Its cold and I need help

zohdee

zohdee

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
1,161
Purraise
21
Location
Kitty Land
Not for me..but for orange kitty.

All of a sudden he will not let me touch him. I can see by the looks of him why. The tops of his ears are black..I would guess frostbite.

I put a new litterbox and bed in the bathroom so he could come in when it is so cold. He is a stray so I don't want contact with my other furbabies. He growled at me when I went to pick him up to bring him in.

So, I just tried to make the best shelter I could. He wanted nothing to do with it. He just sat in my window and looked at me. I also gave him food and warm milk. I wish he would have let me bring him in for the night.

He only comes around at night and I have an idea of whom he may belong to. Part of me wants to knock on their door and find out for sure. If it is them I will totally tell them off. Why put a cat out at night when its the coldest? If it is their cat, I am so tempted to call someone on them. I will take him in after he gets neutered and vet checked.

The top of the poor kitty's ears were black. I cried so much last night. He looks into my window and sees all the other cats in comfort.

I don't know what to do. A few months ago he would let me hold him and now he claws and bites at me.
 
ldg

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
Does he eat food you put out? Even though he no longer lets you pet and hold him, does he get near you? Will he go into a crate to eat if you put a stinky food in there? Close the crate door, bring him inside - and are you in a position to get him to the vet first thing in the morning?



It has been BITTERLY cold here, below zero for several days now. We have shelters out for the ferals, and they aren't using them. Thankfully they obviously have a good alternative, because I see no signs of frostbite, and they're not even shivering or anything. I can't imagine how much we'd be freaking out.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
zohdee

zohdee

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
1,161
Purraise
21
Location
Kitty Land
Yes, he eats and drinks just fine and will allow me to pet him.

I can't get him to a vet until Weds..my next day off. And he is never around in daylight..only at night.

What I did was put a Rough Tote outside on our handicapped ramp at an angle where there should be shelter from all directions. And I put a cat bed in there for warmth.

I am just confused as to why all of a sudden he won't let me pick him up. The only thing I can come up with is that he is in pain and does not want to be touched.
 
bastetservant

bastetservant

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 18, 2010
Messages
1,499
Purraise
19
Location
near Chicago
That's very sad. I understand how upsetting it must be. I have no experience with this.

I'd probably try to find a rescue group to help trap him and get him to a vet.

You are doing so much for him by feeding him and offering a shelter.

But I'd be distressed, too.

I wish I could say something to help.

Robin
 
Winchester

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,756
Purraise
28,130
Location
In the kitchen
I feel so sad for this little guy. It's so very cold outside and he must have frostbitten ears.....poor baby. I hope you can get him to a vet.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7
zohdee

zohdee

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
1,161
Purraise
21
Location
Kitty Land
He didn't show up last night so I am hoping his owners kept him in.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9
zohdee

zohdee

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
1,161
Purraise
21
Location
Kitty Land
Thank you, I am thinking about him too.

The neighbors whom I think he belongs to are...well, odd. There are always many cars in the driveway. There is also an elderly woman living there who has the state come in to check on her. They have a very thin St. Bernard dog.

If they are the owners of Orange Kitty, I will go off on them. I do think he is being abused. He always let me pick him up but lately has scratched and bit at me. He never did that. He used to purr in my arms. Anytime I put my hand out to him, he puts his ears back and then I respect his space. Someone has hurt him to make him change like that.



He is still not here tonight. Its times like this that sometimes I wish I just didn't give a damned. But I do, and I worry.
 
ldg

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
I'd be ready if he shows up again.... I'd get him into the bathroom (using the crate method rather than picking him up with what's been going on
) and worry about getting him to the vet when you can.




We have five in our core colony, two more we see pretty regularly, and two we think come around regularly, but that we don't see very often. (These two need to be TNRd, but it's just been too cold to trap). We thought that maybe not naming the kitties we TNR would help us become less attached/worried.... but it doesn't help. When you love kitties and they cross your path... it's just impossible not to care!
 
milk maid

milk maid

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
649
Purraise
11
Location
Gnomeville
I hope orange kitty shows up and you manage to get him. I didnt realise it was still that cold over there, so heres hoping all outside kittys find shelter and food.
 
feralvr

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
I would too be very distressed about this. Start putting the food in a crate, make it hot and stinky. That way when he goes in to eat and is comfortable doing that just shut the door but be ready to hold the back of the crate while you latch it. Orange kitty might be strong and turn and push the door out before you can latch it. You have a good heart and I ache for all of the poor cats outside in this cold.

I too have four outside cats I feed in a warming shelter I built. Two are TNRd and the other two I have tried to trap with no success, too smart. I will try again when the weather turns better. I see my two Dixie and Yogi everyday and the other two only periodically. It is amazing to me how they can survive when this year it has been brutally cold. They do use the warming shelter, as it is right outside my family room window and I can peek out and see them coming and going.

Poor Orange kitty! I would go to those people who you think owns them and ask if he is their cat. Maybe they have been just feeding him and trying to care for him because he is a stray? You won't know until you ask. Regardless, he needs rescuing. Also, get on the internet and google Trap-Neuter-Release programs in your area/county where you live. Make some calls, and you will be surprised at how many will reach out to help and even loan a trap if necessary. Bless you for caring.... and keep trying with that crate. He will go in, especially if he already trusts you and he does.
 
L

lovewhiskers

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
426
Purraise
2
Location
Stow, OHIO
A very big hug to you and prayers you can get orange kitty soon! He is gorgeous and looks like a soft teddy bear. I too worry about all the feral and stray kitties out there in this terrible cold winter. Last week a tabby kitty showed up in our yard and we started putting food out for him. He is a spit image of Laurie's Chumley. If he is around when the weather gets warmer we will TNR him.

I am concerned about your neighbor and I can tell how concerned you are...God, this is all so heartbreaking! I hope, I hope, I hope you can get him to the vet
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14
zohdee

zohdee

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 7, 2009
Messages
1,161
Purraise
21
Location
Kitty Land
Originally Posted by LoveWhiskers

A very big hug to you and prayers you can get orange kitty soon! He is gorgeous and looks like a soft teddy bear. I too worry about all the feral and stray kitties out there in this terrible cold winter. Last week a tabby kitty showed up in our yard and we started putting food out for him. He is a spit image of Laurie's Chumley. If he is around when the weather gets warmer we will TNR him.

I am concerned about your neighbor and I can tell how concerned you are...God, this is all so heartbreaking! I hope, I hope, I hope you can get him to the vet
Click to expand...
Oh my goodness!! You live right around the corner from me!!

He showed up in my window very late last night and got food and warm milk. It looks like the black parts of his ears have been taken off so I am hoping his "owners" took him to the vet.

It puts me in a hard position...if my neighbors are his owners and I make a stink about it I worry about retaliation. They have only been living here for a bit over a year so no one really knows anything about them.
 
GoldyCat

GoldyCat

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jul 31, 2008
Messages
15,782
Purraise
4,696
Location
Arizona
It's possible that the frostbitten parts just fell off. He still needs to be checked out by a vet if you can catch him to bring him in. for orange kitty.
 
addiebee

addiebee

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 30, 2007
Messages
7,724
Purraise
17
Location
Michigan
Originally Posted by GoldyCat

It's possible that the frostbitten parts just fell off. He still needs to be checked out by a vet if you can catch him to bring him in. for orange kitty.
Click to expand...
I second what GoldyCat said. And pllllllbbbbbbbbttt! :p (virtual raspberries) to your neighbors. LOL!

There have been stories in the news here lately about animals freezing to death outside.. .so I wouldn't give a flying leap what the neighbors think if an animal's welfare is at stake. And if he comes onto YOUR property.. well...
 
hissy

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
77
Feralvr;3012463 said:
I would too be very distressed about this. Start putting the food in a crate, make it hot and stinky. That way when he goes in to eat and is comfortable doing that just shut the door but be ready to hold the back of the crate while you latch it. Orange kitty might be strong and turn and push the door out before you can latch it. You have a good heart and I ache for all of the poor cats outside in this cold.

I too have four outside cats I feed in a warming shelter I built. Two are TNRd and the other two I have tried to trap with no success, too smart.

Feralvr- here are a few tips I use on hard to trap cats:

Buy the largest size cat food (dry) you can find- usually have to go to feed stores to find the largest size. Dump the food out into our cat food bin and take the bag and cut it open on the top all the way across. Slip the trap inside the bag and bait it. Set this up in a secluded area. Also see if the feed store will give you a bit of straw and use this straw to pad the wires at the front of the cage.

Buy a small mirror that will fit at the very end of the trap. Put the mirror in the trap so the image will be seen by the cat going into the trap. Bait the trap. Once the cat is inside, take a thin cloth and using a stick, poke the cloth down to cover the mirror until the cat has been vetted and released.

www.nekoflies.com they have these outstanding cat toys. I have used the kittenator to trap the wiley ones. I take the toy off the wand and carefully wrap it so it is dangling down at the very end of the trap. This is ONLY if I am going to stay nearby and watch the trap (because of the string on the toy) Make sure the majority of the string is above the trap- I wrap it around a stick and lay the stick on top of the trap. The kitty sees the "mouse" dangling in mid air and goes for the attack. I pick up the stick (once the trap is engaged) and remove the toy.
Click to expand...
 
feralvr

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
hissy;3012520 said:
Originally Posted by Feralvr

I would too be very distressed about this. Start putting the food in a crate, make it hot and stinky. That way when he goes in to eat and is comfortable doing that just shut the door but be ready to hold the back of the crate while you latch it. Orange kitty might be strong and turn and push the door out before you can latch it. You have a good heart and I ache for all of the poor cats outside in this cold.

I too have four outside cats I feed in a warming shelter I built. Two are TNRd and the other two I have tried to trap with no success, too smart.

Feralvr- here are a few tips I use on hard to trap cats:

Buy the largest size cat food (dry) you can find- usually have to go to feed stores to find the largest size. Dump the food out into our cat food bin and take the bag and cut it open on the top all the way across. Slip the trap inside the bag and bait it. Set this up in a secluded area. Also see if the feed store will give you a bit of straw and use this straw to pad the wires at the front of the cage.

Buy a small mirror that will fit at the very end of the trap. Put the mirror in the trap so the image will be seen by the cat going into the trap. Bait the trap. Once the cat is inside, take a thin cloth and using a stick, poke the cloth down to cover the mirror until the cat has been vetted and released.

www.nekoflies.com they have these outstanding cat toys. I have used the kittenator to trap the wiley ones. I take the toy off the wand and carefully wrap it so it is dangling down at the very end of the trap. This is ONLY if I am going to stay nearby and watch the trap (because of the string on the toy) Make sure the majority of the string is above the trap- I wrap it around a stick and lay the stick on top of the trap. The kitty sees the "mouse" dangling in mid air and goes for the attack. I pick up the stick (once the trap is engaged) and remove the toy.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much Hissy. The large cat food bag is a great idea. Just not on a windy day
. And it smells good and will make the trap appear like a den/shelter. I use towels and drap them over the trap before trapping, but these two have seen the other's get trapped and the one is the big daddy tomcat and very sly. About the mirror?? Could that possibly scare off a more timid cat thinking another cat is coming in to fight for the food?? I guess that would work for an agressive and hungry eater to get him over the plate and hurry to the food before the other cat gets it. It is worth a try for sure. I am waiting till the weather is better. I spent three freezing days in December trapping and my hands are still recovering
Click to expand...
 
H

hope13135

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 16, 2011
Messages
23
Purraise
0
Location
Northern BC Canada
I'm so sorry that these poor animals have to go through this. I can't offer any better advise than you already have gotten. The advise i've gotten here regarding our stray has been really helpful to me. but I can offer you good wishes!
Good luck with this little guy, and if you can get him in, then you should do that. Forget the neighbors, if they don't come looking for him, then as was mentioned, he may not even be theirs. Do what is best for the cat, and don't worry about them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top