Conference misery::feline_v1

    Re:   Also, I used to keep track of vaccination due dates on my calendar,
        but I found that I was always screwing up.  Now I just vaccinate
        everyone every six months (the adults), on January 1st and July 1st.
        Makes it much easier but I realize it isn't the best solution.  What
        solutions to others use for this problem?
    
    
    I've synchronized my three to January and June as well (I wonder
    if vet business jumps in those months :-)  Two of them have to go
    in every six months for a respiratory vaccine booster, since the
    other is a carrier of respiratory disease, so all I have to remember
    is which of the three goes just once a year.  I depend on the
    vet to keep track of what shots they get.  It's easier to bundle
    multiple carriers into the car than make mulitple trips and
    I think that fact that each cat knows the others are there
    reassures them somewhat, although you wouldn't know it from the
    howls (20 minute drive, holy cow).
    

    
      With my big gang,  I've got it down to taking 2 cats at a time to the
    vet, every other month.  That way the cost of all those yearly
    checkups and shots is broken up over the year.  It is cheaper to bring
    in more than one at a time, and is easier on the vet's time too.
    2 carriers is easy to carry around and load up the car with, so it's
    not bad.
    
                Denise and the gang of 11

    I feel like a real novice writing here. With only three kittes
    to take care of it's much easier. Our vet sends out these cute
    post cards addressed to the cat with our house address and every-
    thing. The card tells us it's time for the yearly check up and
    what shots are needed and to be sure and bring in a stool sample.
    
    If we didn't get a notice I always remember it's the first week
    in February. Our vets office gives you a print out sheet of
    what was done to each cat, with a reminder that they will let
    you know next year when the time comes.
    
    Each of my three have a card file with the print out sheets attached
    to it so  I can go back anytime to see what has been done to them or
    the prices they charged from year to year.
    
    Our vet use to charge for a office visit on each animals plus what
    ever they did on the office visit, Shots, clip nails, scale teeth,
    and fecal test. The office visit was $22.00 each. Now they have 
    what it called a wellness visit, (sounds like the HMO we have
    doesn't it?) That price includes, checking the ears, eyes, teeth
    and any scaling, heart, respiritory, clipping nails, and feeling
    all around the stomach area and "below" with the shots on top of
    it. I like the new way and it's a lot cheaper.
    
    I am so thankful I keep the records as several times we have had
    to refer back to them. Especially when they make a notation about
    some "quirk" the animals has like low tollerance to anesthesia, or
    mega dose, and any reaction to medicine etc.
    
    Bless you breeders who keep good records. As a buyer I consider
    them worth their weight in gold.
    
    Barbara and her 3M's
      
    
    

    Well, right now I have all the cats listed with what shots are due
    when in my Franklin Planner.  I guess I'm one of those compulsive
    types, eh?
    
    Having read these notes, however, I'm going to start a file on each
    cat.  I think that's an excellent idea.
      Nancy

    I have kept a drawer in my four drawer file cabinet for my cattery too. 
    I have set up hanging folders with tabs for different things such as
    cat clubs, health info, pedigrees, magazines, photos and a few other s
    I can't remember.  Anyway in the health, ped. etc  each cat has a file
    folder with it's name on it.  This way I can easily see and pick the
    topic and then find the cat I want the info on.  The hard part is
    putting all the stuff in the folders!
    KRSW +5

I have to agree, the hard part is once you set up this terrific system, 
actually forcing yourself to come home from work and do the cattery paperwork 
and filing.  I sometimes (sometimes she says??) get behind and then have a stack
of stuff about a foot high that has to be filed.  Also, I keep a ledger book on 
my cattery income and expenses.  Now if that isn't depressing I don't know what
is. :^)  For some reason the expenses portion is always much larger than the 
income portion. :^)

I need to a one of the --- compatible computers for home (oh no she almost said 
the I word!) so that I can buy a cattery program that does all that stuff for
me, from printing out pedigrees to keeping the ledger and reminding me when 
vaccinations are due.

I better get out of here.  I have been busy playing with my new workstation and
poor Ken is probably waiting outside in the car and wondering what happened to
me.  Been so busy learning to use windows that I haven't even had time to check
into Feline!!!

Jo

    I keep a file folder on each cat, and in that folder I keep pedigree,
    registration slips, entry forms, certificates, and any other
    information that might pertain to that particular cat, including
    specific health information and FelV testing certificates.  
    
    I keep a file folder for each year for my litters, and keep the
    records by litter within that folder.  
    
    I do like Jo, and shoot all the cats twice a year....or at least
    any cats that aren't either nursing or pregnant.  I figure that
    it's unlikely that any cat would be nursing or pregnant during both
    January and July.  The shot records are written on the front of
    each file folder for each cat, along with the lot #, expiration,
    etc.  Of course, BEFORE I breed any female, I make sure that she
    isn't behind on her shots, just in case she happened to be on of
    those rare examples that fell in between the January/July shot time.
    
    The shots are so inexpensive to give (if you do them yourself) that
    I feel it's worth it to keep them vaccinated twice a year.
    
    
    cin
                                                              
    

    I have seen those programs that can be run on --- Compatibles for
    cattery mangement in some magazines.  I would like to know if anyone
    has seen the demo disk or has actually run it and what is it like.  If
    it is good, why can't we come up with one that we can use?  What about
    a file transfer system or something like that ? (sorry, not too
    technical)  I think it would be great!!
    KRSW +5

    There are a few different management programs available.  Some of
    them are very basic, and some of them give you lots more options.
    I would love to have a system, if just to do pedigrees!  
    
    BTW, I've bought a couple of cats from a breeder who uses one of
    the management systems, and the pedigrees are done on 8 1/2 x 11
    and are really nice and easy to read/copy!
    
    cin
    

    Pedigree? What's a pedigree??
    
    Love Bailey...

    Sort of a family tree for kitties (or doggies).  Listing 
    mother, father, grandmothers, grandfathers etc complete with
    cattery names and titles.
      Nancy DC
    

    For Nancy DC
    
    
     (I think that question about the pedigree was an inside joke from one
    Bailey Balzer to his former mom) :^) :^) :^)
    
    Jo

    Yeah, Jo, but the node and user name kinda threw us off track :^) !!
    
    --Roberta (who at first thought it was for real until she read it about
               10 more times!)
    

    Actually, it was I who did the typing.  Like I said, Marlene is a bad
    influence on me. :^) :^)  
    
    We were noting incognito...
    
    Jo

    Okay, the jokes on me!!!  ;-)   So, now everyone knows....I'm terrible
    with paperwork, I put off doing pedigrees, and I just finished
    registering some of last summer's litters....
    
    What can I say....
    
    
    And I was going to just let that one little note slide by.....
    
    sheesh!
    cin
    

    > And I was going to just let that one little note slide by.....
    
    >  sheesh!
    
    Now you didn't think we'd let you get away with that, did you?
    :^)))
    

    It's not my fault, I swear!  She *made* me do it!
    
    Jo

    I don't know....I think I heard a different version of the story,
    Jo...
    
    :-)
    cin
    

    And who are you going believe Cin (she asks with an innocent smile)?
    
    Jo