She went to adopt a cat, left with grief and pet bills

A Geelong disability pensioner who adopted a cat from GAWS grew deeply attached to the animal, only to have it die due to an undiagnosed heart condition she says the shelter should have warned her about.

Simone Stevens' cat Norma had to be euthanised due to a severe heart problem. GAWS hadn’t picked it up. Picture: Alison Wynd

A disability pensioner has been left struggling to pay off vet bills after the cat she adopted from Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) had to be put down, due to a heart condition she says the shelter should have picked up on.

GAWS has changed its screening procedures after Norma the cat’s death, which happened just six weeks after disability advocate Simone Stevens took her home.

Simone Stevens, who lives with cerebral palsy, said it took her more than a year to pluck up the courage to adopt another animal after grieving the loss of the cat of six years Buster May.

She went straight to GAWS.

“On Saturday, May 25 I finally got a beautiful little girl – Norma Rose,” Ms Stevens said.

But from the beginning she said something felt off.

Ms Stevens, of Geelong, said soon after adopting Norma the cat started looking weak and repeatedly fainting.

She said GAWS kindly extended the cat’s return period an extra seven days.

But after she declined to return Norma, she said she had a difficult time contacting GAWS, which did not offer to assist with testing to find out what was wrong with the cat.

“(It) infuriated me because all I wanted was answers not just for me but for Norma,” she said.

Simone Stevens' cat Norma had to be euthanised due to a severe heart problem. Picture: Alison Wynd

When Norma wasn’t recovering, Ms Stevens said she independently took her to a vet clinic.

After running numerous tests, Norma was diagnosed with a heart murmur.

“Something that GAWS overlooked,” Ms Stevens said.

It is understood that GAWS informed Ms Stevens that Norma has been a difficult cat to handle when she came to the shelter, and because she was already desexed, she did not get a full vet check and her heart was not listened to.

Ms Stevens said once Norma was diagnosed, GAWS offered to euthanise her, but Ms Stevens wouldn’t have been allowed to be in the room.

Instead, when the time came to euthanise Norma after she suffered two heart attacks, Ms Stevens said she wanted to be there.

“Norma died in my arms,” she said.

Now, the disability support pensioner said she is fighting with her pet insurance company over the $1500 she spent on Norma’s vet bills.

“(The insurance company) said it was a pre-existing condition and I should’ve known that she had a heart condition,” she said,

“I did not know.”

In correspondence seen by the Geelong Advertiser, GAWS informed Ms Stevens it had updated their screening protocol and would now ensure all cats received a thorough vet check.

Ms Stevens said GAWS had not offered to pay her vet bills, and the emotional and financial damage had already been done.

“I’m happy about (the changes), but it’s come a little bit too late.” she said.

“They said that they will give me a cat for free – that’s great – but how am I supposed to get a new cat when I’m struggling to pay off this one?”

GAWS Head Vet Dr Ruth Dover said all animals who presented to GAWS received a medical examination upon arrival.

“Animals who require medical attention are treated and cared for by GAWS’ onsite vet clinic and will only be made available for adoption once they are well,” she said.

She said Norma presented to GAWS as a stray, received a vet check and showed no signs of any medical issues during her month in our care.

“We were saddened to hear Norma became ill not long after being adopted,” she said.

“We are always open to discussing the welfare of adopted animals and any ongoing concerns with new owners and we have been in contact with this particular owner.”

Originally published as She went to adopt a cat, left with grief and pet bills