Persian/Pedigree/(and Other!) Cats -
Urgent Help Needed?
Urgent Problems - You Need Our Expert Help? (Information is Up-to-Date at 17th February 2010)
You have visited this section because you need HELP with your Persian, pedigree cat, or perhaps even with a non-pedigree cat. This may be a behavioural or healthcare problem.
The Rescue Manager, Cheryl-Anne Jenkinson offers one-to-one help with a wide range of Persian, pedigree and general feline problems. You can choose whether you want to be helped by telephone or by email. We help even late at night and on weekends and Public Holidays.
Note: We will also happily accept subscriptions for non-pedigree cats on the same rates. Please sign up as normal using the supplied links.
We do not exclude ANY feline owner in need of help, regardless of breed, but if it IS pedigree cat help you need then you are definitely in the right place. Cheryl-Anne has been advising owners, vets and behaviourists on pedigree cats and especially Persian cats for over a decade.
We have to charge for these services because our work is greatly under-funded and takes a lot of time and energy, and Cheryl-Anne is a leading expert on Persian and feline care in the UK. She regularly assists vets and behaviourists on a fee-paying basis. For the general public she USUALLY charges by the half hour (read on for fees).
We have developed a special AFFORDABLE PACKAGE DEAL FOR FACEBOOK FANS, as follows. This will be limited to a small number of subscribers on a trial basis, as clearly this system could be onerous in workload.
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NEW - FACEBOOK FANS ONLY - UNLIMITED BEHAVIOURAL AND HEALTHCARE SUPPORT -
ONLY £75/YEAR
For Facebook fans, we are TRIALLING a system offering UNLIMITED healthcare and behavioural advice, for an annual fee of £75.
We can only do this because we have a high number of fans, so if you support US, we can support YOU.
This annual subscription will save you a lot of worry and almost certainly vet fees.
In effect, therefore, this is a kind of insurance policy: if you need urgent help with a problem, an expert - who can talk authoritatively with your vet if necessary - will be on hand straight away.
There can only be a limited number of subscribers to this because Cheryl-Anne cannot deal with thousands of enquirers, so join quickly. We will cap the membership at 100 subscribers. A previous scheme was very popular.
Under the subscription scheme:
- Cheryl-Anne will answer one-to-one any worries you have about your cat (health or behavioural) within her knowledge. If she does not know the answer, she will consult with other experts or refer you to other sources but will always support you personally and not leave you without assistance.
- Subscribers will always receive priority treatment over other clients who are paying on a one-off client basis.
- You will receive a reply any day of the week, any week of the year - we are never 'closed' or 'on holiday'.
- Desperate enquiries will be responded to with great urgency; often within minutes of your contact.
- If your enquiry is of a healthcare nature, Cheryl-Anne will be happy to speak to your veterinary surgeon if you think this may assist.
- If your enquiry is of a behavioural nature, Cheryl-Anne will write a short summary of her advice to you, for your veterinary surgeon or your vet's behaviourist. We always want you to work with your vet where there are healthcare or behavioural issues. The best outcomes for companion animals will always be gained where we have your compliance in working with your vet as well as ourselves. (If vets are 'sidelined' they will not be able to give you best advice next time you consult them, so we try to be an aid, not a substitute).
To sign up to your annual subscription, click this link and pay by Paypal:
Annual Subscription £75 - Pedigree Cat Support Package for Facebook Fans
'I Confirm I am A Facebook Fan' (this will be checked)
Once you have paid, (and if you need immediate help) please email outlining BRIEFLY your issue.
email: ineedhelp@chapelhouse-persians.co.uk
If you do NOT need immediate help but would like to subscribe to the Advice scheme, sign up and pay your fee. Cheryl-Anne will write to you immediately upon receipt of funds and confirm your subscription. She will give you her direct email addresses and instructions for urgent contact, when you need her. You will hear from Cheryl-Anne within a few hours of paying your sign-up fee.
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IF YOU ARE NOT A FACEBOOK FAN:
If you are not a Facebook fan, you need to pay by the half hour slot as per our standard system, using these links. Choose either half an hour or an hour.
Half an hour's support: £25
An hour's support: £50
email: ineedhelp@chapelhouse-persians.co.uk
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How It Works (Applies to everyone!)
- Services can be used by clients in any country, as long as you have a good understanding of English, since advice will be given in English.
- Pay using links as appropriate. ('Post and Packing' Charges will be refunded to your card/account: these are added simply because we use automated shopping cart software, and there is no way to avoid them! But clearly we don't need to incur Post and Packing on an advice service).
- Once payment has been made, email us with a brief outline of your enquiry if you need immediate help.
- Tell us whether you need TELEPHONE or EMAIL HELP.
- If your query is urgent, (such as, sick animal where you need care advice straight away, or, you're unable to contact a vet, or unsure if the animal needs a vet - or, you have an animal in distress for any reason) Cheryl-Anne will telephone you straight away - please ensure you have provided a number in your first email. You will be asked to call us back to save our bill.
- If your query is non-urgent, Cheryl-Anne will e-mail you (NOT call) and will suggest some days and times for a detailed call to take place. We promise to offer you our full help within 24 hours of any 'non urgent' query.
- At the appointed time, you phone in to us, and Cheryl-Anne will deal with your query as fully as possible.
- Cheryl-Anne is on hand for more help whenever needed.
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Chapelhouse Persian Rescue Advice Service, or Pet Behaviourist?
Please bear in mind when evaluating our service compared to that of a pet behaviourist referred by your vet:
- Our own experience is highly detailed, has been gained in a wide range of situations across a 10-year timespan, and (if you have a Persian or pedigree cat) our service is the only one we are aware of which gives specialist breed-specific advice rather than 'general cat' advice! Many pet behaviourists will freely admit they do not know a lot about how Persians, say, differ from Burmese or from Birmans.... We are probably more aware of the intricacies of the various cat breeds, than a general pet behaviourist who first of all deals with 'pets' on a broad base (so not always cats for a start) ...and then when they do deal with cats, it's not always pedigrees....and even if it's pedigrees, do they deal with enough pedigrees to be familiar with breed nuances!? We are especially familiar with Persians of course - they are our forte! But we also know other breeds and can comment very knowledgeably on felines in general.
- Our advice extends beyond simple behavioural problems, into many specialist areas where pet behaviourists would be unable to help. We are not vets but do complement the service offered by your vet, understanding more than anyone (we feel!) about Persian cat psychology and behaviours.
- Many vets also call on us for advice, now realising that a lot can be achieved with veterinary-behavioural specialist collaboration. Many Persian cats are sadly 'put to sleep' or rehomed, for what are often quite simple behavioural issues that should ideally have been resolved in the home. The most common of these is messing in the home, which happens a lot after the birth of a baby or after a family is disrupted by a new work routine, and a pet is left alone too long. Many vets believe that they have 'tried everything' together with the owners, and euthanasia is suggested needlessly; however, this is in fact an easily remedied 'problem' in Persians. It takes a little understanding, and patience. This is just one sample problem of many. In many cases veterinary-referred behavioural help has been tried and has failed already, so vets come to us in order to help their clients.
- We are happy to write a detailed behavioural report for your vet if required, for an additional fee.
- We are happy to work closely with, and consult with your vet and/or visiting behaviourist, as required by you, if you pay the fees.
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OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
......DO YOU GIVE VETERINARY ADVICE?
No. We are not able to offer veterinary advice since we are not veterinary surgeons.
- If you have an urgent healthcare concern, such as an injured or very sick animal, call your veterinary practice or out-of-hours animal hospital. However, you may of course call us to discuss the problem as well as alerting your vet. Sometimes people simply need reassurance or a listening ear....or you may like to have someone knowledgeable discuss the symptoms with you so that you can decide what to do, whether a vet is needed, etc. We are happy to be on call for these times even if it is the middle of the night.
.....IF I'M UNHAPPY WITH MY VET...CAN YOU HELP?
- We are happy to comment and provide ongoing support on areas of dissatisfaction or concern with ongoing veterinary treatments, where you might need help in deciding what to do for the best care for your pet; a lot of Persian ailments fall into our area of experience, and we could advise you at a basic level on how to proceed. We can tell you whether, for example, it might be time to let your pet go, or whether there are other treatments we have come across for a certain problem.
- We can tell you how we feel about the steps your vet has taken to resolve your problems - but remember, we are only hearing your side of the story. To be really useful to you, you might need to authorise us to speak with your vet.
- If you still have a Persian cat needing the vet, and you're unsure how to proceed because of dissatisfaction with your vet, we are willing to talk to the vet on your behalf and try to clarify the situation. At best you might find a way forward and at worst we would try to help you find a different vet who can better understand your needs.
- If you are unhappy with your vet, always do alert your vet to your dissatisfaction: most vets really do want the best for clients and their pets, but do remember that it is often a case of putting the pet's needs first, and in emotional situations, with pets' lives at stake, things CAN seem unfair. Be as objective as you can when speaking to your vet practice, and remember that you may see things differently when time has passed.
- Remember all the good things your vet practice has done for you, and don't over-stress the negatives or the perceived mistakes. Vets are human too. Communication is the key to resolving matters before they get out of hand.
- If you are unsure whether we can help, email us first, BRIEFLY outlining the nature of the enquiry, and a prompt email response will tell you whether to proceed with your payment or refer back to your vet.
Chapelhouse Persian & Pedigree Cat Rescue . The Butler's House, Wytham Abbey, Wytham,
Oxford OX2 8QE
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Real problems we have helped address are below. These were the original email requests we received. We then followed up with intensive phone advice, and all clients were highly satisfied. References are available from these clients and others on request. These are just a few examples of types of issues we can assist with.
(This was a 3am phone call!): I am really worried about our old Persian boy, Floyd! He seems to be unable to move his back legs and he is uncomfortable. I have been trying to call the vet for two hours but the emergency number isn't working and I don't know what else I can do. I assume I should wait until morning? What could it be? James Lilly (We advised this was a veterinary emergency and must not wait. We managed to contact the client's vet for him, while he comforted the animal. The cat had to be put to sleep. This situation could not have waited. The cat was in end-stage renal failure).
My Persian cat Henry who is 13 yrs old has become very noisy with his breathing. He has also started sneezing and discharging yellow thick snotty mucus. I have visited my vet who confirms there is no infection. He has had x-rays etc. but they say it's just his breed - but is there anything I can give him to make him more comfortable or clear up this condition. Thank you and I await your comments. Lynne V (We discussed treatments with the owner and with the owner's veterinary surgeon. Eventually we advised on a homeopathic route, and a veterinary homeopath was recommended by the owner's vet. A good result was obtained and the animal is well. It was also important that the owner kept the animal vaccinated and away from neighbourhood cats, which were part of the problem even though initially the vet considered this was not an infection. It is not usually sensible for Persian cats to be wandering in the neighbourhood in any case! Henry is now an indoor cat on our advice.).
I have 2 year old persian cat. We got a dog 2 months ago and since then she has become withdrawn, not eating properly and lost some weight. She has also become less tolerant with us. After the dog spending a couple of days with my mum she went back to her old self, sleeping with us on the bed, joining us in the livingroom, purring and eating better. I should also say that while dog is in house Molly (Persian cat) spends all her time on a top bunk bed sleeping and never comes in to the area where we are. Can you advice us on anything we can do as she is pretty miserable. I was wondering if it ever comes to having to choose between a dog and a cat. I did ask my vet but they said there was no quick fix. Mandy Brooks (We advised that Mandy had reached her own sensible conclusion. Molly, the Persian, was deeply unhappy sharing her space with a dog. Some Persian cats are insecure and possessive of their owners, and usually this is deeply rooted in early behaviours from kittenhood and is very difficult to break. Unless owners are very patient and can invest a great deal of time in behavioural work with both pets, and spend a lot of time at home, it is often better to rehome one pet and allow the Persian cat to be in a single pet household where it will be the focus of attention. A 'needy', attention-starved Persian will soon begin stress behavious like anorexia and inappropriate toileting, so it is better to nip this in the bud. Personally I would rehome the dog and keep the needy/insecure pet! But either way will work as long as Molly gets a quiet indoor home where she receives lots of 1-1 from a mature adult.)
Can you please help me with our seven year old rescued persian cat, Thomas. He has been having problems passing water for over a year and he is now in constant pain when he goes to the toilet. He cries and strains a lot. We have had him at the vets more than a dozen times and they say there is no sign of an infection or blockage but we think he is really unhappy and never out of the litter tray. We are not well off and we don't have insurance. We can't afford to keep doing vet visits especially when there seems to be no improvement. Is this pointless to keep trying? is there anything we can do besides take him back to the vet? Our vets also say they would like to talk with you about Thomas. John Deerman (To be continued, still ongoing)
We've had our old Persian now for more than 11 years and we got him from a rescue so don't know how old he really is. He sleeps all day and has gone off his food. He has lost loads of weight in the last month and his kidneys are not good according to tests at the vet. But he is not in any pain. Our vet says that it might be kinder to let him go now but he isn't suffering so we aren't sure what to do. Can you advise us at all? How will we know if it's time to have him put to sleep? Jamie K (It was indeed time to let this cat die gracefully. Many owners struggle with what they consider to be 'killing' their pet but the truth is, we OWE our pets the kindness of a peaceful end. It is simply NOT humane to hang on to them and this tends to be only in selfish human interest - we hang onto them because WE cannot bear to let them go, but what is best for the animal is quite different. Please put your pet's needs first, when there is suffering. If ever a vet 'suggests it may be time' - really, he is probably advising you to let the pet go, in the best way he can without actually telling you. It is a brave vet who broaches this subject, so please heed it.)
