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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how you'd deal with this vet issue?

49 replies

lalalalyra · 22/06/2017 16:28

We have 3 cats. Two older boys and a younger female. The female is 18 months. She's a very timid cat so only goes out very rarely and only recently.

At 6 months we took her to the vet and paid for her to be spayed. This was done the "old" way as she had an umbilical hernia that was sorted at the same time.

I noticed over the past couple of weeks she's been putting on weight... you can guess where this is going... we now have 2 boy cats, 1 girl cat and since around 3pm 4 kittens...

They weren't fathered by my boys as they were done as kittens 14 years ago so it must have happened while she was out. I didn't notice any season in her, but she's a very noisy cat and I assume that when she seemed to be getting more adventurous is actually when she was in season.

I've spoken to the vets. They are going to look into their records. They are assuming they only dealt with the hernia, although it does say on their system she was spayed.

AIBU to be wanting them to check over my cat in case she has something going on? I can't move her atm as she's got at least another kitten to come, but I just feel a 'done' cat having kittens needs checked over.

Apparently they'd need to speak to the manager to see if my "no, you need to come out and not be using the phrase call out charge..." is something they can work with.

OP posts:

RainbowPastel · 22/06/2017 16:31

That's awful. They most definitely should come out to check her. Our dog had to be spayed twice as they messed up the first time. She was quite poorly and they paid for all the treatment.

CloudPerson · 22/06/2017 16:34

At the moment I doubt an immediate check over will make any difference, unless you're worried about her. She obviously wasn't spayed, which may have been an oversight.
They should be offering to do the job properly though, and for free, and iirc it can be done as soon as the kittens are a little bit older.
Don't let her out in the meantime though.
Any chance of photos?

NotYoda · 22/06/2017 16:35

They should come and check her, and refund the cost of the operation.

NotYoda · 22/06/2017 16:36

Yes. Photos

What a pain in the arse though. As if there aren't enough kittens in the world. What will you do with them?

ASDismynormality · 22/06/2017 16:38

I would be asking for a refund (as having kittens will cost you money) and a free spay.
Can we see the kitten please...

Original poster

lalalalyra · 22/06/2017 16:39

I'm just concerned that they're assuming they didn't do any of the spay. Rather than something going wrong (although I'm not vet/medically so I'm not sure if it's possible).

Also they seem to be kinda "oops sorry". Which isn't going to feed/vaccinate/etc several kittens. So I've paid £100 for them working on her and now I'm going to be costs on kittens. Plus any treatment she may need AND worst of all I'm going to have to rehome kittens who I will not want to part with 🙈

I'll get pics latter. I'm trying not to disturb her too much and it's kinda dark in the cupboard so I'd have to use flash.

DH is going to flip. He didn't want a kitten when we got her 😂

OP posts:

notapizzaeater · 22/06/2017 16:43

Surely they made notes after the surgery ? Was it clips ? Can they come undone ?

NancyDonahue · 22/06/2017 16:43

Poor girl when all this could have been easily avoided . Sounds like the vet messed up so should fork out compensation for costs for new kittens, your time and any rehoming costs. Unless.. you signed some sort of disclaimer? Is there a fail rate of some sort?

ColourfulOrangex · 22/06/2017 16:45

They should definitely reimburse you for the spaying that they didn't do, I think they should also come and check she is oki

CloudPerson · 22/06/2017 16:48

If they performed a bodged spay i would have thought she would have had difficulties giving birth to the kittens, so in that respect, as she's delivered them succesfully I'd assume she wasn't spayed in the first place, perhaps as there was another job (the hernia) to sort it was misunderstood what surgery she was having.

BarbaraofSeville · 22/06/2017 16:48

OMG. I'm not sure what you mean by the 'old way'. All my female cats who've been spayed (I foster so have seen a few) have a shaved/stitched area on their sides.

I know they can fix an unbilical hernia at the same time but don't know if they can go in the same way or if they need 2 incisions.

What's clear is that your cat wasn't spayed, or possibly has quite an unusual anatomy like two uteruses that wasn't spotted? Prob best to wait and see what their records say and what they offer. I'd expect free spaying when she is ready, and any veterinary treatment the kittens require, plus help in rehoming, can they recommend any charities?

Maybe also a token of apology on top like a free annual vaccination, flea and worm treatment, obviously plus an explanation/assurance that steps have been taken to prevent a reoccurence. Do they have a complaints procedure?

Unfortunately it's kitten season at the momemnt so all rescues will be heaving, but a local charity or cats protection might be able to help you find homes for the babies or your could keep them all.

Allergictoironing · 22/06/2017 16:48

@notapizzaeater @NancyDonahue When cats are spayed, in the UK at least, the normal procedure is to completely remove both the ovaries and the uterus at the same time (never clips, rarely just the ovaries). So in theory as long as they followed normal procedure it should be completely impossible for a correctly spayed cat to get pregnant.

GeillisTheWitch · 22/06/2017 16:49

Totally not place marking in anticipation of kitten pictures, oh no .

BarbaraofSeville · 22/06/2017 16:50

I thought with cat spaying they removed the uterus and ovaries so they don't come into season, rather than just do a tube tie, because then the cat would still come into season and attract all the tom cats?

Chloe84 · 22/06/2017 16:50

Oh kittens! Where did she give birth? Could we have a pic?

SnickersWasAHorse · 22/06/2017 16:51

That is dreadful.
I'd be requesting the cost of the spaying back and expecting any further treatment relating to the pregnancy to be free.

SnickersWasAHorse · 22/06/2017 16:52

I think @thecatneuterer might be a good person to help.

It might be worth asking to have this moved to the Litter Tray, OP.

potas · 22/06/2017 16:58

Firstly there is no point them coming out at moment if she is kittening fine herself. It will just unsettle her to have more people in the house. Take her and the kittens in in a couple of days to be checked over. Secondly she hasn't been spayed. As others have said the ovaries and most if not all the uterus are removed during a spay so no chance of failure. It may have been a misunderstanding at the time of the surgery as to what exactly you wanted done or may have been human error. Understandably you will be upset however remember the person you speak to on reception or even a vet or nurse may not have been directly involved. The practice will need to investigate to find out exactly what happened. I would imagine you would be refunded for whatever you paid for the spay and she would be spayed free of charge when kittens are old enough. They may give you a discount on vaccination of any kitten you keep though technically your choice to keep one. Unlikely to give you free ongoing care because again would be your choice to keep a kitten.

nannybeach · 22/06/2017 16:59

I always thought cat had a hysterectomy like dogs, if they cut or tie tubes can they heal like they sometimes do in people.

Original poster

lalalalyra · 22/06/2017 17:00

By the "old" way they did it through her belly rather than her side.

She's in the cupboard on the landing. It's where she sleeps often (the door doesn't click shut properly). The airing cupboard/water tank is next to it so I've always assumed it's a cosy/warm cupboard as well as being dark. It's quite a handy place as I've been able to put up the baby gates and shut doors so that the other cats/kids can't get close. I've put her some food out as well for whenever she's ready.

We'll look after the kittens until they are old enough. I bottle fed her as a kitten so I'm ok with the actual logistics bit of kitten care. It's just going to be a nightmare keeping the other cats away and to try and not love them enough to want to have more cats!

She's so small, she shouldn't be having kittens. I'm so upset and angry.

And I'm itching to look again but I don't want to disturb her.

OP posts:

happypoobum · 22/06/2017 17:01

Agree she hasn't been spayed and no point in vet coming out now.

They should refund you and spay her for free.

Can't wait to see the photos!!!!

Justmadeperfectflapjacks · 22/06/2017 17:12

Wow what a mess up.
But yabu not too include pics. .

LostSight · 22/06/2017 17:13

How to deal with it was your question, so I have some suggestions.

This is a clear error on their part. If it states on the record she was spayed, you have proof of that.

They will deal with it then as a valid complaint. You should be clear about what you want them to provide as compensation.

Most cats give birth without problems, so a visit is not necessary, unless she becomes unwell.

You should however, as a minimum, receive the operation you were originally supposed to have, plus any expenses involved. As you will not be likely to rehome them before their first vaccinations, then I think it would be reasonable to ask for those to be done at no cost to you.

If your cat has any complications, including mastitis or any other related illness, then that too should be covered by them.

Some or all of their costs should be covered by their professional indemnity insurance (all vets are required to have this) as I am fairly sure their actions here amount to negligence. They will not want to go to court, and hopefully you shouldn't need to go so far as mentioning it. But do push them to cover all reasonable expenses incurred.

PhoenixJasmine · 22/06/2017 17:17

Midline (belly) incision isn't particularly an old way, and in most of the world it's the standard approach, a lot of foreign vets think us Brits are weird with our flank spays I do both, prefer flank but will do midline if it's the best choice for the case - and if there is an umbilical hernia to repair then it makes sense to perform a midline spay at the same time. Generally a midline approach gives you better surgical exposure - you can see what you're doing better - so best for anything that's likely to be more complex.

I don't think it's necessary for the vet to come to your house at all. I have seen one case where a supposedly spayed cat had kittens, when exploratory surgery was performed once the kittens were weaned only half the uterus had been removed and there had been some additional damage as well unfortunately.

Right now I'd be expecting the practice manager/principal to phone you, to say they will start investgation immediately into what has led to this, free check over for Mum & kittens in a few days, and once kittens weaned free repeat surgery to see what had happened and complete an effective spay. Possibly some gestures of goodwill also like free food for Mum & kittens, assistance finding homes etc.

DJBaggySmalls · 22/06/2017 17:32

Its negligence. You need to decide what you want from them. They may be liable for the cost of feeding the kittens, and providing flea treatment, worming and vaccinations so you can rehome them.
Then they should spay her.

Put that request in writing, and if you dont get it take them to the Small claims Court. Neglience is a civil matter between you and their practice.
file:///C:/Users/Sarah/Downloads/1rcvs-note-on-negligence.pdf

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