Recently we purchased a pure bread Persian kitten at above mentions business. Was given certificate of good health and free from disease & infection from their Vet.

Unfortunately the kitten was infected with Ringwork but not picked up from their Vet if ever actually examined or noticed by us (untrained eye/layman). It was only after our 4 year old daughter became infected with a series of outbreaks over her body that we looked closer at the kitten and noticed signs of the infection.

Kitten was immediately returned to Pet Store whom were very apologetic and sympathetic for our infections especially to our daughter. The same vet attended and confirmed the outbreak - which he missed. The kitten has been at the Store for treatment and has been there for 6 weeks.

To keep and treat the kitten at the home was an option initially given for treatment but the cycle of infection from cat to humans (our daughter) would naturally be continual and unbroken. We were told to lock up the kitten for the duration but in our eyes you cannot cage an animal it is inhumane and to tell a child that she cannot pick up her kitten is both confusing and unfair. So we decided to take the kitten from the home environment to the shop for its treatment . This was the only acceptable option. Unfortunately, the infection was passed on to our daughter and during treatment was passed onto the remainder of the family..

The pet store has now telephoned and stated that the kitten who is now a cat, is presently clear of disease and to collect - along with a hefty bill. We argued this point but the Manager stated that our daughter may well have infected the cat than visa versa and attacked our quality and cleanliness way of life over his adopted and his accepted hygene and health practises both personal and professional. He further stated that Ringworm, is part of and an accepted disease of Malaysian pets and society here. Would this be the same with Foot and Mouth Disease - an acceptable local disease ? I don't think so. With these views of the shop, Ex-pats & Malay's considering buying a pet beware of this statement as Ringworm is for the better part a controlled disease in the western world and even in other tropical countries with a reasonable health policy and infectious control system established but unfortunately not here.

Unfortunately, we have now left the kitten/cat at the shop. We paid myr 1000.00 for kitten and accessories. Only had the kitten for 3 weeks with the kitten at the shop for the next 6. We're to pay for all vet examinations and care, all medication given to the kitten, and it's care & upkeep whilst quarrantined. Fair ?? I don't believe so. . We, parents and child, had to import medication from Australia to rid themselves of disease at great expense also. (Easily treated in places like Australia with simple medication not available in Malaysia - why is this ??)

As such I would suggest to keep clear of the mentioned pet store as they were offered and refused to accept responsibility of any wrong doing nor would they lower or cancel its care and bedding costs for treatment and care of an animal that was obviously already infected at their premises prior to purchase.


FYI

This post has been edited by jxe63: Jun 24 2006, 10:47 AM

Not sure about your comment that cats carry the ringworm fungus with them unless thats just a Malaysia thing.
Your treatment of myr100.00 sounds reasonable. We're expected to pay myr10.00 per day for food & board, plus medication, plus vet examinations plus plus plus.. The 6 week stay is about half the cats overall price and they do not guarentee that it is all gone and that the kitten wont get it again. We only had him for just on 3 weeks..
We're still getting rid of it from our daughter, so understandibly don't want the pair to meet in case a new outbreak...
Inquired with a vet in Australia who says that once a cat has, always has..
Shame really was a beautiful kitten.

Was humble and sympathetic first and second visit, especially when took daughter to show him her situation but he was not at time of picking up, quick to lay blame and not accept any responsibility & refused to lower or cancel bill so cat remains... Manager / employee ?? not sure his title or position but is knowledgable, and main person always there, reasonable command of English and does show genuine caring and interests in animals..

Too hard to say, everyone dresses casually, but he was the only one talking with and he was the only one that seemed to know what he was doing - moreso than the others & making decisions without consultation.