Hi, this is my very first post on this site, and I just want to start off and say that I am completely inexperienced with feral cats. Though I love cats and own two indoor cats, I don't have that much experience or knowledge about cats in general. I have fed a few feral/stray cats, but besides that, I have no prior experience.
So, a few days ago, I was at my school when I saw this scrawny little calico on campus, whom we temporarily named Banana. She was very friendly, she even followed me around for a bit and let me pet her. She looked to be no more than 1-2 years old. I felt her body and found that she was even more emaciated than she looked, which broke my heart. Her spine and tailbone were strongly protruding, and she was so thin that I could hold her body horizontally with one hand without needing to stretch my fingers out. She had some sort of cut underneath her left eye, which worsened and may be infected over the course of the three days I've seen her. I also noticed that when she stood up, she had a large sac-like fold of skin hanging down from her belly area, nearly touching the ground. The skin around her nipples was hairless, so I suspected that Banana may have had babies. I don't know much about mother cats, but I remember reading that mother cats lose hair around their nipples when they give birth? I also read that mother cats don't leave their kittens for long, which doesn't add up because Banana is often seen around campus especially right after school.
Lately, I've been bringing her dry cat food so she doesn't go hungry, and I can tell she's filling out a little bit more. I'm lost on what I can do to help. I really, really, really want to do something to help out Banana, but I feel that feeding her is not enough. I get very nervous thinking about what Banana is going through, whether or not she has baby kittens to care for, and how the scratch under her eye may be worsening. I'm filled with anxiety wondering whether or not she'll be at school tomorrow, and I pray that she won't be hurt by any cruel high schoolers passing by.
I'm asking for help here because I really want to help out this kitty, but I don't have the knowledge on what to do. I want to make sure she's okay, and maybe take her to a shelter considering she's incredibly friendly social.
Thank you so much for reading this far, any help is greatly appreciated! I want to do everything in my power to help out little Banana <3
So, a few days ago, I was at my school when I saw this scrawny little calico on campus, whom we temporarily named Banana. She was very friendly, she even followed me around for a bit and let me pet her. She looked to be no more than 1-2 years old. I felt her body and found that she was even more emaciated than she looked, which broke my heart. Her spine and tailbone were strongly protruding, and she was so thin that I could hold her body horizontally with one hand without needing to stretch my fingers out. She had some sort of cut underneath her left eye, which worsened and may be infected over the course of the three days I've seen her. I also noticed that when she stood up, she had a large sac-like fold of skin hanging down from her belly area, nearly touching the ground. The skin around her nipples was hairless, so I suspected that Banana may have had babies. I don't know much about mother cats, but I remember reading that mother cats lose hair around their nipples when they give birth? I also read that mother cats don't leave their kittens for long, which doesn't add up because Banana is often seen around campus especially right after school.
Lately, I've been bringing her dry cat food so she doesn't go hungry, and I can tell she's filling out a little bit more. I'm lost on what I can do to help. I really, really, really want to do something to help out Banana, but I feel that feeding her is not enough. I get very nervous thinking about what Banana is going through, whether or not she has baby kittens to care for, and how the scratch under her eye may be worsening. I'm filled with anxiety wondering whether or not she'll be at school tomorrow, and I pray that she won't be hurt by any cruel high schoolers passing by.
I'm asking for help here because I really want to help out this kitty, but I don't have the knowledge on what to do. I want to make sure she's okay, and maybe take her to a shelter considering she's incredibly friendly social.
Thank you so much for reading this far, any help is greatly appreciated! I want to do everything in my power to help out little Banana <3