hi

sorry to clog up the forum but i met my friend today and was telling her that i am taking my kayla to the vet for her teeth to be polished as he said a month ago she had gingivitus.

anyway my mate said that it seems i am always taking kayla to the vet. Yes she has been twice this year, once in April as she had bald skin patches which were bleeding and weeping which the vet was worried was ring worm but luckily after tests it wasn't... Then last month it was for her annual jabs.

my friend heavily criticised me today saying when her nan had cats the only time the cats went to the vet was when they were dying and she has never heard of cats going for a teeth polishing. Also she didn't understand why i went to the vet to get her flea treatment when i can buy it cheaply at the supermarket but i told her its because the stuff at the vet is stronger and i take kayla for her jab its a preventative measure as i live in a high cat density cat area so do not want her to catch cat diseases.
So called friend told me kayla is just an animal and in the wild they don't have jabs etc so why bother She seems to forget that kayla is more than just an animal to me but a treasured family vet

Am i being silly for doing these stuff for kayla ie jabs, teeth polish.

in the past 6 years since i have had kayla i have taken her to vet cos she had split open her paw pads from stepping on something outside and it was bleeding, developed a limp in one of legs an

i am guessing there are people who have had cats which never really had to go to the vet because they haven't developed any problems but i kayla has had problems and its not like they can say to us oh this is hurting me please take us to the vet so surely its up to us the pet owner to notice when our pets have developed skin problems, limps to take them to the vet to check what is wrong rather than wait and see and then the problem get worse?

Am i being dumb or is my friend right that i am stupid in taking my cat to vet and so often (twice this year..normally only once a year when there has been no problems in between yearly jabs)

Two times a year is nothing! We went 8 times in one month back in September..

Definitely not over cautious - your friends Nan may have cats but my god, you can tell she doesn't! (Good job too by the sounds of it!)

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Not silly AT ALL you are meeting your cats needs!! this is a requirement of law!!!!

I always feel like I am over reacting with my pets health but I would rather over react and catch something before it becomes a major problem than have a very sick unhappy pet to deal with!!

I took my cat to the vet for a check up last week and mentioned a scab on her chin that vet said was nothing to worry about but it has been there for over a week now and still not getting better so I am going to give it another week and if it still hasnt healed she will be going back again!!

You stick to your guns hun this 'friend' doesnt seem like that great a person so dont worry about it!!!

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with those sorts of people,esp. if they have pets i just say - jabs are cheaper than treatment , going while its a minor problem will save money in the long run.....


and a friend has a rescue who is nearly blind due to easily treatable infection that didnt get treated - turned into big problem

( before she got her- thats why she ended up rescue!) so good example to use!

Well,I don't think your friend knows what she's talking about,to be frank,what she's saying is very irresponsible.I'd have done exactly the same as you.

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Some people have cats and go on to lead normal lives

I got Willow at the end of August and I have taken her to the vets 3 times so far.

Twice for her jabs, and then again because I thought she had ear mites (the vet didnt think so till he took a swab then agreed that she did )

I wouldnt hesitate to take any of mine to the vets if I thought they needed to go - and limping would be a reason I would take them.

Your friend obviously doesnt have pets, and if he/she does, I would be worrying about them!

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Tell your friend that she does not deserve pets and would have been in contact with the police for animal cruelty if she had, and would indeed be treating them like she describes......

If your child had a skin condition or persistent gingivitis, you would take him to the doector, too, wouldn't you? If you don't get the tartar removed from your cat's teeth, you will end up having to have all his teeth pulled in the end, which is much more expensive and causes much more suffering for the cat.

A cat in the wild does not get treatment, no. But a cat in the wild hardly ever lives past the age of 3 or 4. Barn cats are not living in the wild, they are feeding off a human settlement, even if they catch their own food, and they live in the shelter of our farms and barns. And even then, they usually don't get old (unless they belong to sensible farmers who do care), BECAUSE they don't get the medical care pets get.

For this reason, ferals and barn cats will often be diseased AND spread disease, not only among cats, but among other wild and domestic animals and even among humans.

So medical attention to pets is not just necessary for the pet's sake, but for the sake of animals and people in general.

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Jiskefet & the mognificent Dutch bunch

My little angels at the rainbow bridge

You are asking someone who polishes her cats fur with a shammy cloth once a week! I don't give a stuff what anyone says to me about it...although I do appreciate people going "Wow they are SO soft and shiny...!"

My attentions are not even medical, so I would say to you that what you are doing is 100% responsible. Ventinary care for dental treatment is bloody expensive, and even if you have insurance you have to prove you have done all in your power to keep the cats teeth healthy.

Good luck to her Nan's cat, but we are all different in how we choose to bring up our family. Some people just like slagging off those who choose to spend extra attention looking after their family - and that includes pets.

If I had a penny for everytime someone slagged me off for giving my son a proper routine, no junk food, or for fussing over the diet of my cats I would have enough to buy all the cats on the forum a Secret Santa gift!

Enjoy your cats, enjoy caring for them, and leave others to their eternal complaints about how 'they can do it "Better"'

x

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Where were your friends underpants at the time love because she was quite obviously talking out of her ass!!!!!!!

This is WHY we end up with so many cats in rescue - because folks are totally uneducated about them and take them on thinking that there is practically no 'looking after' involved. When they get the wake-up call as to just how much looking after is required, they dump them!!!!

You carry on doing what you are doing and do so knowing that your cat is well looked after and cared for.

And as for your friend, the next time she starts, pull her underwear up so you can't hear her!!!!

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I've had my kitten for six months and she's been to the vet SIX times! She's been for spaying and then two follow ups, twice for her jabs and once to get her anal glands emptied (don't ask )- and it looks like we'll have to have a repeat visit for that soon!

You love your cat and you're a responsible owner. Your cat is lucky to have you!