There has been a stray cat at my house for about a year now. We started feeding him, and allowing him in the house 6 months ago. This cat has always been skinny. We always think he is going to die, but he hasn't yet. He acts healthy, he is not slow, he eats, he purrs and comes to you for attention. The cat comes and goes through the cat door, so I don't know how much he is eating(we have another cat), and I don't see his stools. I don't have money to take him to the vet. Is it possible that he has worms?
2007-11-29 09:50:27 · 17 answers · asked by Lorinda E 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
This cat has been inside and outside. My other cat shows no signs of illness. This stray cat has been skinny like this since he showed up a year ago. He does not have fleas. He does not seem to get worse, just stays the same, skinny, but he does seem like he has a distended belly, but very bony everywhere else. No sneezing, or lethargy, decreased activity. None of our family is sick, or shown signs of worms. If he had a serious cat illness would he not be getting worse, or my other cat would be sick?
2007-11-29 10:11:28 · update #1
I think it is a very good possibility that he has worms.
2007-11-29 09:53:29 · answer #1 · answered by pixy_stix 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is definitely possible the stray cat has worms. Perhaps you can go to the library and read up on cat illnesses. I understand you do not have money for a vet, but maybe if you check with your local shelters, animal humane societies, or vets, maybe one of them low cost treatment plans or can recommend things you can do on your own. I would hesitate worming the cat because you do not know if he has anything else wrong with him. If the "stray" cat does not use the litter box your other cat uses, that could account for why your cat does not have worms. We took in a cat who had lived on his own in a wooded area for 10 mos. and he had two types of worms - roundworm -sometimes you can see the eggs in the stool. He was wormed for that. Then the vet examined him further after worming, and found a tapeworm on the opening of the cat's rectal area. You are very kind to the stray cat, but you do run the risk he could have other communicable diseases that your cat could catch from him. A vet would test the stray for those things. Since a year has pased, the damage most likely would likely already have occurred to your cat. I have 3 cats myself, and have had all different cats for 40 years. Is there any way you can isolate the stray cat to one closed room in your house for a day or so, with a litter pan, away from the reach of your own cat? That way you might be able to get a stool sample from the stray cat. If you did that, maybe a vet would test it for you at a low cost without seeing the cat. If he did test positive for worms, you might be able to give him worming medicine yourself. I have never done that because I have always been fortunate enough to be able to pay for vet care.
Is your cat also a male? If the stray male is intact & has not been altered, and you have an unspayed female, you will have kittens. But, I think if that was the case, you would have kittens by now.
Many years ago, I adopted a cat. She had no fleas. After maybe 2 weeks in my house, one morning she threw up. When I looked at the upchuck. there was a very large worm in it alive & well - Had the cat wormed immediately. If she did not throw up, I would not have known she had worms.
I wish you luck with this. God bless you for the kindess you show to animals!
Carol Thompson
2007-12-01 08:27:51 · answer #2 · answered by carol t 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You really do need to take him to the vet. Yes, he could have worms, but he could also have other diseases that could infect your other cat. Call the vet and tell him/her that it's a stray cat that hangs around your house, and ask if the vet can see it for less than the normal charge. You do have another alternative, though ... take the cat to a shelter and say you want to take it in, but can't afford to pay the vet to check it out right now. The shelter may insist on taking the cat, but they should also check it's health and tell you if there is something that your cat could have caught from it, thus saving you the money you don't have. Yes, the cat may have worms, but that is the LEAST problem ... and the health of your own cat is at risk here, too. Think about that, and do what you think is best under these circumstances.
2007-11-29 10:04:01 · answer #3 · answered by Kris L 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Even though he is an outdoor cat, keep him inside for about 1 month and see if he improves if he doesn't, start saving up at least $100 to bring him to veterinarian. you can get extra money by working around the house or find a job. Do research online or in books on worms and if it matches his symptoms then you should get him checked as soon as possible. Chances are he could probably just have an eating disorder. Hope I Helped
2007-11-29 10:04:11 · answer #4 · answered by ~Kimmy~ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He could. Also cats who are going through their 'teen' yrs about age 6 mos to 1 1/2 tend to be thin no matter how much you feed them, which can be alot. He may also have another disease that keeps him skinny. Offer him lots of wet food, try to get flea/worm drops so you can help him with minimum invasiveness. Fleas can suck a kitty dry literally, and so can bad worms. Good Luck.
2007-11-29 09:55:03 · answer #5 · answered by Avodah 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not only possible, but highly probable. There are worm medicines you can buy at pet stores and supermarkets. However, since the cat doesn't really live with you, it is likely that he will get worms again soon after you treat him. If you fully adopt him, you will have a better chance of keeping him healthier.
2007-11-29 09:55:18 · answer #6 · answered by kuntryguyy 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's possible he has a lot of things. An old cat might have hyperthyroidism, or a tumour somewhere. You'd be lucky if it was only worms. Do the right thing by the poor animal, get him picked up by a shelter so he can be treated and rehomed if possible. It would hardly be nice if he stopped turning up one day because he's died alone in a ditch.
Chalice
2007-11-29 10:01:19 · answer #7 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If he is eating and not gaining weight he may have a tapeworm. It's commonly caused from the cat eating dead animals or severe fleas. (That's what my vet told me about our stray that hangs out at our house.) You can get a pill from the vet for about $10. It's cheap and easy... it just desolves the worm. I noticed him gaining weight the same week he took the pill.
2007-11-29 09:56:21 · answer #8 · answered by m.forsberg 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since he is an outdoor cat, that does seem like it could be the best guess. If this is so, there is something you can buy at stores to help him out. Me and you are not sure if this is what it is but like I say, that is a good guess!!
2007-11-29 09:54:13 · answer #9 · answered by backyardbum 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It does sound like it is possible,
If he eats a lot but stays skinny......
when my dog had worms many years ago, he went poo.. (in the house:P) and it had worms IN it.... and that's how my family found out.... ewww that was disturbing
hope that helped a little
(good job taking in a stray :) ]
2007-11-29 09:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by bengronfors 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes cats can just have a fragile (skinny) look to them and other times they could have worms. If you do see him using the bathroom then check it and see..
2007-11-29 14:58:02 · answer #11 · answered by kayshort789 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋