- Joined
- Aug 28, 2019
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Hello to all! I'm here to share my experience, what I've learned, and what I should of asked when I purchased my 2 beautiful Maine Coon Kittens from a Breeder in Wisconsin. I'm hoping that if anything I can share some helpful information for anyone thinking about purchasing from a Breeder. I had never purchased from a Breeder prior to my Maine Coon's. I was very lucky to have my faithful companion for 18 years. When she passed last October I was heartbroken. That being said, she had a wonderful life and she filled our life with joy and she knew she was loved! Fast forward a couple months..
I had always read about Maine Coon's and how lovely they are and their temperament. We have a happy, jolly, 7 year Yellow Lab in our family and I thought this would be an ideal addition to our family. I was missing the little pitter patter of feet and set my sights on a Maine Coon Breeder. Once found- I did "basic" fact checking, placed my deposit, and eagerly awaited our new incoming fur babies arrival.
Well, around June I was made aware that kittens had ringworm. Yes, this Breeder made me aware and I appreciated them letting me know. They also gave me the option to back out AND get my deposit back. Again, very professional. They also added they would do the treatment and keep me up to date on the process if I did not want to do the treatment myself. I opted to proceed with the adoption and NOT administer the treatment myself as my Yellow Lab had just gotten through his second round of Cancer. His immune system is compromised and I of course didn't want to introduce this into our home. From my standpoint and thinking I was making the right call. It’s Ringworm. Like Athlete’s Foot. I’ve had that before and was familiar. How bad could it be?
Go forward a couple weeks all is swell and the ringworm cultures came back negative per the Breeder- Yahoo! My babies are coming home. Make the vet appointment ( 2 days after receiving the kittens) to get them checked out just for my peace of mind/contract. All checked out. They are good but I will keep them only in one room of the house for 2 weeks just because I read that is what you do, the health of my Yellow Lab is my upmost priority, and I am paranoid. The paranoia from what my husband and I went through with our Lab’s Cancer not once but twice almost put me over the edge. So, I will play it safe. ( Good call NOT a mistake)
Ok, we are 2 weeks in ( hoping you all are still reading) what is this scabby bump, wait….there is another one, OMG what the heck is going on ??…come on. Call the VET ASAP get an appointment and they confirmed Ringworm. NOOOOooooo!!! They filled me in on the details, the incubation, the highly contagious disease pass between pets and humans, the environment clean-up, and healing time. One word DEVASTATED. I emailed the Breeder right away to ask if Mr. Kitty was 100% cleared and if they had seen any other lesions present other than what they treated. My response was he was cleared, no additional lesions, and for good measure they threw in “Don’t worry about it.” My perception of the Breeder telling me to “ don’t worry about it” comes across as patronizing and oblivious. That nonchalant attitude is probably why I am here writing my story. I have 2 very much loved kittens that are quarantined, 1 that is not getting better even on there second run of Pulse Treatment, extensive medical bills, never ending cleaning, hundreds of dollars of toys, cat trees thrown away ( again all replaceable- it’s the principle), a Yellow Lab living apart from the family in fear of him getting it due to his compromised immune system, and a house that is now infected with ringworm. Does that still sound like I should not worry about it? Again, I will add not to be lost in translation I love these kittens and they are not going anywhere. I will do everything to help them. I am blessed that I have the time and the funds available to take care of these little guys.
So, where did I go wrong? Well, I think my first mistake was leading with heart instead of my head. Instead of fact checking I did heart checking. My heart checked all the boxes for me. I didn’t know that some Breeders are Closed Breeders ( preferred?) and some Open Breeders. Meaning, showing of cats which can expose unintentionally cats/kitten’s to diseases. Yes, this Breeder was showing cats and is still breeding cats during a Ringworm outbreak. Again, I was aware of this but was not aware of the terrible consequences and this was a HUGE NO NO.
Not fully researching Ringworm independently. Naively taking there word on the treatment and being cleared of Ringworm. From my understanding from my Vet the Ringworm can be cleared. However, recurrence can arise in a 2-3 week window after treatment has stopped if the kitten is living with other kittens that have ringworm and/or sharing a contaminated environment ( which they did). They are cleared of the disease long enough to sell. Which probably is the case with my kitten. I say probably as I truly do NOT think this Breeder is malicious. If anything, uneducated in Breeding and is doing this merely as a Hobby. So, yes I will take just as much blame for not being proactive in researching the disease and asking better questions of the Breeder.
Currently as of right now no one else including the other kitten and our Lab have Ringworm. Thank goodness. Everyday, all day is cleaning day and laundry day. Bathing a cat(s) is not fun- but it is required. You will need help. I learned that the hard way. Topical’s and Oral Systematic Treatment ( 2nd go for this little guy) they are thinking a 3rd since it is not going away but spreading.
Moral of the story-I do believe that there is a light @ the end of this Ringworm Tunnel. I will be cleaning and bathing cats in the meantime.
I had always read about Maine Coon's and how lovely they are and their temperament. We have a happy, jolly, 7 year Yellow Lab in our family and I thought this would be an ideal addition to our family. I was missing the little pitter patter of feet and set my sights on a Maine Coon Breeder. Once found- I did "basic" fact checking, placed my deposit, and eagerly awaited our new incoming fur babies arrival.
Well, around June I was made aware that kittens had ringworm. Yes, this Breeder made me aware and I appreciated them letting me know. They also gave me the option to back out AND get my deposit back. Again, very professional. They also added they would do the treatment and keep me up to date on the process if I did not want to do the treatment myself. I opted to proceed with the adoption and NOT administer the treatment myself as my Yellow Lab had just gotten through his second round of Cancer. His immune system is compromised and I of course didn't want to introduce this into our home. From my standpoint and thinking I was making the right call. It’s Ringworm. Like Athlete’s Foot. I’ve had that before and was familiar. How bad could it be?
Go forward a couple weeks all is swell and the ringworm cultures came back negative per the Breeder- Yahoo! My babies are coming home. Make the vet appointment ( 2 days after receiving the kittens) to get them checked out just for my peace of mind/contract. All checked out. They are good but I will keep them only in one room of the house for 2 weeks just because I read that is what you do, the health of my Yellow Lab is my upmost priority, and I am paranoid. The paranoia from what my husband and I went through with our Lab’s Cancer not once but twice almost put me over the edge. So, I will play it safe. ( Good call NOT a mistake)
Ok, we are 2 weeks in ( hoping you all are still reading) what is this scabby bump, wait….there is another one, OMG what the heck is going on ??…come on. Call the VET ASAP get an appointment and they confirmed Ringworm. NOOOOooooo!!! They filled me in on the details, the incubation, the highly contagious disease pass between pets and humans, the environment clean-up, and healing time. One word DEVASTATED. I emailed the Breeder right away to ask if Mr. Kitty was 100% cleared and if they had seen any other lesions present other than what they treated. My response was he was cleared, no additional lesions, and for good measure they threw in “Don’t worry about it.” My perception of the Breeder telling me to “ don’t worry about it” comes across as patronizing and oblivious. That nonchalant attitude is probably why I am here writing my story. I have 2 very much loved kittens that are quarantined, 1 that is not getting better even on there second run of Pulse Treatment, extensive medical bills, never ending cleaning, hundreds of dollars of toys, cat trees thrown away ( again all replaceable- it’s the principle), a Yellow Lab living apart from the family in fear of him getting it due to his compromised immune system, and a house that is now infected with ringworm. Does that still sound like I should not worry about it? Again, I will add not to be lost in translation I love these kittens and they are not going anywhere. I will do everything to help them. I am blessed that I have the time and the funds available to take care of these little guys.
So, where did I go wrong? Well, I think my first mistake was leading with heart instead of my head. Instead of fact checking I did heart checking. My heart checked all the boxes for me. I didn’t know that some Breeders are Closed Breeders ( preferred?) and some Open Breeders. Meaning, showing of cats which can expose unintentionally cats/kitten’s to diseases. Yes, this Breeder was showing cats and is still breeding cats during a Ringworm outbreak. Again, I was aware of this but was not aware of the terrible consequences and this was a HUGE NO NO.
Not fully researching Ringworm independently. Naively taking there word on the treatment and being cleared of Ringworm. From my understanding from my Vet the Ringworm can be cleared. However, recurrence can arise in a 2-3 week window after treatment has stopped if the kitten is living with other kittens that have ringworm and/or sharing a contaminated environment ( which they did). They are cleared of the disease long enough to sell. Which probably is the case with my kitten. I say probably as I truly do NOT think this Breeder is malicious. If anything, uneducated in Breeding and is doing this merely as a Hobby. So, yes I will take just as much blame for not being proactive in researching the disease and asking better questions of the Breeder.
Currently as of right now no one else including the other kitten and our Lab have Ringworm. Thank goodness. Everyday, all day is cleaning day and laundry day. Bathing a cat(s) is not fun- but it is required. You will need help. I learned that the hard way. Topical’s and Oral Systematic Treatment ( 2nd go for this little guy) they are thinking a 3rd since it is not going away but spreading.
Moral of the story-I do believe that there is a light @ the end of this Ringworm Tunnel. I will be cleaning and bathing cats in the meantime.
