I purchased my beautiful Ragdoll kitten from a breeder here in Nova Scotia in May 2007
in which I paid $500. The breeder was recommended by a local veterinarian and resided in Pictou, Nova Scotia about
a 2.5 hour drive from Halifax. The breeder's name is Melissa Fredericks, and the name of her cattery
is called Country Class Cattery/Kennels. She also owns Country Critters Pet Store in Pictou. She
breeds Ragdoll and Bengal cats, and Shetland Sheepdogs.
I fell so in love with my new Ragdoll darlin, I named her Peanut. From the beginning,
she just stole my heart. She was absolutely beautiful and was the sweetest thing, followed me around everywhere, slept
with me, greeted me at the door when I'de come home from work. Even when I got home late, there she would be half asleep
running down the stairs, her eyes barely open. She was always by my side, she didn't like to be alone. I couldn't
even go to the bathroom without her tagging behind. She simply loved everything. She lighted up the room with
her presence. And she was so fond of Muffy, one of my domestic kitties.
On New Year's eve, I noticed that
Peanut seemed tired and wasn't interested in the toy mouse that she loved so much. I took her to the vet at St. Margaret's
Bay Animal Hospital. They are one of the best in the province. They took a blood test and called me the next day
to tell me that she was extremely anemic. They wanted to keep her in the hospital over the weekend to give her antibiotics
for infection and steroids to stimulate her bone marrow to produce red blood cells. On Monday afternoon, they called
me to tell me that they had done a Feline Leukemia test and that she tested positive. I was in shock. I have 3
other domestic cats, they are all indoor cats. I brought them right down to be tested and they all tested negative.
I then had all three of them vaccinated to protect them from the disease as I still expected to bring little Peanut home when
she got a little better. They took me in to see Peanut and my heart sank. She had gotten so much worse, she could
barely lift her head. I held her for over an hour stroking her head. I didn't want to let her go because I thought
that might be the last time I could hold her. I was sitting quietly with her and whispering in her ear, "please don't
die," and just sobbing. I cried all the way home.
Peanut died that night. She was only 9 months
old.
I was devastated. I loved her so much and I miss her terribly. I sent over a teddy bear and flowers
for her grave to my sister's place where she was buried as I live in an apartment building and have no backyard. I haven't
as of yet been able to visit her grave.
Muffy, my other cat, has been looking everywhere for Peanut, you can hear her
calling her. She carries her toy mouse up the stairs and drops it on the floor in front of her little bed and calls
for her like a mother does her kittens. She seems so sad like she knows.
When Peanut first started sleeping
in my fruit bowl (see picture), I used to get so mad at her. After about 8 or 9 times, I just gave up. She had
just decided that was her bowl. And now that she's gone, I never realized how much I had enjoyed seeing her laying
in that bowl looking so comical with her feet sticking up in the air.
The vet said that since my other cats tested negative, are all kept strictly indoors,
and have not been in contact with any other cats, that Peanut must have had the disease when I purchased her back in May.
I have tried to contact the breeder, Melissa Fredericks, over and over but she won't return my calls. A reporter
from a local newspaper was able to contact Ms Fredericks and according to her statement to them, is refusing
to take any responsibility.
I hope when people read Peanut's story, they will know to always test for this terrible
disease especially when they buy from breeders.
Broken Hearted,
Kathleen J.
Update: I have
since found out that other people have had similar experiences with this breeder....their kittens dying within days
of purchasing them, and testing positive for other serious viruses such as Feline Herpies (Viral Rhinotracheitis), which is highly
contageous and infects a cat for life.
Melissa Fredericks' response has either been no response at
all or it can't be proven that it came from her cattery/pet store.
One person posted this warning on kijiji.ca back on June 21,
2007 after her kitten died within days of purchasing it from this breeder/pet store owner. Please click on the link
below:
