Stray Cat Help?

Question

Okay, so there's this stray cat (or at least I think it is, it doesn't have any ID or tags or anything) and it's basically been chillin' out on my porch, and my neighbors porch. We both try our best to feed it whenever we can, and it's extremely friendly, but it's been getting really really skinny. I can't take it in, but I don't want to take it to the vet because I'm scared they'll just euthanize him, and I've never met a cat that was so friendly. I don't know what to do with him, but I want to help him (get him shots, etc.) because I really don't want him to die. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Look up the Humane Society in your area and take it there. Sometimes they ask for a small donation. But they treat animals humanely... will not put it to sleep.

Answer 2

Contact your local humane society or animal control services and report the cat as being found. Someone may be looking for their cat that has been missing. Chances are better that the cat was dumped or got out and the owner doesn't care to find it.

Take it to either of the above as a stray. They will ask where you found the cat and when. Most states require strays to be held for a period of days, to give an owner the chance to find it. In that time, if the cat is friendly, and healthy they will place it for adoption.

It's not a feral cat, so a feral rescue probably won't help. TNR (trap, neuter and release) programs are basically for feral cats that live in colonies.

The reality is that most shelters this time of year are full of kittens, with another kitten season coming soon, so the adult cats don't have much of a chance of finding homes. But if the cat is getting skinny as you said, it could be dying from Feline Leukemia or FIP. Are you going to just let the cat waste away and die on your porch?

At least take the cat to a shelter where, if it is dying, can be humanely euthanized before it endures any suffering and then dies.

Answer 3

If you are a "client" the vet would not euthanize a cat without your permission. The cat might have parasites, diabetes or hyperthyroidisn which would make him thin.

So you take him to a vet and see what needs to be done. With an exam (maybe up to $44), a blood panel ($100) you will have a good idea of how he's doing. Then shots can be given at low-cost clinics in your area. Petco does them I think and many humane societies hold monthly clinics. The vet will have given you an idea of what shots the cat should have.

Of course you don't want him to die. I would feel this way too. Maybe you and your neighbor could share some of the cost for the vet exam and blood work.

Good luck with him. Every homeless cat deserves some help in his struggle to survive. It seems he just may have found the right people!

Answer 4

What's best in this situation, since you care about the cat, is simply to take him/ her to the vet for a check-up. The vet can let you know the cat's condition. The vet cannot euthanize the animal unless you give the go-ahead. You may find out the source of the wieght problems. And maybe even if the food you are feeding it is unhealthy --and so causing him/ her to lose weight.

[As an aside on the weight issue: the cat may be losing weight because a) it's regurgitating the food you feed it b) it's allergic to the food you feed it c) you and your nieghbor are the only sources of food it is relying on. ]

If you want the responsibility of caring for the cat then you need to take it to the vet as a good animal owner would, find out what's requuired for its care, and also adopt it. If you don't want the responsiblity, leave the cat alone, no feeding it, no paying it attention.

Answer 5

Do you live in a small town or rural area? If so, it could be that cat belongs to somebody in the neighborhood. That would be the reason for it being so friendly.

Sometimes, when people have cats, they do very well for awhile, and then some family event upsets them and they start spraying or urinating in the house. If it's legal in your town (or perhaps even if it isn't) somebody may have decided to let their cat be an outside cat for some reason like that.

They feed it, but because it runs around all over the neighborhood, it tends to be skinnier than a house cat would be.

Just a guess.... you might go around the neighborhood and ask.

A cat doesn't really know territorial boundaries, but it does know where home is. And cats who are allowed outside all the time will lounge around in front of the neighbors' houses just as much as they do at their own.

We live in a small town where it's legal to let cats go free like that, because the farmers like it that they control the mice and rabbit population.... so we have seen a lot of this type of cat.... and I imagine that's what you have there.

Answer 6

Feeding a stray is like giving money to the homeless. It may help for a day, but it doesn't fix the problem. He caould be harboring parasites, or worse a virus like FIV, or FIP. This is the problem with cat's living outdoors. You may not want him to die, but there is a good chance he is already dying. People out of pity avoid taking an animal in out of fear it will be euthanized. Shelters euthanize for a reason.Most of these people including vets and vet techs ARE animal lovers too. They just know the harsh reality of the situation.

Answer 7

Stray cats and residing house cats are completely distinctive. Stray cats have not got an proprietor so as that they do no longer understand greater advantageous. they are able to content cloth rabies from animals. you are not getting effected from a house cat's hair if it is going on your mouth. i've got carried out that lots. no longer something befell. only determine the cat would not have rabies, or has a ailment.

Answer 8

Well, first is the process just keep feeding him, but he will definitely need medical help if you and your neighbor are feeding him every day. He probably has worms, or worse, a tapeworm. It is probably one of those, but try feeding him some canned food as well as dry. You really should take him to the vet soon and you might was to put lost cat signs up. You should try and take him in if it is having bad weather or so, so just try and take good care of him and take him to vets.

Answer 9

please just take him to the vet for a checkup you try to guess all day what would be wrong and maybe nothing is wrong at all, it takes a long time to get weight on a stray cat especially if he has been a stray for sometime, he needs the proper food, chances are he was well cared for at one time if he is this sweet of a cat........the vet will tell you what he needs, give this kitty a chance its not that exspensive for a checkup, then go from there and see what the vet says, if you do take him to a shelter, take him to a no kill one... most of your county or city ones wont mess with him they will put him down...

Answer 10

If you want him as a pet then take him to the vet.

Hey, you are the first answer that I've given that's actually rhymed! Cool!

But seriously, your fear of euthanization is based on speculation. The vet knows best in any event. It could just be that the cat is dehydrated or underfed.

Answer 11

Depending on where you live, there is most likely a feral cat rescue shelter in your area. Or even just a normal rescue shelter. Contact the Humane Society, or SPCA in your area. Both organizations have low cost spay/neuter/vaccination clinics. Often they will do the procedures for free if your willing to keep the cat. If not, they will take it in and treat it, then adopt it out. That is as long as it doesn't have anything contagious such as Feline Leukemia, or Feline AIDS. Sadly, many stray cats are afflicted with diseases though.