1. A veterinary clinic has tested all of our felines to be negative for Feline Leukemia and FIV viruses! We find this test to be crucial in giving assurance to the adoptive family that the cat has been cleared, to the best of our ability, to prevent future deaths by either of these deadly viruses. All of Friends of Pets FeLV/FIV testing is done by a veterinary clinic. We want to give assurance that the test results are valid with no chance for error on our behalf. We prefer to test the mother when a litter of kittens is in our program.

The Klamath Humane Society cliams to do their own FeLv/FIV testing but have no records to prove it. You must take their word that the test was done and the outcome was negative. To us, Humane Society staff historically have not been credible in other claims made, so we do not believe that adoptors should accept stated results of this important test without validation.

From my shelter experience, drawing the blod for the FeLv/FIV tests can be difficult or impossible due to the noise, stress factors, and fractious cats. Shelters commonly do not have adequate lighting and are staffed with untrained people. For test results to be valid, the tests and the blood must be properly handled.

The decision is yours if you want to accept the Humane Society's claim of a negative test result or if you feel the risk to you is too great with no documentation, coming from an organization that lacks credibility overall.

     

2. Spay/Neuter surgeries are performed only when the feline is healthy! When we determine that an early spay/neuter is appropriate while the feline is under our care, the surgery will be performed and the feline will remain in our program for 5 to 7 days post surgery. If the kitten is too young to be altered but an an opportunity to be placed in a home, the surgery will be scheduled with the owner when the kitten is of sufficient weight and health, often 12 to 16 weeks of age. The Klamath Humane Society will not adopt a pet unless it is been altered. We view this practice may place the kitten or adult cat under excess stress with increased health risk.

     

3. All of our felines are vaccinated against distemper/upper respiratory virus! We normally begin the vaccines at 5 weeks of age, following up at 8 weeks, and again at 12 weeks. Our preference is to adopt a kitten only when it has received a minimum of two vaccines, giving the owner assurance that the feline is on its way to good health and less prone to dying from distemper. Exceptions can be made to the two-vaccine minimum, but only after full disclosure of risks and potential problems have been made to the adoptive family with follow up plans on how to provide care. The Klamath Humane Society makes claims to vaccinate their cats but provides no documentation showing proof. Do not adopt without proof and dates.

     

4. All of our felines have been wormed/treated for parasites! We use strongid to treat roundworms and droncit to treat tapeworms in adults. Ivomectin and Tresaderm are commonly used to treat ear mites. Acarexx will be used in cases with immediate adoption pending. To our knowledge, the Klamath Humane Society does not treat for parasites.

     

5. All of our felines are treated for fleas! The chance for a flea outbreak to occur is minimal. Since fleas can be hard to detect and we want our adoptive family to not encounter any unexpected problems, we spray for fleas with Frontline as a precautionary measure with every adoption. The Klamath Humane Society does not treat for fleas.

      

6. We socialize our cats to be loving and good companions! Our style of operation is to keep cats out of cages! Confining cats to cages is stressful for the felines and inhibits their social nature, which is normally strong for people and other cats. Many of our cats came to us shy and withdrawn. You would never know that some of the begging you now for attention were the shy ones in the beginning. Keeping cats out of cages keeps them healthier! The Klamath Humane Society keeps their cats in cages.