If you remember, my Aunt had gotten a new kitty a little over a month ago. Well, not last weekend, but the weekend before (4/18-4/20) my Mom, my Aunt, me and Terry went to the spa for the weekend (which was wonderful by the way) and my Aunt took Hazelle back to her original owner for the weekend so she wouldn't be home alone all weekend, and to clip her nails since my Aunt couldn't figure out how to do it.
When she got back Sunday night, she immediately went to pick up Hazelle and the original owner (a breeder) told her that it seemed like Hazelle was underweight, and she wanted to keep her for a few days to see if she could get her to eat again. A few days later, my Aunt received an email saying that Hazelle really wasn't eating that well, and the original owner would be taking her to the vet to find out what was wrong. Well, first of all, my Aunt got this email on Wednesday, and this other lady didn't take Hazelle to the vet until Saturday! The vet said Hazelle had a fever of 104 and was anemic. They "did a CBC and a few levels were indicative of something else going on. We decided not to treat her as we would just be prolonging her illness. She is in no pain right now, but as soon as she shows any sign of pain, we will have her put to sleep." This last is a direct quote from the email the original owner sent to my Aunt!
They did no further investigation to find out what was wrong with her and made no attempt to find out anything at all - just this "not to treat" plan, which is completely ridiculous in my opinion! If you click on the link above and read the original story, Hazelle had some sort of virus in her eye which they think was caused by eating Tuna. Now, I obviously don't have all the details because I only know what my Aunt has told me, and she only knows what this other lady has told her, but I've got a major problem with them thinking she got a virus from eating tuna. This indicates to me that they might really have no idea what they are talking about, and now they are deciding not to treat! I asked my Aunt if they thought whatever is going on with her now had something to do with the original virus, but she had no idea, and has evidently not asked her "friend" for any further info.
I told my Aunt to go get Hazelle, bring her home, take her to a different vet, find out what's really wrong with her and get her healthy again! I really don't have a high opinion of breeders (sorry if any of you are because I know there are always exceptions to the rule) to begin with, and this one is really ticking me off. I feel like going to get Hazelle myself just to get her away from this lady. Unfortunately, she's a 3 hour car trip away so that can't happen.
When Hazelle was with my Aunt, she was the only kitty and was lavished with attention. When she is at this other lady's house, she is confined to a bedroom (thank God they at least didn't put her back in the bathroom) because this lady doesn't want Hazelle infecting the other 20-30 cats she has living there. And I'm sure she receives very little attention as she's locked up in her cell. So I told my Aunt that possibly the reason Hazelle wasn't eating was because of stress. And we've seen on this board how stress can mess with blood levels, so I told her then to go bring Hazelle home. Unfortunately it seems she is in a sort of tough position because this other lady is a friend, and they gave Hazelle to my Aunt, so I think she's feels that they know best and doesn't want to cause waves by questioning their decisions.
My Aunt was all happy about Hazelle and told us all about her while we were at the spa. So they had really bonded during the month they were together, and I am just so sad and upset that this other lady has just really taken control. They offered my Aunt a "healthy, beautiful Birman" as if to say that Hazelle wasn't beautiful just because her one eye was foggy from the virus. I told my Aunt that if she does decide to get a different kitty, she should get a pound kitty because then she won't be beholden to this other lady and because there are so many out there that are looking for good homes whereas this other lady's cats all have a home (no comment on how good that home is).
Sorry, I had to rant. I am just so upset and about this whole thing. However I do believe that everything happens for a reason. I'm hoping the reason Hazelle was brought into my Aunt's life was so that she would save her from a shortened sorry life in this lady's bedroom.
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