We've done a scary thing. Pics too.

[SarahFair]

I understand wanting a cat!
We live behind a 50 acre field and the mice can be horrbile! Poison, traps, etc NOTHING worked. We got a cat and boom... no more mice. They hunt all around the house too.
I would think if one had a problem with a lazy cat to cut back on its food some to encourage their natural instincts.

And as far as vet bills? In the state of Ga all you are required is rabies so that is all we get. Under $20.



Good luck with your kittens!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I have three healthy male cats in the house and another one outside. All four are worthless.

Every now and then they will catch one to play with, but invariably they don't kill them. I have to kill them. The outside kitty also does catch and release. Stupid cat. Sigh. I gave up and started putting out poison. It is the only thing that keeps them out of the house. Go through and use the expanding foam stuff anywhere you see a crack 1/4" or bigger. Put those poison blocks under the house. Nothing but rats and mice can get under mine, so I just toss the darn things under there. Reapply periodically.
I spent about $500 to hire an exterminator to take care of the mice and wasps. I gave it up once the contract ran out. I still had mice and wasps. I bought a $1 can of wasp spray and $20 worth of rat poison and just took care of it myself.

From what I have read about FIP it can't live outside of feces or saliva for long. If you have gone through and bleached the heck out the house, the litter boxes and food bowls, you stand a pretty good chance of your new kitties being okay. Keep in mind, however, that I am not a vet, not do I play one on TV.

Good luck with the mouse problem. I completely understand. I hate the little poopy suckers.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

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[key west chick]

We have mice/rats. They get into everything. we have poison in boxes and snap traps in key locations. Sometimes we get lucky and get something with the snap traps. Most times not. I pulled out the crumb tray in my oven/stove and it was covered with mouse turds.

I would do just about anything to get rid of them. It seems like a never ending battle.

 

[debilorrah]

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We did all that, but threw out the cat box, the scooper, the carpet tree they played with, everything we tossed it. I found a cheap cat box that came with a scoop.


And we have tried the bait traps the poison blocks, regular traps, boric acid, EVERYTHING. Even Raid. LOL! That was me running after a mouse with a can of spider spray.

Em, $175 is A LOT of money when we can't buy food but once a month.

 

[debilorrah]

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I can tell you this: when we had a cat, we did not have mice in the house. Cat passed away, mice came in droves. And it is DISGUSTING.

 

[tls_ranch]

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they'll do fine for you I also lost a kitten to FIP (cat parvo) that I was fostering from a shelter. We only had her a few days I bought an expensive "parvocidal" to treat and clean my carpets. I cleaned everything else like mad with bleach and/or the strongest cleaners I could use. I tossed over a $100 in supplies because I wasn't sure if I could "sanitize" everything.

We are also rolling the dice by adopting so soon. We took in two older kittens from a different local rescue. They already had their first sets of vaccinations and will be spayed when old enough for the total adoption cost of $10. Wow, what a great non-profit rescue They said that many cats/kittens at shelters or common strays get exposed anyway to FIP and other nasty diseases before being adopted out. It's the healthy and strong ones that don't get sick. It helps if they get their vaccinations at the right times (not too early or late). I was told to feed them good quality food, keep everything very clean, and make sure they don't have worms or fleas. The most important thing is to get all their vaccinations on time! So far everything is going ok

The older calico was found in a dumpster by road workers, poor girl.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Aww, adorable kitties, Debi! I hope they stay healthy for you. It would be very difficult for me to NOT own a cat!

 

[bock]

Adorable kitties! I hope they stay healthy. Nutrition is the basis of health, so be sure to feed a high-quality food.

 

[JulieNKC]

They are so cute! Our 20 year old cat just passed away a few weeks ago. I keep finding myself looking at craigslist at all the cute kittens... I tried adopting an older cat a few years ago, but although they told me he was good around children that cat hated my kids. He would stay under the bed until they had gone to bed. Since half the reason I got the cat was for the kids (my older cat didn't like them either) he had to go. So, even though I really don't want the hassle of a kitten, I'm thinking I need one, or at least under 6 months or so, so that I have a better chance of a kid friendly cat. Good luck with your kittens, I hope all goes well.