I think my neighbor just dumped his cat.

Do you have a no-kill shelter in the area? How about a cat rescue group? Maybe you could advertise on Craig's list?

That is sooooooo sad. Maybe the no kill shelter or a compassionate vet could diagnose and test for free, especially if you would be willing to keep the kitty after she is deemed healthy.

Thank you for rescuing this kitty!

Here are some links to help you find some options.

You can fill out the form for the Alley Cat Allies Feral Friends Network to find out if there are any organizations or individuals in your area that may be able to provide any assistance: http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=444

You can search for other shelters or rescue groups you may not know about in your area: http://www.pets911.com/local-shelters-and-rescues

You can also scroll through http://www.petfinder.com - just fill in "cat" and your zip code. Every cat that is listed for adoption has a rescue organization or foster network associated with it, and each one has a link to some kind of contact info - scroll through the pages to find all the orgs within a few hour drive and simply conduct an e-mail campaign. It really helps to write down the name of the org you contact and it's e-mail address though, as most e-mail contacts are personal, so it can be hard to keep track of what organization is replying to you if you don't. When writing your e-mail, do NOT portray the kitty as being unadoptable - portray it as being in need of fostering and vet care that you are not able to provide care for him/her given the disability, but you couldn't leave this abandoned kitty to die outside and alone.

...and then there's always ideas for how to get kitties adopted - even a make-a-flyer program at the Best Friends No More Homeless Pets Campaign: http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehom...sourcelibrary/

If you conduct an e-mail campaign via petfinder, bear in mind that most organizations are over-worked and understaffed, and you may not hear from many.

But I would also consider calling the no-kill shelter woman you do know to ask if she's aware of any other contacts you should consider. I would also call around to local vets to see if they know of any cat rescuers in the area that may be able to help.

for this kitty! I also hope you're able to find the other kitty if there is one. Given their state, their owners "abandoned" them a long time ago, even if they were barely keeping them alive with food and water.

Laurie

Yes, I think that is a good idea. Advantage works REALLY well on fleas and ticks. Poor thing probably has internal parasites too. There is another vet product, called Revolution that ALSO treats internal parasites and you use it topically just like the Advantage - but it does not work as well on the fleas and ticks.

I would talk to the vet about making payments over time if they're not compassionate in the sense of providing a discount because of the situation. They are in business, after all - but it can't hurt to ask if there is a way to make arrangements. If you can get a stool sample to the vet when you go to purchase the Advantage, it'd be best not to treat him/her for internal parasites if he/she doesn't have them, and they can quickly tell under the microscope.

If she does have worms, if it is round worm, she would need treatment now and again in three weeks. Meds only kill the adult worms, so you have to "dose" them at least twice, in order to let the eggs become adult and then kill them.

Laurie

I'm praying for a happy ending for this poor little thing.

I say put her on craigslist, complete with photos and her story. People have soft spots for sick/neglected animals, and it's likely someone will take her to "save" her.

Ringworm usually starts on their eartips or feet, sometimes on their faces. It looks like she/he may have gotten into a tiff with another cat, as she/he seems to be missing fur on the back. Stress can also make them loose fur.

Ringworm also usually hits kittens or cats whose immune systems are compromised by illness. A vet visit won't hurt and most vets will work with you on payments/discounts.

Just make sure your own cats don't interact with her/him until the vet gives a clean bill of health.

Thank you so much for taking care of this poor neglected kitty.. my, she is a pitiful sight.

Could IMOM possibly help?

Please keep us updated!! I'll be rooting for her.

Poor little thing! One dumped kitty that I rescued had lost almost all the fur on her head and shoulders from stress, malnutrition and insect bites. Amazing how fast it grows back once they're getting proper care. If she's that small you may not want to use the full adult dosage of flea meds on her, ask the vet about a Capstar to get rid of all she has now. When I get them that scrawny I try to give them kitten food for the first few weeks to get some weight on them quickly, and make up for the missing nutrients all the parasites have stolen from them.

With the Karma he's building for himself your former neighbor can look forward to a lonely end in a sub-standard nursing home, wondering why no one cares enough to visit him. Thank Goodness you are seeing to it that his cats get better than he deserves.

Laurie was able to provide much more useful advice than I am. I can only hope you can find someplace safe for the poor kitty to go. That's awful for anyone to let a kitty get like that.

Keeping her in a dog crate for now is a wonderful idea. It will keep her separated from your own babies, which is a wonderful idea obviously since you don't know her background. It will also prevent her from becoming too stressed within her new surroundings and protect her from the outside.

I work in animal rescue and frequently tell people to not only search Petfinder for a no-kill shelter that may be able to help, but to consider fostering the animal after you POST an ad yourself. Look under the "classifieds" tab at the top and you'll be on your way. It may take a couple of weeks to get some interest, but Petfinder is a wonderful resource because you're getting people who are out there LOOKING for an animal. I mean, why else would they be on a site called "Petfinder"?

It sounds like she found just the right lady for the job of taking care of her until she makes it to her forever home. Good luck and if I can help in any other way, just pm me!

people who dump cats just make my blood boil! Aaaaagh! SHe's in such a pitiful state. I'm so glad you were great enough to take this little baby in before she was too far gone. The only advice I can give you is to just keep trying to find her a new home.

Any update on the other kitty you heard crying?

Awww poor baby!!! I am so glad they found their way to you - what awful condition these babies where living in !
I can't see it really well, but judging by the region of the hair loss, and the coloration it looks to me like ringworm.
:vi bes:

I am so glad to hear that a rescue is helping you with vet check and medication! She's a pretty cat, even with patches of missing fur.

Vibes and prayers for that beautiful, sweet cat to find a loving, forever home.

Bless you for saving her precious life.

No third eyelid visible, as good as sign as a normal poo! I've always thought abandoned kitties are so affectionate because they got lots of attention back when they were cute little kittens, and are as starved for it as they are for food.
I once witnessed a woman dumping a litter of kittens in an industrial park. When she got out of the van and started calling kitty I thought she was a kindred spirit and was going to offer to assist her in the rescue I thought was taking place.
I was stunned to see it was the opposite, the kittens were coming out of the van. I had the presence of mind to jot down her tag number and call 911. All they did was make her retrieve the kittens.
God knows what she did with them then, I wish I had been able to catch them myself. One seemed to have been left, I saw it a few times early in the morning, but could never get close.

That's nice about the shelter helping with the meds and vet check- it's one more thing you don't have to worry about. I guess all you can do right now is think about the moment, not the future for this little girl (which by the way is a complete cutie!). I have heard of some vet clinics taking in cats, treating them, then trying to rehome them or keeping them as resident cats. Maybe you could call veterinarians in your area? It's a long shot, but it's worth a go!

Since you and everyone else suspects parasites of some sort, I would go even further than just washing hands. I'd change clothes completely. When I get back from the kitty shelter I volunteer at, I always take a very hot shower and change clothes (then again, I have this paranoia when it comes to my cats' health as many of you know ). Especially if it's fleas, they can stick to your clothes and then get transferred to your cats. I may have missed reading something, it's likely, but is there anyway you could ask your neighbor what was going on? You could always lie and say that you saw a cat running past your house or something and was just wondering, just to get a feeling for what happened exactly. Maybe you could report your neighbor then for neglect, if she's as sick as she looks. I know around here it is illegal to abandon a pet.

Best of luck to this little one- sounds like she's gonna need it! And bless you for offering her your help.

Callista, that is GREAT news about the rescue helping with the vet and meds!

Continued that the other kitty will turn up for your loving help.



Laurie

It's refreshing to see kitties get rescued when evil things have happened to them... she sounds like a total sweetheart, and she's very lucky to have found you!

Vibes for you that she can be made healthy and whole, and have a home somewhere.

Bless you for taking her in and caring. Olivia's a lucky little girl to have found you.

Plenty of that it's nothing and she can enjoy her life...no mater what she knows that you care.

*takes a few tissues and passes the box over.*

I could sit here and cry for her too, but I am thanking the Lord she found her way to you. Now no matter what, she will have good care, and most importantly some love and affection. I hope the other cat finds a safe place too.

Yes she caught a break, she caught you. Whatever time she has will be spent with someone who loves her and is doing all they can to make her happy and healthy. Just imagine the same health issues out on the streets alone?

I think we'll all just have to stock up on tissues, I already have a lump in my throat and must have gotten something in my both eyes.

Lots of vibes for Olivia.

You are so wonderful for taking care of Olivia!!

Her skin condition does look to be allergy related, and like the vet said, most likely fleas. I have a cat with severe flea allergies, and while I treat mine with Advantage during flea season, a single flea bite triggers that type of reaction. While the antibiotics will help, and the Advantage will rid her of fleas, if her skin doesn't start to clear up, ask for an anti-inflamatories for her (like prednisone). I've had to resort to that during bad flea seasons. Just imagine how itchy you get from a mosquito bite, and you can start to imagine how she feels with all of those flea bites. Poor thing has to be miserable right now.