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Original poster

My castrated, diabetic male cat got taken by a stranger to be castrated, he’s very unwell

117 replies

Xxalisoncxx · 03/06/2019 20:07

Hi, please be gentle with me I’m very upset. I have a five year old male cat that got recently diagnosed as having diabetes. We have been keeping him in the house to monitor his diet. Yesterday lunchtime, he managed to squeeze past a delivery driver. We searched all yesterday and this morning for him. While putting out the washing, I heard a lady going round shouting, foes anybody have a black cat. I said yes, thinking oh my god, he’s dead. She declared your cats at the local vets for pets been castrated. Apparently she thinks my 5 year old largish castrated male,was her 6 month old kitten, how I have no idea! They got as far as the anesthesia until they realized it was not the kitten but my male cat and then checked the microchips. The vet has said they take full responsibility for not checking, she can’t understand how the women thinks my fully grown cat is her kitten. I’m still very upset. The fact he was taken there, knocked out and his sugar levels dipped that low I watched him faint on the table. The vets done full blood work on him and said other than his glucose he’s fine. He’s home but is refusing to eat, I’m having to syringe feed him. I know unlikely but has anyone else experienced anything so insane? I still can’t believe the entire situation. He’s due back at the vets in the morning x pic of him in his -what have you done to my ears moment

My castrated, diabetic male cat got taken by a stranger to be castrated, he’s very unwell
OP posts:
madcatladyforever · 03/06/2019 21:13

For fuck sake sake what utter bellends I would have been livid. Mt elderly (17 years old) diabetic cat had dental surgery recently. It was absolutely necessary but very nearly died. It was too much for her. She did recover eventually but it was very much touch and go. I think it's disgusting nobody checked it was the right cat and the owner is a total dozy twat too. I'd know my own cat anywhere. Hope he's OK the precious.

silvercuckoo · 03/06/2019 21:26

OMG, the poor cat. I also have a batshit crazy neighbour who sometimes takes my cat to the vet insisting she's being "neglected", and used to put invoices through my mailbox. All local vets now know her, and call me immediately once she is brought in.

Shinesweetfreedom · 03/06/2019 21:28

Bloody hell silver tell us more

CarolinaChina · 03/06/2019 21:31

Don’t really know what to say........ but he’s gorgeous. I think he’s probably just had such a traumatic experience, but he’s back where he belongs and is being looked after. I hope he’s back to normal tomorrow.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/06/2019 21:37

Surely they would scan the cat to fill in the consent form. She would need to sign before the surgery .
And they would weigh for the anaesrhetic dose so they'd know the weight (not that of a kitten !)

Comefromaway · 03/06/2019 21:38

Which vets is it (so I know to avoid)

wizzler · 03/06/2019 21:42

Some of these stories remind me of Six Dinner Sid which I used to read to my kids

Original poster
Xxalisoncxx · 03/06/2019 21:42

It’s vets for pets. Please inbox if you want to know the exact branch x

OP posts:
Saavhi · 03/06/2019 21:44

Poor baby, wishing him (and you) a speedy recovery.

TheoriginalLEM · 03/06/2019 21:47

So the vets would have trusted that the woman bought her own cat in to be castrated. Fair enough, you would think she would kniw her own cat. BUT as part of pre operative checks for a castrate they should have checked that both testicles has descended- this obviously wasn't done. So yes, full responsibility lies with them.

Also, it takes a while to stabalise a bewly diabetic cat. This will have been a significant set back and he may need to alter his insulin dose. I would speak to your vet as they may want to carry out a glucose curve to ensure his insulin dosage doesn't need altering.

You must be livid!! Your neighbour must be mortified

AlunWynsKnee · 03/06/2019 21:50

Years ago before micro chipping was usual, someone took my parents' cat to the vets. She was very old but she liked to go and lie in the sun on the pavement outside the house. She had lived there for years and it was a dead end road so nobody much went up there and everyone knew her.
We had to ring around all the vets in the area to find her. She was fine fortunately.

category12 · 03/06/2019 21:52

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
Xxalisoncxx · 03/06/2019 21:58

Category12, I’ve never seen or heard of that thread. I don’t have a lot of people I can talk too in real life. I wish it was a load of rubbish but sadly it isn’t and I’m desperately hoping he will be ok in the next day or two. Him and my daughter are one of the few things I’ve got, as pathetic as it sounds

OP posts:
Original poster
Xxalisoncxx · 03/06/2019 22:00

This was him on the way home. If anybody knows of a reasonable price carrier with a metal front, I’d appreciate it. I’ve had two Wilko carriers break the past few weeks l, I’m left with this knackered one

My castrated, diabetic male cat got taken by a stranger to be castrated, he’s very unwell
OP posts:
Moreisnnogedag · 03/06/2019 22:03

We have a black cat but on one occasion his meow sounded really different to me. My dh was convinced I was crazy until we saw our black cat curled up on the sofa with an entirely different black cat! Turns out it was our neighbours who must have been going spare as she was quite elderly (the cat, not the neighbour)

Hope your cat recovers. If it’s a chain, I’d write a ridiculously rangy email to head office as well as to the manager.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 03/06/2019 22:10

Has the vet given any explanation?

It is ridiculous that the cats details weren't checked .
Microchips are there for a good reason.

Your boy is lovely (but I am biased , I have two lovely new black cats )

Gingerkittykat · 03/06/2019 22:16

I see so many posts on FB with people feeding and being encouraged to take perfectly healthy cats to the vet just because they appear in their garden. It worries me because one of my boys is skinny but healthy which makes me think someone thinks he is underfed, thankfully he would never let a stranger close enough to pet him.

I hope that the vet are at least going to pay all expenses.

My cat had surgery last week, they have never scanned him. They do take his weight every visit though.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 03/06/2019 22:17

What a total mess. I do hope your cat settles down. It would really knock our elderly cat for six too.

You asked about carriers, we've got this carrier for our cat: www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/cat-carriers-and-travel/atlas-10-wire-door-open-top-carrier-for-cats-and-small-dogs

It is quite expensive now, I don't think it was that expensive when we bought it but we've had it 10 years and it still looks as good as new. We use it several times a year for the vet and cattery. You might find a better price elsewhere.

GabsAlot · 03/06/2019 22:19

Your poor baby i think you need compensation or somethingfor this-they could have killed him

BurntSausage · 03/06/2019 22:20

What the hell? Poor boy. Black cats are the best. I hope he makes a full recovery quickly.

Pk37 · 03/06/2019 22:20

What the actual fuck?!
What a stupid woman , she shouldn’t even be allowed a cat!
And as for the vets , how did they not notice he’d already been castrated .
I’m not surprised you’re so upset.
Really hope your lovely boy is ok

HiJuice · 03/06/2019 22:21

Vets don't routinely check microchips unless the animal is brought in as a stray. To be honest at least half of microchips aren't registered to the correct details anyway - they certainly don't count as proof of ownership.
If the cat had been seen by that vets before (for vaccination or a pre op check) they would have checked the testicles were present then - there is no need to check again - we would just assume the owner knew their own cat. So you can't blame the vet for this. It's just unfortunate. There is no point in trying to sue them as someone suggested!
Get advice from your own vets about the diabetes - hopefully kitty will start eating soon and it won't have any long term effect on him.

Emmapeeler · 03/06/2019 22:21

I would have been livid too.

But... I got the wrong cat once - a genuinely innocent (but idiotic) mistake Blush I also took him to the vets but only to have his eyes checked, thankfully.

What I can’t understand is why the vet didn’t check it was entire before anaesthesia! I hope he soon recovers Sad

longtimelurkerhelen · 03/06/2019 22:39

I thought they would have at least had a feel of them, just to make sure they are fully down.

I know black cats look very similar, especially at a distance, but you would know your own cat.

Hope he recovers soon.

izzywizzywont · 03/06/2019 22:40

i dont get it. once the vets realised and checked the microchip they would have rung you or given your address to the women so why was she knocking on doors asking who has a black cat? and where is her kitten?