Have you ever heard of a teacup cat? I saw the first two examples of these at the hospital today (yesterday by the time you read this). They’re littermates—little ragdoll “teacups” (roughly 30% smaller than they should be). They were twelve weeks old and looked little bigger than your typical eight-weekers.
They were cute as a button—you can well imagine what two tiny ragdoll fluffballs would look like. Talk about cute overkill in extremis.
They’d just arrived on a plane from another state and the new owner (a typically responsible sort, judging by the care she gives her mixed breed dog) had 48 hours to get them checked out and given clean bills of health.
Problem is, they weren’t exactly the picture of feline wellness. They were loaded with coccidia (a common protozoan parasite in catteries and kennels). Their eyes were the standard weepy, watery, gunky eyes characteristic to smush-faced breeds (brachycephalics). One appeared to have ringworm (culture pending). And both had suspicious clicking sounds in their hips—a serious “oh no.”
The other issues I can handle. The last one’s a deal-breaker, though (in my book, at least). Hip dysplasia is a biggie (yes, even cats get hip dysplasia). That’s why I referred them to my friendly neighborhood orthopedic surgeon for digital X-rays and a consultation.
Truth is, I’m pawning them off on him because I can’t bear to see people cry when they need to send already-beloved puppies and kittens back to the scene of the crime (on another stressful flight, to boot). And an orthopedist who handles hip replacements in cats is the ideal professional for these issues anyway.
How does this happen?...you might wonder. And the answer is: home-based kitten factories (the cat version of the puppy mill we’re so fond of bashing on this site). Because cats are not quite so lucrative, smaller operations of well-intentioned (if misguided) individuals tend to comprise the bulk of these irresponsible breeders.
My question is...who signed their health certificates? How can any self-respecting vet hand over bill of health for these kittens? Did he/she not run a fecal test? Did he/she not examine their skin? The hips I can understand—that’s a little trickier. But the chronic conjunctivitis? At least make a note of it on the certificate. Ship them with the necessary meds, at least. It’s not like the standard of veterinary care is lower in Chicago than in Miami—please!
Given their other maladies, I’m duly concerned about these animals’ FIP, FeLV and FIV status, among other unseen issues like occult cardiac disease—not to mention predispositions to a number of other genetic diseases that will manifest in months or years.
Despite their ailments, I have little doubt this owner will take on the care of these cats rather than send them back to an uncertain outcome. If previous experiences with these situations are any guide, the new owner will clash angrily with the breeder. The breeder will quite possibly call me to rant over my condemnation of his/her kittens’ health. And then I’ll get my chance to call them out on their relentless BS. I’m looking forward to it—it’s the only bright spot in this all-too-common story.
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I'm just savoring the thought of that call. Please be sure to update us!
Laura Bennett August 7th, 2007 08:36:00 AM
Teacup? How small is a teacup cat?
I had the impression that Ragdolls were a large breed of cat, but I'm
used to a petite Tonkinese, seven pounds at her lean, flying wonder
kitty weight, able to leap five feet on to a shoulder from the floor,
and going on eight years old.
In the course of our failed attempt to add a second cat to the family,
we've been in the position of taking on the care of a sick adult cat, instead
of sending her back to an uncertain fate. It wasn't cheap, but she
has turned out fairly healthy and has a forever home, but not with
us.
sj August 8th, 2007 12:28:00 AM
My only question would be were these animals purchased unseen? Meaning they were purchased via internet without the new owner actually going to see them in "person" prior to buying them?
I'm by no means suggesting that the owner of these animals deserved what appears to be a brick wall of health issues to contend with, but I do tend to shake a finger at people that base their decisions on whether to buy a animal or not from a picture that is posted over the internet.
To me, that is just a sign of the owners impulsiveness which often leaves me wondering if their pets will show up at a shelter one day because the newness of the pet lost it's luster or whether the owner really wanted a companion to share life with.
Stacy August 8th, 2007 08:17:00 AM
I agree. Why do people keep buying live animals on the internet? Is not like ordering a sweater for petes's sake!
Those poor kitties. I think some of these so called "breeders" just like playing God to make a buck. Let's make them small or give them short twisted legs. Yeah they will sell like hotcakes then!
Some people just suck.
Marie August 8th, 2007 09:12:00 AM
Sadly, stuff like this happens all the time... my vet (who is also named "Dr. Patty" <g>) told me this morning about a designer puppy she'd seen the day before. Called a "Cavachon", it was a cross between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Bichon Frise. I really think sometimes these people decide which breeds to cross solely based on how cute a name they can make out of it, although I have no doubt this puppy was also a case of "cuteness overkill". The owners paid $2400 for this little mutt and had it shipped from Ohio (we're in Texas). Brought it in for the health check and - surprise!! - it's got a big heart murmur and a host of other congenital problems. Will people never learn??
Barb August 8th, 2007 08:56:00 PM
You go Dr. Patty!
As to the vet who signed the certificates, perhaps time for the profession to clean up it's own. Is there no way to call them on it? How long before shipping had this certificate been signed? I wish people had the money to sue both the breeder and vets who sign off on these kinds of things.
CathyA August 9th, 2007 08:05:00 AM
I think its also time for Vets to post something at their offices warning people about the potential problems of buying a pet over the Internet (or sight unseen).
I'm sure that there are lots of good breeders that do have websites or advertise in pet magazines, but there are also a lot of folks with pretty web sites that disguise what their 'kennel' or 'cattery' actually look like.
2CatMom August 9th, 2007 09:46:00 AM
My neighbour just found 2 kittens and no mommy :( She took them to the vet, one died and the other one is recovering (it just happened yesty)
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