problem with homeless cat??!!?

Question

i have been looking after a homeless cat ,which was left by her previous owners when they left UK, for a year or so.i've been feeding her,sometimes she would come to my flat,but most of the time she stays in the corridor near my flat(made her a box for sleeping).the thing is that for the last month or so she looks really bad,her fur is getting thin,she became really skinny(even though she eats a lot) and looks ill. as im not her owner and she is more of a wild cat she keeps her distance,so i cant give her any medicine or take her to wets(as a student I cant afford it:( )can it be that she has warms or is it something more serious??shall I try to take her to animal shelter??do they find a new home for the cats?

Im worried that if ill give her to animal shelter they'll just get rid of her:(((any chance that if i agree to look after her,animal shelter would vaccinate and dewarm her for free???

Answer 1

Unfortunately it could be any number of diseases, don't treat her with anything without the advise of a vet, you could do more harm than good.
Most cities have Feral Cat rescues. They look after cats like her, providing vaccines, medical care, food and safe places to live. Look in the phone book or any veterinarian can get you the number of one in your area.
Animal Control, the SPCA and some feed stores will rent humane traps. You can trap the cat and either take it to the shelter you rented the trap from, or to the Feral Cat people.
A word about "no kill" shelters. They tend to be underfunded, over crowded, and the cats are miserable. The poor kitty is better off getting all the help available at a regular shelter, and they really do the best they can by the cats, even if it means ending her suffering. Keep in mind she may be too sick to save and they will do what's best for her.
Good luck to you, I hope everything works out.

Answer 2

I don't know how it works in the UK, but here in the US, some shelters are "no kill" shelters and they will care for the animal and find it a new home. You could look into that. Most will not give vaccinations, etc for free and then let you take the animal back.
Good luck and I think it's very nice that you're trying to care for this cat.

Answer 3

if you are feeding her and looking after her, the law says that you are her owner and faling to get veterinary attention will result in RSPCA prosecution. I suggest you call the cats protection league and get them to take her.They find homes for all the homeable cats. Even feral ones get found hunting homes on farms once they are neutered.
Disregard the American answers since most of their shelters kill unwanted animals and turn their bodies into cat and dog food. Here in the UK we do things a little differently. The CPL will do everything they can for the cat even if it is sick or wild.They would only euthanase as an absolute last resort.
It isn't an option to do nothing.

Answer 4

She could have a serious problem you need to get her to the vets asap, if your still in the UK you might be able to get the care for the cat free. Or you might have to had the cat into the animal shelter so she can get the meds she needs to live. The kitten i found is 4 weeks old his mother left him behind to die i found him almost 2 weeks ago and i had no choice but to take him to the vet for his pooping problem and i'm still taking him. If the cat a chance to be happy and live. Animals are much like humans they need meds and love too. She could have heart worms, or a serious disease you also have to watch out for cat scratch fever which can harm humans and their is meds from that you can get it from a bite or a scratch since she was wild, be careful. but once you have it you cant get it back.

Answer 5

I think you have done more than anyone could be expected of someone who doesn't own the cat but it could be she has something worse than worms etc maybe even feline AIDS which is apparently very common in stray cats.

Best thing to do if you are in the UK is call the RSPCA or if in any other country their number for animal control/rescue - you have done your best but if you can't afford to keep the cat then let some authority know - if they can make them better it has a good chance of getting re-homed & living a happy life

Answer 6

In the US there is an organization called Alley Cat Rescue that helps in those situations. They help you catch the cat in a humane trap and they offer spay/neuter with local vets through a donation system. It sounds like the cat has worms. If it used to be someone's pet it could be again, but cats that are abandoned do get leary of people. Shelters are overwhelmed and if the cat isn't socialized there is a change it will get euthanized.

Look up Alley Cat Rescue online and see if there is a version of it in your area or send them an email and ask for a referral. Good luck!

Answer 7

i think they would only do that for free if they were going to keep the cat to rehome it. try giving your local shelter a call to get the information you need. a long time ago we had a cat who belonged to next door. they weren't feeding it so we contacted the rspca to report them but when they came they said that as we had been feeding him he was now our responsibility. next door moved away and left him, that was 12 years ago and i had to have my darling snowy (who you see as my pic) put to sleep last week. the most important thing is that kitty's health, if you want to keep it you must take it to the vet. i know that is very costly but that is the responsibility you have if you have a pet, if you really cant afford to then you should say goodbye to the kitty and get it down to a shelter. whatever you decide you have to do it soon because this poor little animal could be in pain. having my snowy put to sleep was one of the hardest things ive ever done but he was in pain and would not have got better. it's broken my heart to lose him but it broke my heart even more to see him suffering.

Answer 8

you're good that the cat is probably no longer homeless- cats are opportunist, curious and somewhat usually 'undertake ' neighbours in spite of in the event that they have completely good residences! although for sure it is not any right for you, and so the concern desires to be resolved. at the start, i could say that making enquiries with reference to the possession of the cat which incorporate your neighbours could easily be an outstanding introduction- you do no longer ought to attitude the concern as a criticism, purely an enquiry, and it particularly is easily a competent excuse to declare hi! If the cat does not 'belong' to anyone yet purely patrols the section, then you certainly ought to ask the RSPCA to take custody of it, if it maintains to be a nuisance and/or seems neglected. some people swear via tiger urine/faeces to scare away cats!

Answer 9

I think she has worms too...the vet wont put a healthy animal to sleep if she get better and can be rehomed, she will eat a lot if she has worms and look thin at the rear end, plus if she is a stray she wont be getting any vacs or boosters, probably the best to take her to PDSA where they will treat her for a small donation or free if you are broke and explain to them your situation, if you cant catch her phone the RSPCA....theyre the experts and will treat her well...good luck to you both !

Answer 10

The animal shelter is probably your best bet. They might assist you in catching the cat. It probably works closely with a local vet as well, so it will be able to get the cat the treatments it needs and find it a good home.