Herding Cats at Home - August 2004

A: Bless you for taking an interest in this poor cat's plight.

You might start by informing the cat's owner that a well-fed, healthy cat is a much better mouser. This is a fact known well to old-time farmers, and is even cited in old agricultural books, and referred to in many folklore proverbs:
"Let each cat receive daily, at its own particular place, and at a stated hour, say 11 o'clock AM, a mess of new milk and porridge, when it will attend to receive it as the hour arrives; and let each have a soft, warm, comfortable bed made for it in some quiet spot..."

This is from an 1851 handbook for farmers, "The Farmer's Guide to Scientific and Practical Agriculture Detailing the Labors of the Farmer In All Their Variety, And Adapting Them to the Seasons of the Year As They Successively Occur." It further advises:

"...there is no way of scaring rats and mice from a steading so effectively as cats... a regularly-fed cat... being in stout condition, from its daily wholesome food, feels itself strong enough to encounter any vermin and will destroy numbers in the course of a day."

So much for not feeding a hunting cat!

More seriously, the cat as you described her condition sounds quite ill. She may have something like feline leukemia virus (FelV) or other serious (and contagious, to other cats) condition. Try to find out when she's last been checked by a vet (if she ever has).

A cat who goes without food for even a few days can develop a very serious disease called feline hepatic lipidosis ("fatty liver disease"), a dangerous accumulation of fats in the liver. This is peculiar to cats; other animals and humans don't have this tendency. Hepatic lipidosis is often rapidly fatal. Even cats who survive need intense and often long-term therapy, including insertion of feeding tubes to make sure they get nourishment.

A cat who's listless, very thin and doesn't groom is likely very ill, as I said. If her owner is not willing to take her to the vet immediately, ask if you can take her. Please be sure to keep her away from your own cats, in case she has something contagious.

It's best to keep things cordial with the owner, and stress that you are most concerned for the cat's condition. But if he gives you trouble about this, call your local humane society or a cat rescue group. They can tell you how to report animal neglect and abuse (neglect IS abuse) and to whom you should make the report. An animal control officer or shelter enforcement person will then take up the cat's case. They're trained to do that, and to deal with difficult "owners" who neglect or abuse their animals. Make it clear that you're willing to take responsibility for the cat if they take it away from the old owner.

If you decide to take her, have her thoroughly checked out first by a veterinarian. Sadly, you must be prepared to hear that she is suffering from a fatal or incurable illness such as FIP, FelV, FIV, or the like. In that case, euthanasia might be the kindest option.

Getting her into a carrier should be simple, if she's as docile (and weak) as you say. Just place a food treat (stinky tuna) inside. I bet she'll hop right in. You can also find lots of advice on trapping stray and feral cats from Alley Cat Allies (www.alleycat.org) and Alley Cat Rescue (www.saveacat.org). Then, get her to the vet at once. Again, I must stress how important it is that she does NOT come in contact with your cats until she has been vet checked and cleared of contagious diseases.