Hey All... I'm new here. I found this site this afternoon while looking up some potential answers about my sick kitten. First, let me introduce myself... I'm Mandy, and I have two cats- Mikaela (1), and Joey (8 weeks). Joey and Mikaela don"t *quite* get along yet, but we're working on it.
Here is Joey's story:
I got him from a local pet store last Sunday, 6/16. I know that shelters are usually the better option, but I have had 2 shelter kitties and they were both very ill when i brought them home. The store gave me a health certificate with Joey, saying that he was free from disease. In fact, state law requires this certificate. He was said to be in good health, with no problems.
The day after I got him home, I noticed that he had some diarrhea. Not terrible, but enough. i gave him extra water, and called the vet that certified him. She said to just give him a few days, it was from the stress. I watched his water intake, but gave him a few more days. On Thursday, his diarrhea had not been any better, so I called her again. She again said that it was just stress and to let it be. So, I reluctantly listened. Saturday, Joey got uncontrollable diarrhea. He couldn't even make it to his box. The vet that certified him wasn't open, but she said to bring him to the pet store so he could be watched. I spoke with the pet store and they agreed to watch him overnight and the vet would make a personal visit in the morning. I brought him up saturday night and left him.
Sunday I called to come and get him and they said they wanted to keep him one more day. I said okay, if it is better for him. They said the vet had given him medicine for coccidia, and he would be fine.
Today, I got a voicemail from the pet store owner saying that she is keeping Joey for the rest of the week (ie: until the day my health certificate expires). She said that he still had diarrhea and she didn't want him going home. Now, i have lost all my faith in this store and this vet. i do not feel my pet is getting the attention he requires, and I want him to see my regular vet. I armed myself with pet ownership laws, and went to the pet store. The owner was refusing to let the cat leave unless i signed a form absolving her and her store from any vet fees. Naturally, i refused because I have 14 days of health care through the vet that certified Joey, and the pet store pays. When I said I would not sign the form, she threatened to call the police. I told her about the pet ownership laws in the state, even showed her the section and article number. I have the right to remove my animal at any time. She refused to listen, and called the police. She spoke with someone, and they told her what i said- he is my pet, and I have the right to remove him if I want to. So, the police told her they'd come, but they'd be helping me to leave and not helping the kitty to stay.
At this point, the woman started yelling. She signed the form for me, saying she was signing saying that I wouldn't. She refused to give me the medicine that the vet had prescribed Joey, and said that she was "just looking out for his health". There were words exchanged, and ended up just leaving with my kitty.
Now, we are waiting for our appt with my normal vet. He will get a thorough check up in an hour, and more medicine. The kicker is they would not even give my a stool sample from the box Joey was using there, so the vet can't even check that!
Send him well wishes..
Here is Joey's story:
I got him from a local pet store last Sunday, 6/16. I know that shelters are usually the better option, but I have had 2 shelter kitties and they were both very ill when i brought them home. The store gave me a health certificate with Joey, saying that he was free from disease. In fact, state law requires this certificate. He was said to be in good health, with no problems.
The day after I got him home, I noticed that he had some diarrhea. Not terrible, but enough. i gave him extra water, and called the vet that certified him. She said to just give him a few days, it was from the stress. I watched his water intake, but gave him a few more days. On Thursday, his diarrhea had not been any better, so I called her again. She again said that it was just stress and to let it be. So, I reluctantly listened. Saturday, Joey got uncontrollable diarrhea. He couldn't even make it to his box. The vet that certified him wasn't open, but she said to bring him to the pet store so he could be watched. I spoke with the pet store and they agreed to watch him overnight and the vet would make a personal visit in the morning. I brought him up saturday night and left him.
Sunday I called to come and get him and they said they wanted to keep him one more day. I said okay, if it is better for him. They said the vet had given him medicine for coccidia, and he would be fine.
Today, I got a voicemail from the pet store owner saying that she is keeping Joey for the rest of the week (ie: until the day my health certificate expires). She said that he still had diarrhea and she didn't want him going home. Now, i have lost all my faith in this store and this vet. i do not feel my pet is getting the attention he requires, and I want him to see my regular vet. I armed myself with pet ownership laws, and went to the pet store. The owner was refusing to let the cat leave unless i signed a form absolving her and her store from any vet fees. Naturally, i refused because I have 14 days of health care through the vet that certified Joey, and the pet store pays. When I said I would not sign the form, she threatened to call the police. I told her about the pet ownership laws in the state, even showed her the section and article number. I have the right to remove my animal at any time. She refused to listen, and called the police. She spoke with someone, and they told her what i said- he is my pet, and I have the right to remove him if I want to. So, the police told her they'd come, but they'd be helping me to leave and not helping the kitty to stay.
At this point, the woman started yelling. She signed the form for me, saying she was signing saying that I wouldn't. She refused to give me the medicine that the vet had prescribed Joey, and said that she was "just looking out for his health". There were words exchanged, and ended up just leaving with my kitty.
Now, we are waiting for our appt with my normal vet. He will get a thorough check up in an hour, and more medicine. The kicker is they would not even give my a stool sample from the box Joey was using there, so the vet can't even check that!
Send him well wishes..