URGENT! Kitten Found Near Work (I have until tomorrow to find it a home)

Life Animal Adoptions & Emergencies
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I’d estimate it to be around 3 months old and is probably an abandoned pet. It’s very skinny but not afraid of people at all and purrs LOUDLY as soon as you touch it. It’s ginger and white… mostly grey/brown though because it’s pretty dirty.

The thing is…

My wife and I are planning a to have a baby soon and pregnant women can transmit a serious condition carried by cats to their babies – I just found this out and checked… it’s true!

So… dearly beloved wasn’t too happy with me bringing it home so I’ve agreed to take it back tomorrow and not bring it back home again. I can’t even wash it in our bathroom because she’s so stressed about it.

Please help me help this little cat. It wouldn’t have lasted much longer out there. If it wasn’t eaten by a dog or squashed by a car, it would probably have starved soon.

Contact me asap at… teggs[at]webmail.co.za

… replace [at] with @

Pics here http://cutecatintaipei.wordpress.com/

P.s. If you’d be prepared to take it, I can bring it anywhere in Taipei before (<8am) or after (>5pm) work tomorrow (11/8).

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[quote=“teggs”]My wife and I are planning a to have a baby soon and pregnant women can transmit a serious condition carried by cats to their babies – I just found this out and checked… it’s true!

So… dearly beloved wasn’t too happy with me bringing it home so I’ve agreed to take it back tomorrow and not bring it back home again. I can’t even wash it in our bathroom because she’s so stressed about it.[/quote]

I really wish I could help you out here, but we’ve already got three.

Please try and talk to your wife about the above. It’s an old wives’ tale propagated by Taiwanese grandparents and probably explains a lot of commonplace cruelty to cats. Toxoplasmosis can certainly be transmitted to humans, but you won’t catch it simply by being around cats. You have to pretty much rub your hands in the litter tray of a recently-infected cat, and then eat your lunch. If you empty the litter tray regularly and promptly (no infection is possible from ‘fresh’ cat poo), if she goes nowhere near the litter tray, and if she washes her hands regularly, the chance of infection is basically zero. This cat does not necessarily carry the parasite anyway. Frankly, she’s more likely to catch toxoplasmosis from the generally dirty environment in Taiwan, especially regarding handling of meat.

If she doesn’t believe a random guy posting on forumosa, at least ask her to consult a vet about it.

btw, cats can’t really drink cow’s milk … 7-11 have sachets of cat food. Really hope you can find a home for him! Can you perhaps keep him at work for a few days?

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Thanks for the advice but unfortunately it’s not really up for discussion on my side at the moment.

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[quote=“finley”][quote=“teggs”]My wife and I are planning a to have a baby soon and pregnant women can transmit a serious condition carried by cats to their babies – I just found this out and checked… it’s true!

So… dearly beloved wasn’t too happy with me bringing it home so I’ve agreed to take it back tomorrow and not bring it back home again. I can’t even wash it in our bathroom because she’s so stressed about it.[/quote]

I really wish I could help you out here, but we’ve already got three.

Please try and talk to your wife about the above. It’s an old wives’ tale propagated by Taiwanese grandparents and probably explains a lot of commonplace cruelty to cats. Toxoplasmosis can certainly be transmitted to humans, but you won’t catch it simply by being around cats. You have to pretty much rub your hands in the litter tray of a recently-infected cat, and then eat your lunch. If you empty the litter tray regularly and promptly (no infection is possible from ‘fresh’ cat poo), if she goes nowhere near the litter tray, and if she washes her hands regularly, the chance of infection is basically zero. This cat does not necessarily carry the parasite anyway. Frankly, she’s more likely to catch toxoplasmosis from the generally dirty environment in Taiwan, especially regarding handling of meat.

If she doesn’t believe a random guy posting on forumosa, at least ask her to consult a vet about it.

btw, cats can’t really drink cow’s milk … 7-11 have sachets of cat food. Really hope you can find a home for him! Can you perhaps keep him at work for a few days?[/quote]

Correct. If I am not mistaken you can get this disease from dogs crap as well, but it is like a 1 in a billion chance.

The old ball and chain got tested for this when she was pregnant. No way I was going to get rid of my hounds. Would rather get rid of the wife. :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

Apparently two people in China died from it last year, from EATING dogs. So lets say 1 in 1 600 000 000 chance.

It attacks the baby’s brain.

As usual the local Dr blew everything outta proportion. :fume: :fume: :fume:

I actually called a a very well known Obstatrician (spelling sux) back home, who is a family friend. He just laughed and told me it is more likely she would contract the bubonic plague.

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Ok thanks guys… but back on topic now. I really need to find this kitten a home tomorrow. It would honestly make the perfect pet - still young, very friendly and has a great personality.

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Facebook everyone you know. Get wife to do the same. Get her to check local shelters online. Ask for fosterers as that is easier than full acceptance of petship. Go to nearby vets and pet shops and see if the kitten can board there while you look for a forever home.

Please don’t dump it. You stepped in to save its life. That was a great and kind thing. Don’t throw that away. You have no idea how this will eat away at your soul and put a curse on your domestic happiness.

If you take it back the kitten will die. Not trying to guilt you out but that’s the reality.

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Indeed. You did a great thing, now see it through. You have a good chance of finding it a home in a week or two, but not 24 hours. Fostering/cost-sharing is a great idea (I’ve done that a couple of times) if you can’t keep it. Vets boarding fees are not too onerous (and yes, I could chip in some if you can get a ‘coalition’ together). And it’s totally none of my business, but having kids with someone who insists you do something very cruel because of some braindead Taiwanese superstition which “isn’t up for discussion” sounds like something that needs further consideration. Just sayin’.

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Don’t bring it to a shelter. They only have three days before they are killed. I save a lot of cats from shelters and have them spayed then release them just to save their life. Maybe you can have her spayed it only costs 500-700 nt and she can stay in the vet another 3 days for free. It will give you more time to find someone. I saved two last Sunday, The vet let them stay there free for 3 days.

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bump for a kitten looking for a good home…

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teggs, can you post pics? Also a Facebook album link that we can all share (make it public). Kittens are the easiest and fastest to rehome. I really like the advice you’ve been given here. Hope you can hang in there for a few more days with a focused effort on rehoming him or her (it’s helpful to mention their gender).

I’ll share the Facebook album for you. It’ll get a lot of publicity.

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Thanks for the replies and suggestions. A kind friend has agree to take her for now…

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Hi. I’m fostering this super cute kitten. He’s gained weight and is much happier in a home instead of being on the street. Thanks to teggs for saving his life. We can keep him for a short while longer, but are unable to foster him for the longer term. If anyone can offer a stable long term home and is looking for the perfect and very affectionate pet then contact me. I can send photos of him at play or rest. He’s been tested at the vet and got a clean bill of health, and will have vaccinations in a few days. He’s 3-4 months old. Thanks.

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Can you post some pics?

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Ok, I put some pics up here:
edit: wrong link…

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The page is asking for a Wordpress ID.

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Oops, try this link…
cutegingercat.wordpress.com/2012 … or-a-home/

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What a cutie. Does he have a name?

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No, we’ve not got round to it yet. Not sure what they wrote down at the vet-oh that’s right, ‘Small Yellow’. And yes, he is nice, could keep one company all day, purring. In the time we’ve had him he’s quickly got stronger.

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He looks exactly like my friends cat who recently died. He was called Terry. Maybe you can call him Terry?

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thanks, I’ll leave the naming up to whoever homes him permanently, but will pass your advice along. If you know anyone who’d like a cat friend, please let them know asap. I can’t keep him forever, and Houtong awaits otherwise.