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Original poster

New kitten is very sick. Seller will take no responsibility

389 replies

Sp3849 · 10/03/2021 12:18

So Friday evening I purchased a little sphynx kitten. When I got there it was clear the kitten was underweight but apart from being boney and dry skinned she was playing and inquisitive. I was told she was in good health was given her vaccine record. She was born very small and was 11 weeks old needed her second vaccine this week. I Asked to see mum and she explained that she had bought this kitten days before and had to sell her due to her other cat not liking it. She showed me pics of the kitten with mum and gave me the vax records with breeders details on. As soon as we got home she had bloody diarrhea I contacted her straight away and she seemed genuinely shocked and concerned. Said it was most likely the stress of journey. By Saturday evening the dhe diarrhea had continued all day and she wasn't eating. The lady wasn't responding to me. I Contacted a vet who said it was most likely the stress of the move and too keep her hydrated. I still didn't feel happy so tracked down her breeder on Facebook and she was shocked she had been resold and was very helpful explained she had been weaned onto a raw diet and was used to that and the biscuits the lady had been feeding her were probably the cause. I went straight out and bought her the recommended food and some fluid replenishment drinks and she ate fine after that, the diarrhea eased and became less runny and bloody. By Sunday night she devoloped bad eyes and was sneezing. This got worse throughout Monday she stopped eating agaim and I rang the vet. The vet explained she was severely dehydrated and that she had an infection. I had to go again yesterday and I also have to take her back again today. It is costing a fortune. Which i don't mind but the woman I bought her off is denying she was ill saying she had diarrhea but was fine! That she didn't have her long enough to make her sick and that this is my fault and she won't take her back (I wouldn't of taken her back to her anyway) she won't refund me and she won't contribute too vet fees. I am more upset about what she has done to this poor kitten. The photos the breeder sent me of the day she left hers it's just heartbreaking too see how much weight she lost. It is touch and go at the moment and I am just angry. I feel she should take some responsibility for what she has done. Am I being unreasonable to expect her to contribute? Where do I stand with this? There is a good likely hood this cat may not live and I have spent 1300 on it so far and not to mention my children and how upsetting it all is

OP posts:
cerealgamechanger · 12/03/2021 13:14

It really does sound like fading kitten syndrome :/ I hope I'm wrong though and all your love, dedication and nurturing pays off and she pulls through. Thanks

VettiyaIruken · 12/03/2021 14:08

£4000?! Bloody hell. That's a hell of a lot to find.
Is that on top of the vet bill the seller paid a couple of days ago or including it?

MrsMackesy · 12/03/2021 14:39

Hello again OP. I have always found a heated pad really useful for ill or elderly animals, or just for a warm spot in an unheated house. You plug them in and they go under a bed, blanket, vetbed or cushion. Heated beds with a heated pad included are also available. If you put her at the side of your bed overnight, take yourself a flask up and set your alarm hourly or as necessary, it will be easier to check on her. You could make her a jumper from something like a sock or mitten. Keeping her hydrated is also very important - the vet can give you something to add to water and a pipette or needleless syringe - give her a few drops every time you check on her. She needs peace and quiet to rest but I also agree that skin to skin contact can be very beneficial for warmth and comfort - basically, you have to be her mum.

LockdownIsDragging · 12/03/2021 15:56

Think about changing vets, ours charge £100 per night, bit more if on an IV.

nimbuscloud · 12/03/2021 17:37

£1000 per night??? Is that a typo ??

Ludo19 · 12/03/2021 18:08

Hi OP, vet nurse here. Can you fill some disposable gloves with warm water and cocoon her in like a nest with them round her, obviously with a blanket between her and the gloves.

You really have went above and beyond, I honestly hope she pulls through this although I fear you may well end up with an intermittently poorly kitty.

Good luck xx

Original poster
Sp3849 · 13/03/2021 07:32

update we went to get her at the vets last night and they were so happy with how much she has improved in the afternoon. When I got there she was sitting up which she was too weak to do the day before and she was eating and drinking on her own. The vet said he couldn't guarantee anything but from repeat bloods they felt the iv fluid and antibiotics had got on top of the infection and rehydrated her and she could come home on oral antibiotics. She is still very weak and frail and I am in no way deluded that she will be fine now. I have given her the best chance I can. I felt I owed her that. She has had hourly fluids through the night with me and eaten quite a consdiderable amount throughout the night. The vet is going to see her again after the weekend if she is still with us. But seeing her looking for food and taking as much fluid as she has I do have some hope for her now. The fees weren't as bad as Initially predicted by the vet. In total I spent 1700 pound yesterday for two days at the vet and out of hours care, that wasn't including the 200 pound the previous owner donated! Nor including the fees paid previously, for those of you saying I must have that money sadly I really do not. I had lost my job at the beginning of covid and my husband works away. With a child with asd It has been difficult finding a new job in school hours. We had savings to tide us through this, which we had taken years to save. It was not alot but it has covered her costs and it will take a hell of a long time to rebuild them especially with me not working at the moment. I know you should prepare for these things but I really was not expecting her to be so unwell in the days after having her. Yes she was thin and her skin wasn't the best but sphynx cats are thin anyway. They are smaller looking (they have no hair) I just thought she needed a good adequate diet and a bath! Sphynx have a much higher metabolism than a normal cat due to not having hair. They use more energy to maintain their body heat. They also need bathing once a weak eye cleaning and ear cleaning every other day as oil that is usually absorbed by hair builds up in their skin. So this is why I assumed she wasn't unwell. I was assured she was in good health. The minute I got home and within 24 hours I knew she wasn't a well kitten. I assumed if she did become unwell through her life insurance would cover that! I am hoping to get a job in a school when everything reopens. Seems the most logical option.

OP posts:
LApprentiSorcier · 13/03/2021 08:19

That all sounds very promising, although you are right to be cautious. The fees are around what I paid when one of my cats had to be on a drip for a few nights - it seems a lot at the time but it's worth it to have your cat well and happy again.

Hope she continues to improve.

sonjadog · 13/03/2021 08:54

Fingers crossed she continues to improve over the weekend.

CatChant · 13/03/2021 10:33

That does sound more promising. Fingers crossed she carries on getting better.

Hankunamatata · 13/03/2021 10:42

People read the post. OP didn't pay £1300 for the cat, that's vet Bill's 🤦‍♀️

AdobeWanKenobi · 13/03/2021 11:24

@Hankunamatata

People read the post. OP didn't pay £1300 for the cat, that's vet Bill's 🤦‍♀️
If she didn’t pay £1300 then it was a cheap kitten indeed. A cursory glance at pets for homes has Sphinx kittens starting at £900 and going up to £4K
sunflowersandbuttercups · 13/03/2021 11:39

@Hankunamatata

People read the post. OP didn't pay £1300 for the cat, that's vet Bill's 🤦‍♀️
She hasn't actually said what she paid for the kitten. She said that the £1300 was the total cost for the kitten plus original vets bills.

Sphynx kittens tend to go for at least 1k at the absolute minimum. Even outside of lockdown they're an incredibly expensive breed to buy.

Cherrysoup · 13/03/2021 12:10

I hope she continues to improve.

Moggies are much healthier than pedigrees

That depends entirely on health testing and lack of over breeding for specific faults eg a flat faced breed may have much bigger issues than a cat with a normal face. A good breeder will check breed co-efficiency numbers and not breed for physical faults.

GloriaSicTransitMundi · 13/03/2021 16:01

Great to hear little cat is improving, thanks for the update, and fingers crossed she keeps getting stronger. Well done for your dedication, sorry your wallet's been hit so hard, and hope all your loving care pays off.

RedPandaFluff · 13/03/2021 16:36

I'm so happy the poor little thing is improving, @Sp3849. It sounds as if you're doing your best for her and I for one am glad she ended up in your care.

SirVixofVixHall · 13/03/2021 16:45

I am so glad she is picking up, it does sound hopeful OP. Why do people breed cats without hair though ? The struggle to maintain her body temperature and metabolism seem to have been affected by her lack of fur, it is the same with hairless Guinea Pigs. Seems very cruel to me, to deliberately breed an animal to appeal to humans with a trait totally detrimental to their wellbeing.

Ludo19 · 13/03/2021 19:07

Just read your update. Sounds more hopeful. I hope she continues to make steady progress especially as you've invested not just financially but emotionally too. Wishing you well.

Original poster
Sp3849 · 14/03/2021 12:32

@Ludo19 I was wondering how long something like this would take her to recover from? She has been continuing to eat and drink very well she has had another half a tray of food today so far and is drinking water and oralade every hour between 5 to 10 ml. I am just very concerned at how weak she is. I. Literally hand feeding her and she is drinking from a syringe. She hasn't got the energy to stand for very long at all much less than previous days. She is looking around more today and her eyes look brighter she seems to want to cuddle more today and is more aware of what is going on around her. But I am growing so worried about her lack of energy. Am I expecting too much too soon? I didn't think to ask the vet about it. I am worried sick I am causing her suffering x

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/03/2021 12:36

The fact that she’s still eating and drinking is surely a good sign and she’s bound to be lethargic because she is still a very sick kitten , if she continues to eat and drink today I would just call the vet tomorrow .

Original poster
Sp3849 · 14/03/2021 12:39

@Floralnomad yes this is what my husband is saying. I am just very on edge really. I don't think lack of sleep is helping me. I think I need to calm down a bit. She is on penicillin as well so I am wondering if maybe that is making her feel like rubbish too.

OP posts:
CatChant · 14/03/2021 12:43

I am not an expert but it seems reasonable to me that a kitten as ill as she has been would have very little energy. It does sound promising that she's eating and drinking well, and looking more alert.

Have you got her tucked inside your top for warmth? I doubt she can spare the energy to maintain her body heat.

Wishing you and her all the best OP.

Elliania · 14/03/2021 12:56

I would imagine that at the moment all her energy is being directed into fighting off the illnesses that are attacking her little body. Probably explains why she's so weak & lethargic, she literally doesn't have the reserves for anything other than battling her sickness. But the eating & drinking is a really good sign, hopefully that will giver her more energy over time.

Floralnomad · 14/03/2021 12:57

I think you would know if she was in actual pain and I doubt she would be eating and drinking , the other thing to consider is what would taking her back to the vets today achieve , on the face of it she seems fairly stable and how much more intervention would you want her to have ? It would be different if she had actually gone downhill , wasn’t drinking etc and looked in pain .

Ludo19 · 14/03/2021 14:07

@Sp3849 honestly don't worry too much about the energy levels. As long as she's eating and drinking. No sickness and diarrhoea then it's OK for her to be weak. If she's more aware of her surroundings that's also a good sign. Give her plenty of love and cuddles honestly that in itself works wonders. Sleep and rest is the best way for her body to recover. You can PM of you wish. Try and not worry I know its really hard but you'll pass anxiousness on to her. Honestly you've been fab through this xx