So, the quick rundown - I care for 3 feral/stray cats. I live in a sub-division and at the very center is a small wooded area (right in my back yard). I've been leaving food and daily fresh water out for a few years. Have had many visitors over the years, but mostly indoor/outdoor cats that come by for a snack.
3 cats are truly feral, with no homes. One cat (Dorian Gray) lived in my backyard for almost a year until the two new kitties moved in 7-8 months ago (male and female). The two new ones don't actually live in my yard, but close enough to come running when I refill the bowl and sometimes wait on my porch when I get home from work. Dorian and the new male don't get along apparently, even though both males get along with the female. For the last few months, Dorian has moved into the woods but still comes by for food every few days or so.
So I manged to save up a little money for some low cost neuter/spay next month (local facility does it cheap once every two months) and even picked up a small Havahart trap.
Well, there is something suddenly wrong with Dorian. No visible injuries, and I got a very good look while he was eating. No scratches, bloody areas, bumps, no visible injuries - but 3 days ago I noticed him acting strange, stumbling, twitching weird... when excited he seems to spasm and cant jump or run right... a very sad sight. I found where I think he lives in the forest and have been bringing food to his area and he'll come out and eat no problem. When he moves slow he's fairly normal. The best way I can describe it is as if someone had a stroke - and just doesn't act normal anymore... but it could be anything, obviously.
SO, this cat is totally feral. He's seen me every day for over a year and still is not approachable (nor do I try). I've seen him for 3 days and his condition has not improved (or worsened).
All the money I saved would barely cover his addmitance to the animal emergency room much less any treatment. I found one animal emergency room that will treat strays for free, but then turn them over to animal control. We all know what will happen to this un-adoptable feral cat at animal control
None of the local shelters can provide any assistance, other then lending me the trap.
In the condition he's in, I fear that he couldn't fend for him self... I'd continue to feed him but he definitely couldn't escape a predator..
I have 4 cats already in my very small house (two adopted from the local shelter) or I'd bring him inside.
So I don't know what to do. I don't even know if he'd be trappable in his current state.
I've learned so much on this forum I figured it couldn't hurt to see if anyone had any advice. I didn't even mean to get involved enough to trap and have them all neutered/spayed... just wanted to leave some food out for the hungry kitties.
So I don't know what to do, but I feel terrible seeing him like that.
This is him, Dorian Gray
3 cats are truly feral, with no homes. One cat (Dorian Gray) lived in my backyard for almost a year until the two new kitties moved in 7-8 months ago (male and female). The two new ones don't actually live in my yard, but close enough to come running when I refill the bowl and sometimes wait on my porch when I get home from work. Dorian and the new male don't get along apparently, even though both males get along with the female. For the last few months, Dorian has moved into the woods but still comes by for food every few days or so.
So I manged to save up a little money for some low cost neuter/spay next month (local facility does it cheap once every two months) and even picked up a small Havahart trap.
Well, there is something suddenly wrong with Dorian. No visible injuries, and I got a very good look while he was eating. No scratches, bloody areas, bumps, no visible injuries - but 3 days ago I noticed him acting strange, stumbling, twitching weird... when excited he seems to spasm and cant jump or run right... a very sad sight. I found where I think he lives in the forest and have been bringing food to his area and he'll come out and eat no problem. When he moves slow he's fairly normal. The best way I can describe it is as if someone had a stroke - and just doesn't act normal anymore... but it could be anything, obviously.
SO, this cat is totally feral. He's seen me every day for over a year and still is not approachable (nor do I try). I've seen him for 3 days and his condition has not improved (or worsened).
All the money I saved would barely cover his addmitance to the animal emergency room much less any treatment. I found one animal emergency room that will treat strays for free, but then turn them over to animal control. We all know what will happen to this un-adoptable feral cat at animal control
None of the local shelters can provide any assistance, other then lending me the trap.
In the condition he's in, I fear that he couldn't fend for him self... I'd continue to feed him but he definitely couldn't escape a predator..
I have 4 cats already in my very small house (two adopted from the local shelter) or I'd bring him inside.
So I don't know what to do. I don't even know if he'd be trappable in his current state.
I've learned so much on this forum I figured it couldn't hurt to see if anyone had any advice. I didn't even mean to get involved enough to trap and have them all neutered/spayed... just wanted to leave some food out for the hungry kitties.
So I don't know what to do, but I feel terrible seeing him like that.
This is him, Dorian Gray