Are kittens as fragile as most people think?

Question

I'm on a against the going to the vet tirade today for some reason but anyways, I was wondering if people think kittens are so fragile that going to the vet is a necessity for survival. My thoughts are that although a lot of kittens in the "wild" (farms and city streets) die, this is mostly due to being eaten. Cats have been around for a while, they can survive a lot of things, you don't need to take them to the vet for everything. Tapeworm can be handled with over the counter meds. Fleas can be handled with advantage. Most symptoms can be diagnosed to a good degree just with some research on Yahoo Answers. It might just be me, I don't like human doctors much either. But do you really need to take the cat or kitten to the vet for EVERY little thing?

of course, if it's a serious problem, car accident, accidental swallow of something harmful, etc. then yes a visit to the vet is necessary, i have nothing against THAT. I'm just talking about the minor things.

Answer 1

i don't think kittens need to be taken for every little thing, but it's mosty because we can't afford to take a cat to the vet like that and stuff like fleas and worms can be treated at home, but like u said just little stuff, cats r not fragile like ppl think, they r fast on there feet and like the sayin goes cats have 9 lives, so i see no reason to take them to the vet for every little problem that could be fixed at home.
~becky~

Answer 2

The only time that I ever take an animal to the vet is if it is something that I cannot fix myself, broken bones, stitches, major surgery. I treat all my animals with over the counter meds, and they are healthy. The only shots that I get at the vet are rabies because they have to have the tag with them, and you can not register a tag not from a vet. Most of the vets in the farming area around here will sell antibiotics that you can't buy over the counter at the feed store, but usually penicillin will do the trick. I think that taking an animal to the vet to often is just like keeping a child indoors to much, or giving them medicine for every Little sniffle. They become immune to the meds and they quit working and then they are sick even more. I don't disagree with vets, but only when really needed...

Answer 3

Not EVERY little thing. But you've got to keep in mind that domestic kittens born in pet shops or whatever don't have their mothers around to teach them what's what. Just like whales in captivity: they become dependent on humans. A kitten born as a stray is more likely to live longer on the streets than one born in a pet shop and then put on the streets.

But for some things, vets are needed. Recently my friend's kitten swallowed a string and it would have died if not taken to the vet to have surgery. The same cat was also born with it's umbilical cord cutting off it's leg and had to have the leg removed. So it's a case by case thing, I think, but there are times when kittens ARE needed to be taken to the vet.

Answer 4

I think that if your cat is an indoor only cat and not exposed to foreign animals (friends, kennels, etc.) then you can probably escape the vet. Cats still can get other health problems like urinary tract issues, but giving innoculations like rabies to an animal that will never be exposed seems to me to be a waste of money.

But if you let your cat outdoors, that's a whole different situation. Then they are exposed to lots of viruses and potentiall rabies.

Anyhow..I'm not a vet or doctor and I find that in both instances, a lot of procedures and drugs are pushed that feel more like money makers to me, than necessary.

I have never brushed the teeth on any dog I have (and these days they recommend daily brushing and regular dental checkups for dogs). None have ever had a major problem with their teeth, so this feels to me like just an extra source of income for the vet.

Of course medical professionals often truly believe the "good" they've been sold, so use some common sense and logic to decide for yourself what is and isn't necessary.

Answer 5

Kittens are born killing machines. Yet they do require care. I give mine their shots and take care of worms but there are limits. My cat "Gunther" has lupus and gets horrible infections in his foot pads. As a responsible adult I take him to the vet. It isn't only being responsible it is also being a caring human.
Using your line of thinking people also have been around for a long time and can survive alot of things that does not mean I won't take my son to the doctor. I do have a problem with those who feel they need to go to the doctor for every sniffle or pimple. I have a friend who wants to take her two year old to a chiropractor. Give me a break.

Answer 6

No one said that you had to take it to the vet for every little thing. But if you really worry about your pet and think that going to the vet regularly would be necessary, then that's you're choice. Truth be told, it is best to go to the vet because they are the ones who know how to treat kittens. Its really up to the person and the circumstance whether they would or wouldn't take it to the vet.

Answer 7

Holy crap dude. You need to chill out on this subject, you have way to many questions regarding this. Why do you care so much if someone disagrees with you? Swallow your pride and just drop it and stop lingering.
By the way, I dont think you should have to take your pet to the vet for every little thing either but your obsessed.

Answer 8

of course not. my dog is 5 years old and has never been to the vet....i have also had 5 litters of kittens....not me, my cats...none of then went to the vet...except for the one who broke its little leg, but then the vet put a straight arm cast on it and pulled its little shoulder out of place, and then it needed a sling thing to fix that and $350 later the cat was fine.....

Answer 9

no you don't just to make shure its not like every day just every few months and so it can have its shots and to get it worm free and a normal checkup and if its indore boy neuter it!

Answer 10

I really don't think they are that fragile, because my dad put ours in the dryer once.