I must have sucker written across my forehead...

So, I just got back from the vet clinic, where I left behind a small female stray that has been inhabiting my back yard for the last few months.

I ignored her as much as possible, but unbeknownst to me, my roommate had been talking to her and petting her, which caused this little one to become bold and start hanging out on my front deck. For the last week or two, she's been spending her days under my picnic table in the back yard, out of the heat of the sun.

My next door neighbor just went to jail for a few months, and I know he was a regular feeder of neighborhood cats and dogs. He's been in lockup more than a few days now, so I took a good look at the little cat today and determined she was hungry and probably in pain, from her reaction and her meowing with her mouth held open.

So, sucker that I am, I gave my roomie a can of Friskies wet to give the cat, and she scarfed it down in two seconds flat. I went out to look at her, and she's got fleas and mites and most likely worms as well.

She's small and thin and her coloring is mostly tan with a black face and ears and tail and hindquarters - siamese coloring, I think. Her eyes are an amazing ice-blue, and she didn't act afraid and even granted us some tail quivers after eating.

We determined that she has a broken fang, which explains the open-mouthed meowing, and so I said, ok, that's it. We got another can of food, I got out the small dog cage, placed a plate of wet in the cage and the starving little girl went right in, so off we went to the vet.

I left her there, she'll be tested for anything communicable, and if she's negative, she'll get all her shots, dewormed, get dosed for fleas and we'll discuss surgery for spay and tooth extraction.

PLEASE send us some TCS vibes that if she's healthy, she is NOT PREGNANT?!?

I honestly did NOT want or need a cat number 6, but DARN IT! She's got the most gorgeous eyes!

I'll be hearing back from the vet later this evening, so we'll figure out what next steps there will be then, if any. I honestly do not now how I am going to pay for this, but there has to be a way - she's a sweet little girl and it's not right that she live in my back yard and go hungry.

So yes, I am a sucker for a pretty face.

Betsy, we are all suckers for those furry faces.

Glad you care about her! Can I please see a picture of this sweet baby?

Aww sweetie, you are hooked! All it takes is one look in those eyes and that's it.

Please let us know how it goes. If you can't keep her, please let us know she found a good home, or take care of her outside. (sometimes that is a better option, depending on where you live).

I'll keep you posted, thanks for caring, peeps, LOL.

I don't have any pics of her at this point, but if/when she comes home, you know I'll be sure to post some. Her ice-blue eyes are just intense.

I just don't know if I could handle having an "outdoor cat." Don't know the first thing about how to do that.

"Sucker" also translates to "compassionate", "warm-hearted", and "gaurdian angel". Depends which thesaurus you have, but I swear to you, mine has these words right next to "sucker" and "pet owner" and "animal lover". I bet alot of people on this forum have the same version I have.

Pictures please! She sounds beautiful!

Name ideas?

Originally Posted by PintaMeez

"Sucker" also translates to "compassionate", "warm-hearted", and "gaurdian angel". Depends which thesaurus you have, but I swear to you, mine has these words right next to "sucker" and "pet owner" and "animal lover". I bet alot of people on this forum have the same version I have.

Pictures please! She sounds beautiful!

Name ideas?

Click to expand...

At the moment she's being referred to as "Sissy."

It is very hard to resist a cute kitty face.

Still no word from the vet, thinking I may not hear anything until tomorrow.

Awwww, many vibes for her!

Lots of for "Sissy"!

You've got a good heart and soul, Betsy.

Well, the vet's office called and said she's negative on the combo shot, and that she has a scar on her belly, so they think she was already spayed.

They are now checking her mouth and I'll hear back on whether she'll need an extraction. They said bring her back in three weeks for round two of her shots.

Now what do I do? Do I take her in and try to isolate in my downstairs bathroom this obviously outdoor only cat, or do I just let her go outside and start caring for her in my yard?

I'm surprised she's spayed. My roomie has asked around the neighborhood and other people have seen the cat and felt bad for her, but no one can afford to pay the vet costs, so they've just ignored her like I had been.

I really am a sucker.

Any advice from someone who's been where I am? What should I do with her now?

Try to keep her in the bathroom.
Pretty soon it will be cold out.
I would try to get her to stay inside.
Isolate her of course.

Well, this rural area vet says the tip is broken off her fang and that I should just let it be unless an infection develops. He sees no sign of that.

I'm going to call the shelter and the humane society tomorrow and report her as "found" but I guess I'll be keeping her in my downstairs bathroom for a while.

He definitely thinks she was spayed and may belong to someone, but that girl scarfed down two full cans of Friskies wet (5.5 ounces each) in under 5 minutes, she was SO hungry. And based on seeing her around over the last few months, my guess is, she's chose MY home as "home."

I'll post her pic tomorrow after I pick her up and leave some of my money at the vet's.

No, you are not a sucker. I don't know how anyone else could have ignored an animal that so obviously needed care. You are a very good kind person. I agree that you should isolate her indoors. I am sure she will adapt very well once she learns she gets fed regularly and is warm and loved on. You did the right thing. I am sure the little one will show you her appreciation once she gets home with lots of rubs and heat butts.

Well, I have decided to let her go back outdoors. If she sticks around, I'll try to put a shelter together for her in the yard, but she's not coming into the house.

I'll feed here here and there, and maybe at some point consider her my "outdoor" cat.

She will be scanned for a chip this morning and we'll report her as found to the shelter and the HS but I won't turn her in. She was doing ok in my yard with the exception of being hungry.

I just can't bring a fully grown cat into my home, not with 5 others. I can't fully afford to care for another, and I can't see bringing her to a shelter to be put down if she isn't sick.

Not everyone will agree with my decision, and that's fine. I have to do what's best for me and the 5 I already have and cherish.

I will post some pics of her later.

And you can always bring her in later...heheheh!

Honestly, millions of cats live similar lives, and a fair percentage live a normal lifespan. I know you won't ignore any blatant health/dietary issues, and she seems content to live in a relatively small territory, so I think the odds are in her favor.

You did a very nice thing!

Cally

I've never met a pair of blue eyes that I could resist!

Are there any no-kill shelters in your area that you could take her? That's where I found my Ellie - she had been there for 6 months and she is now obviously so happy to have a forever-home. She is actually sitting on the chair behind me, snoring up a storm!

I can't blame you for not wanting to add another cat to the family - but it would be so hard for me to know that a sweetie was outside in the yard.