Found cat in my car!!

Tonight after I got out of night class (around 7:30), I went in my car as usual. But when I started the car, something popped from on the floor in the passenger side on top of the seat. It was dark, so I thought 'oh no, Top Cat's been in my car all day!' (they're indoor cats, but during the day we've been putting them in the garage to hang out and I thought he got out of the garage and jumped into my car which is parked outside). But then I was able to see the color and it wasn't Top Cat. It had gotten in my car sometime during the day when I wasn't looking. It very well may have been hanging around the campus, but I didn't see anything get in my car before or after class, so I wasn't sure if it sneaked in when I was getting out of work (it was dark when I got out and sometimes there are stray animals in the area). In fact, it has been dark, somewhat cold (for here 50s with rain feels cold), and rainy all night. So I was afraid to let it out in case it sneaked in before I got to campus. I called my sister for advice and she agreed with my judgement.

So here's what's being done for the cat: I took him home, put him in our garage (after I let my cats in - I will have to put them in a different spot tomorrow during work) and gave him food (and water, of course). He was starving since he scarfed it up rather quick - and the seconds, too. Tonight, I will post lost 'flyers' on the net. I am working on getting some flyers so I can put some tomorrow too. After, I promised my mother I will take him to the no-kill shelter so that if someone claimed him they can get him. I don't feel comfortable taking him to animal control because they don't hold animals long.

He is rather skinny, but I haven't done a once over yet, since I've been running around ragged trying to get pics and the like of him (have pics in CD that I developed in walmart just now and will upload soon). I don't know if the poor guy is a stray, came from a home somewhere (if so, I did I mess up by taking him home?), dumped, or what. I would have pulled over and asked in the neighborhood nearby, but it is not a safe one at all. Also, lots of cats and dogs (some dangerous ones) run around the area - it is so common here. I don't know if I did the right thing or not.

P.S. I have flea medicine for a 9 lb cat and up. He looks to be around 5-6 lbs. Is it safe to give him it or just give part of the dose? I haven't checked for fleas, but there's a good chance he has some.

Edit: The cat is really friendly and purred a storm when I carried him out of the car into the garage. So it has been around people before, which is why I am extra nervous about my decision.

The craigslist post: https://post.craigslist.org/fay/C/pe...EHhKXR7X/u9Tyh

That's what I want to know, Dusty. It is not a safe area, so the windows stay up and the doors locked. I am wondering why I did not see a cat jump in the car. It had to be fast and sneaky. Yet, it seems to be such a calm, friendly animal. Just very starved. When I went to check it out after my first post, I noticed it was quite bony. I told my sister I hope I did the right thing. She thinks the cat came to me for a reason. I really, really hope so.

Edit: To answer Dusty's post some more, it could have been when I opened the back door to get my books while leaving the front open. But it was only for a short moment.

Edit again: I checked him with a brush. He is a bit plushy so when I brushed him I noticed he is VERY skinny. So now, that is giving me an idea that either he was abandoned or who ever took care of him hardly fed him. Or a possibility that he's been lost for a long time. There is no way a cat can be this skinny with regular meals.

it is Advantage - I just gave him some of the tube after consulting with another TCSer through chat. I had both multi and regular (I won the regular at a cat show raffle) so I gave him just the regular since I just wanted to give him what's necessary right now.

Also,the cat is staying at least one more night. The no-kill shelter that was willing to take him in wanted $100 to do so. I don't have $100 right now. However, the last place I called was Top Cat's vet. They sometimes showcase stray cats. The lady in charge wasn't there, but the person that I spoke to took a message for the lady to call me back tomorrow. As a last minute resort, I asked about boarding him. I have care credit, so if I do that, I will have to use that to pay for his shots and boarding (they said they would accept it for that). If I choose that, they only have openings until the 22nd because of the holiday season (they're full during that period). I even told the clinic when I asked about taking him in as a stray that I would pay for his neutering and shots if needed with the care credit.

No, this was FSU. But no surprise on your find. I am not from here and compared to other places we've lived, I've never seen so many animals in need.I want to help them all. But I can't even keep this one since I live at home and we are already getting a third cat this month (cat already picked out).

I can't keep him. Mother is firm on that. However, the clerk of the show where I will be going on December 12-13 says I can bring him for adoption. I am trying to convince mother to let him stay until then or else I will may have to board him for a few days until the show. I think the show will be his best chance. Tonight we will be going to his neighborhood to put the flyers. I already post in craiglist and another site, but it took me long (yes, I feel bad about this) to get the flyers. Mom printed some for me.

I took him to Petsmart to get scanned for a microchip. No chip. The vet tech seems to think he's just under a year old. And he's 6.5 lbs.

We went to put up flyers by the school. I put one near the local grocery store and left one at the place where I buy icees so the lady can try to see if she can put one up. I also put one this morning at Petsmart. Then we went the campus police office which is by the parking lot where I was parked Monday (assuming that the cat snuck in my car at that location).

I got grim news from the campus officer. Pretty much all the cats that run around campus (apparently there are lots of them - I just never noticed them before) are strays. He is most likely one of them. However, the advice he kept giving us was to call animal control so they can pick him up. I don't have the heart to do this. It will break my heart very much. I am begging my mom to let me hold onto him until the cat show. She called my uncle to see if he can convince the no-kill to just take him in.

I just need to figure out what to do with him until we get to the cat show. And if doesn't get adopted there, I will have run out of options. It will be the end of the road for Mr. Purrbox.

I hope I didn't make a big mistake in taking him home.

Edit: If there is anyone that can hold onto him until I can find a home for him, not only will I bring him to you (within a couple of hours drive), but I will also be forever grateful. Mr. Purrbox's life is at stake. (Yes, I came up with a nickname for him - he'll need one if I put him for adoption.)

here is a new link http://fayetteville.craigslist.org/pet/1492613227.html

They gave us our bonus at work on Friday! However, I still need to save $$ for our trip the cat show next weekend and for anything we need from the cat we already arranged to pick up there. However, I bought a couple of things for my mom so that she agreed to let me hold him until the cat show.

The kitty gets fixed tomorrow. I found a vet that does it for $55 AND takes care credit (it's not fair to the cat I already had arrangements to pick up to bail out on him if I spend the $$ I have set aside). He will get necessary shots and testing as well so that he is all ready to go to a new home (or at least a foster).

I had to pick a name for the petfinder listing and for taking him to the show next weekend for adoption. Mom didn't like the name Mr. Purrbox, so he is now Mojito.

He has gotten his neutering, shots, and flea treatment (another dose) done today. Mom is firm that I can only keep him until the cat show. If no one takes him by the cat show, then I have to get rid of him. I don't want him to die. I will drive him up to two hours' distance to anyone that will take good care of him. Please help me save him. I don't want him to die.

Edit: Please I am begging anybody that can even give him a temporary place to stay to help. Please.

Yeah, I am trying to advocate for all of them. Even before I found this cat and had picked out Jack, mom has been wanting somebody to take in Top Cat. I didn't want to talk about it on this list because it is a touchy topic and still really don't want to say too much other than what I will say. Top Cat has been harassing Luna as he's getting older and it's gotten quite bad at times. Luna used to tolerate him when he was a kitten (still didn't like it then), but now you can hear her screaming at him constantly because she doesn't want to play his games. I pushed to keep them all because I want to give him a chance but he is really making it hard for Luna and my mother doesn't like it at all.

I am in a very tough spot right now and just want to do the right thing. I have to do what is best for all cats. I feel like a bad cat mommy no matter what.

Nial: I will PM you later tonight after I give it some more thought.