Bailey has had a lot of fun this week. Well, I think she has! J She’s been playing with everyone – dog, cat and human. Bailey and Barclay are learning to play together pretty well and Barclay’s learning that it is ok to play back! The cats are accepting her a bit more each day, which makes for more playing and less distance. And of course, she’s playing with me. I’ve got the scratches to prove it! J As far as I can tell, it’s been a fun week for Bailey! J
To put a brief cloud over her fun, she did have to go back to the vet for her Distemper booster. She’s gotten pretty used to the vet by now. She didn’t make a sound on the way there and she was even purring a bit in her cage while at the vet! That’s not to say she enjoys going to the vet, but she seems much less frightened by the whole ordeal. She’s a good little patient and doesn’t complain about anything – well, so far! J She got her shot, but they thought it would be best to hold off on her Rabies vaccine until next month. She is still so small (she was either 4.08 or 4.8lbs, I can’t remember which it was), and since she has had some sneezing and eye troubles, they want to make sure she’s as healthy as possible before giving the Rabies vaccine. I’m starting to think they just want to make a standing monthly visit for her so they can keep charging me for visits! J I don’t really think that, but sometimes you have to wonder!
No! Not the vet!
The exciting news from the vet is that her adult teeth are coming in!!! She has at least 6, if not 8 canine teeth right now! J It’s so cute. I remember when Emma’s teeth came in. She had the same thing, but I think it only lasted a day or two before the baby tooth fell out. Given the placement of Bailey’s adult canine teeth, I’m kind of wondering if the baby ones will actually be forced out! They’re almost next to each other instead of on top of one another. I can only assume that once the adult tooth is fully exposed that the baby tooth will be forced out, but I’m no expert! J I can see it now – I’ll be hauling her to the vet for teeth extractions! Perish the thought! J I suppose if that’s necessary, they might be able to do it while she’s under for spaying. Kittens are so expensive! Argh!
Sorry it's blurry, but it's the best I could do!
I feel like I should add this separately because it’s something I certainly had expected, but didn’t really think about the magnitude of it and it is very relevant to anyone thinking about getting a new kitten. KITTENS ARE EXPENSIVE! If you’re thinking of getting a new pet and want it to be a kitten, they are definitely expensive. There are many vet check-ups, vaccines, fixing the pet, medications, as well as dealing with any potential illnesses or conditions that the place where you got the kitten may have conveniently forgotten to mention, or perhaps actually didn’t know. That is just medical care too. Even if you already have a cat, there are supplies you’ll need that are kitten specific. Kitten food is essential for the new kitten, and ONLY the new kitten. You’ll need separate dishes and possibly a new litter box because kittens are small. For instance, all my litter boxes are rather large to accommodate multiple larger cats and, though Bailey didn’t seem to have any trouble getting in them, she was small enough initially that she really needed a box with low sides to ensure she could use it. It’s also good for the new kitten to have items that do not smell like other cats already because that may deter them from using them. This makes a few new toys are a good idea as well. I don’t mean this as a lecture, just something to keep in mind when considering a new pet. It’s true of any pet, but the little ones almost always incur a lot more expenses than an older pet that may already be fixed and have received vaccines.
In case you haven’t guessed, I think it is vitally important to have your pets fixed as well! And, on that note, I also think it’s really important to ensure that your pet is well monitored during the process and is given painkillers afterwards. I have actually seen these as options when fixing pets and I know it saves money, but if there is any chance your pet could be in pain afterwards, why woudn’t you pay just a little bit extra to keep them comfortable? These are members of you family and I don’t think you would expect your mother to deal with the aftermath of surgery without painkillers, so why would you do it with an animal? And if you’ve invested in this new family member already, why wouldn’t you want more than just their basic vital signs monitored? By that I mean, I’ve had the option to have a pet monitored by machines as opposed to checking a pulse every now and then. I think it’s rather absurd that a vet would consider a heart monitor optional! Ok. My rant has been completed. I’m just trying to make sure that anyone considering a new pet ensures they think about the practicalities of a new pet, not just the fun of having one. They really are an investment in both time and money and one should be prepared to devote a lot of both to the new family member.
On that note, I think that pretty much wraps up my Week in Kitten! Hope it brought a smile to your face and gave you something to think about if you’re thinking about a new pet. I don’t mean it as discouragement, but just important factors to consider. Hope everyone is well and until next week, Bailey and I send all our love!!! J
Yum! Rump roast!