUT BUT BUT

Are you sure what Angel had isn't contagious and still lingering in your house? That's what I'd worry about.

Click to expand...

According to the Vet.. or atleast What Iiiiiii understood from him...

Cats are born with this certain virus however the Mother's milk provides the ability to form an extremly strong immunity against this virus. So basically what killed Angel wasn't contracted from the outside world, but she was born with it as is every cat.. *assuming I understood him correctly.

I'm going to see him tomorrow to pay the clincal bill, so i'll be sure to ask him if there are any remaining hazards to my family or to any cat i'll adopt. But i'm sure he'll tell me since i'll be adopting them from him. I just wanna make sure these kittens get a good home because honestly speaking.. Most people don't understand the feline world, and see a cat as simply "just put some meat, put some water and put a box full of rocks" ... when their world is much more complex than that!


side note: If you adopt two kittens, male and female from two seperate litters... what will happen?


Thanks for any help

I fthey are young they should asjust quickly....but I sort of got the idea that if they were both coming from your vet that they are probably littermates anyhow...so there should`nt really be an adjustment anyhow except to you and their new home.
I`d be sure to have them fixed as soon as your vet is willing to do so though.
I hope all goes well for you and them....and I am sorry about your loss of the first kitten.
Linda

Originally Posted by Tru87

side note: If you adopt two kittens, male and female from two seperate litters... what will happen?

Click to expand...

Well, it depends on how you mean that.

If you don't spay or nueter them in time we all know what will happen - but I don't think that's what you mean!

As far as getting along, you may need to introduce them slowly. But generally I find kittens far more friendly with new arrivals than adult cats. It depends somewhat on the kittens age and you may still need to introduce them slowly. After that they should get along fine.

Originally Posted by eatrawfish

Well, it depends on how you mean that.

If you don't spay or nueter them in time we all know what will happen - but I don't think that's what you mean!

As far as getting along, you may need to introduce them slowly. But generally I find kittens far more friendly with new arrivals than adult cats. It depends somewhat on the kittens age and you may still need to introduce them slowly. After that they should get along fine.

Click to expand...

I also find that kittens from different litters tend to get along fine. Take the introductions slow. Also, if you do adopt a male/female combination...set up their spay/neuter dates so that there is no chance for unplanned pregnancy. If they are already spayed/neutered then great...one less thing to worry about.

Katie

Originally Posted by Tru87

As you'll see in the crossing the bridge section...

I just lost my kitten today, I had her for one week and she died today from a viral infection. It's a sad thing but the problem i'm facing is as sad as I am I can't let it cloud my judgment about what I need to do...

Other then talking to the pet-store who sold me such a young kitten, I have a little situation. The vet who took care of her told me he has a few kittens ready for adoption... I know i'm not directly repsonsible for them, but I just felt it would give Angel's death a big meaning if in her name I went and adopted these kittens... I just feel guilty because if Angel can see me now, I don't want her to think she didn't mean anything to me.. basically, I just wanna give these kittens a home and raise them in honor of Angel.. her death has really affected me tonight and to see her lifeless body there... it hreally hurt me.. since just Friday she was jumping around all happy and full of life...

Any advice would be appreciated..

Thank you for understanding.

Click to expand...

Some people feel they need to wait a while before adopting, because they are so hurt by the loss. Others feel that they have lots of love to share, and know they are not in any way replacing the lost loved one, but are just opening their home to another one to love.

Also, since the vet has kittens that need a home, it is almost like Angel sent them to you. If your heart is ready, and the vet reassures you that they won't be endangered in your home, go for it. And two kittens will keep each other company when you are at school.

My daughter adopted her cat Rascal from the vet just after losing her kitten. He has been a great help to her, and they are very happy together (along with #2 kitten Pepper who she adopted later.) Personally, I must have a pet. If I were to somehow lose my current animals, I would get another right away. I do not like life without a pet!

Originally Posted by TNR1

Also, if you do adopt a male/female combination...set up their spay/neuter dates so that there is no chance for unplanned pregnancy. If they are already spayed/neutered then great...one less thing to worry about.

Katie

Click to expand...

Many vets make you wait until 6 months of age but neutering/spaying can be done as young as 10 weeks or so or 2 lbs. Don't take any chances waiting until 6 months because the female can get pregnant younger then that, and with both sexes living so close, the heat cycle may begin earlier, induced, and your baby might be having babies.

P.S. If you adopt a male and female from the SAME litter the same thing will happen too. They don't know or care that they are related and inbreeding is a no-no.

Originally Posted by eatrawfish

I see nothing wrong with adopting another kitten so fast. It makes no difference to Angel or how you feel about it.

BUT BUT BUT

Are you sure what Angel had isn't contagious and still lingering in your house? That's what I'd worry about.

Click to expand...

I agree here completely.... after you know your house is safe, then it is 100% personal decision. I'm one of the people who has to wait awhile, but if you're not, then adopt away! There are so many kittys in need of good homes!

I say just in case....clean the house top to bottom...then I think you should be fine......

And enjoy your future new family member

All right guys...

I visited the Doc' today and paid my bill.. To my surprise, there happens to be an animal rights institution right here in Lebanon!

http://animals.beirut.com/ BETA-Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

They have a whole adoption system set up for many animals. I saw a few kittens today at the Vet's clinic and I really liked one of them. I might adopt him, but it's a whole form you have to write and a whole process to make sure you're a right person to adopt. So I'm now waiting for the Lady from the Agency to call me.

But I have a little dilemma... I talked to the Pet store owner and he gave me a reasonable explanation why the Kitten I had died.

He tells me, the breeders he does business with are the ones responsible for making sure the Kittens they sell are healthy. He's like, as long as he sees her healthy, eating... going to the bathroom.. he puts her on the market, and she was like that for the first 6 days I had her too... but we both agreed that it's possible the breeders simply removed her them selves too young, or the breeders didn't particularly notice her that maybe she wasn't feeding properly but we both disagree about the fact "nothing could of been done". I still think she was too young to be sold, but she was healthy when I bought her from him. Anyway he's offered to give me a Kitten that looks really healthy and extremely active for free with an apology to go along with it. The little kitten is really beautiful and a female too.

Would it be ok if I adopted her from the shop, *even though he's giving her to me because Angel died* and adopt a male from the shelter and have them both taken care of medically as soon as possible?


Your thoughts would be HIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHLAY appreciated, I have until Wednesday morning before he will put that specific cat back on the open market.

I don't have any advice for you concerning the medical aspects of adopting these kittens, but I can speak from the heart about adopting another kitten (or kittens) recently after the loss of Angel.

My Sunni was 5 years old when she passed on June 30th of this year. At first, I thought there was no way I would want another cat in the house for some time. However, after five years, Sunni was such a huge part of my daily routine that I was lost without her. In addition to the pain of losing her so suddenly, I was making my own situation worse by trying to survive the grief alone. Every little thing I did without her only reminded me that she was gone. I'd end up crying over a trip into the kitchen, because Sunni wasn't running ahead of me to get there. Bedtime was the worst of all. I would cry myself to sleep because the bed seemed so empty without that familiar kitty weight on my legs.

After two days of this, the idea of adopting another kitten didn't seem so out of reach to me anymore. I worried, like you, that Sunni would think that I was replacing her, or that it would lessen her importance to me. I finally realized that adopting another kitten from the local shelter was the most perfect tribute I could give her. Hence, Sophie Grace entered my heart and my life.

Your new kittens will never replace Angel. However, you can rest assured that she would understand and realize that the home and love you give to these new members of your family will always be in honor of her memory. I wish you the best of luck.

Go with your heart. If you feel ready, then go for it. Some people have to wait awhile. I lost my Max in July and just don't feel like I need to get another cat yet. For one thing, I still have two grown cats. They are working out dominance issues since Max was the alpha cat. But you know in your heart if you are ready.

Whatever feels ok for you, If you can handle the kitties I say why not but if you are still really upset I might hold off until you are a little more stable ALSO disenfect your entire house before you bring home any new cats especially kittens

I think there are really several questions here ... but the main focus of your post was whether or not to adopt now. The answer to that is Yes, if you feel you are ready to open your heart and home to a new companion and yes, if you are ready to now let go of your sweet Angel kitty without feeling she would somehow be slighted. The answer is No, if you aren't ready for either of those things.

As to whether or not now is a good time to adopt considering the health implications is another question here ... not knowing what your little one died of makes the answer to that very tricky. Certain viruses can and sometimes will defeat even the best of disinfection practices and can live dorment in a home's environment for a long time. My advice to you is to speak candidly with your vet and to ask his/her opinion on your home environment now - how long would an appropriate time to wait be considering neither of you know for sure what might be lingering there. If he feels it is OK to bring another kitty in now, then search your heart to know whether or not now is the right time for YOU.

Whatever you decide is best right now, please have my sincere condolences on your loss. I hope you will be able to find peace soon and that future kitties will bless your home.

~gf~

Hey guys.. I just felt like Angel's death has really inspired me to do alot...

I study Biology at the American University of Beirut. We have a club called "Animal Welfare Club" but it's currently in-active but Angel's death has inspired me to first adopt a kitten and re-active the club. It still hurts like hell not being able to open her little room and seeing her go "meow" and come running to me because she's so happy to see me... I really miss her, I cried like a water fountain last night but it's all good.. Life goes on, I definitely will NOT let her death be invain... The American University of Beirut is a Bird Sanctuary and a Feline safe Haven. The AUB medical Center has spayed/neutered half the population in hope to save a life in the future. They feed the whole population everyday, so we definitely have love for cats over at my University. I just really wanna re-activate this club, and blow a new breathe of life in this club which was so active at one point...

Anyway guys, let me know what you think about this little rascal!

http://animals.beirut.com/view_animal.php?ID=269

bump!

if he weren't so far away, I'D take him. Look at that FACE!! He looks like quite the little troublemaker. I say go for it.

Angel is purring as she watches you from across the bridge. Sometimes a companion comes into our lives for only a short time. There is a reason for all things, and Angel has fulfilled her purpose. I'm sure she wants you to bring another into your life (two would be fun... who needs TV?). I know I'd have a hard time being without my two monsters (who are both using the dining table, chairs and nice white tablecloth as a play/war zone) for very long.

He looks like a real doll... take him home.

Amanda

Originally Posted by Tru87

Anyway guys, let me know what you think about this little rascal!

http://animals.beirut.com/view_animal.php?ID=269

Click to expand...

I think that would prove a lovely tribute to your little Bridge Angel.

But, did you speak to your vet about the risks of bringing in another kitty yet? What did he say?

~gf~