New Kittens

[Trinity69]

Hi all.

We lost our dog in August and decided to rescue a pair of kittens from the RSPCA, just before Christmas.

We visited and they were incredibly friendly and cute!

We were due to collect them on 22nd December. I called on 21st to check if they came with insurance and was told we couldn’t collect because they’d got upset tummies. They had previously had upset tummies and were put on a gastro food and treated with panacur ,but it had settled. Then it came back. They have taken fecal samples and sent them off and they’ve come back clear so nothing bacterial. I’ve now been told they can come home on the condition that we feed them a particular food for at least 4 weeks and also give them a kitten probiotic. I’m worried that this is going to be an ongoing issue.

I rescued my dog from the RSPCA and she was broken when we collected her and had a long run of various health conditions that cost me a fortune over her lifetime. I contacted the RSPCA when her problems came to light and they didn’t give a hoot. Also they allowed us to adopt her with a 2 year old so I wondered if they knew she had problems and just wanted rid.

Am I over thinking it? Will they be fine within a few weeks, once they’ve settled. Could it be stress at being in a cattery? I’m aware that whenever you get an animal you take the chance that they will be healthy or not, but I don’t think the RSPCA care if they’re sick or not. Would I be unreasonable to have my own demands, since they’re making demands of me (again, there were conditions to rescuing my dog).

There are kittens looking for homes all over the place, should I give up on this pair and find an alternative pair? I’ve never owned a cat before but I know I wouldn’t rescue a dog that had diarrhoea, until it had settled and was proven to not be an ongoing issue.

I just don’t know what to do.

Pictures of the cuties for tax.

If you don't feel able to take them on, then don't. Far better than taking on more than you can cope with. Talk to the rescue and see if any other cats would be a good match.

Personally I wouldn't take on two kittens with stomach issues, no. It can be really expensive (insurance won't cover pre-existing conditions), as well as exhausting to deal with at home.

IMO there's a huge difference between taking on a sick animal and having an existing animal becoming sick down the line.

It's a difficult question. Kittens are very susceptible to bugs particularly in rescue centres.
Keeping them on the special diet for 4 weeks will just allow their tiny tummies to settle down and create good bacteria.

As the owner of three cats and a dog of various ages I always have a tube of pancur (and the dog equivalent) in the cupboard for when they have a dicky tummy.

We rescued a kitten a few years back who went on to become diabetic. No one could have foreseen that, he cost a fortune in special food and insulin but it was our responsibility as his owners to look after him!

We have a maine coon in the tribe who empties the bins in my office to chew on bits of plastic which has resulted in some major surgery! We never planned for his idiotic behaviour 🙄🐾

The kittens look gorgeous regardless of the decision you make ❤️🐾

He is gorgeous!!!