now i feel stupid

I caught the "Red" cat on my porch spent all day putting stuff in his ears and on his wounds. I even got a new cat brush.

When I woke up this morning I went to feed him and he had gotten out.

I trusted that he would like the attention and how i was trying to heal him. But, he left

Now I feel stupid. I wonder if he will come back. I am waiting for the vouchers to get them fixed they should be here any day. We don't have any extra money or I would have done it already.

I asked my husband with tears why would he leave ? I was just trying to help him. My hubby says he is a cat dear. He just did what cats do.

Well if I catch him again I won't make the same mistake.

Hugs
Menou Lover

I caught a feral once before and took it to the vet. They put it to sleep.

I can't and won't do that again.

Post deleted!

Why was the cat put to sleep? There had to have been a reason, and you had to approve it. Vets can't just decide on their own to put a cat to sleep.

But that he got out is exactly why we use traps and then get them to the vet or clinic. Ferals or strays that are feral-like do not always "know" that they want to be taken care of. Especially if they are feral, they don't trust humans, and usually don't know what love is. If they're strays, they may have been abused, and don't know (yet) that they're better off with you.

We have had ferals so ill that they have (basically) willingly gone into a crate, and let us get them to the vet for proper care. But this isn't the norm.

You shouldn't feel stupid... we've all learned many things the hard way!

But taking an ill animal to the vet should NOT mean euthanization - unless there is a VERY good reason for it, and even then, it is not something a vet (in normal circumstances) would just "do." !!!!!!

Our feral kitty Chumley was positive for FIV. The vet didn't put him down, they talked to us about what we wanted to do. That's normal.

There's something up with whatever happened. Either you need a new vet, or we're missing critical information.

They can be sneaky, very sneaky, they can get inside of bed, but also they can go trough window plexiglass if given motivation to.

If there is food, cat will come back, it can take some time, but what I have read and experienced cat will come back. I had to once scare one tom cat off as I had girl cat here, so I chased him few nights running, after him etc. He understood the tip and came back after a month or so, he is still around has been years so he does not need the food really, he can find shelter and foot otherplaces too.

I have not seen other captured cat of mine since morning, he can't escape trough 10 cm thick walls, but he has just found great spot to hide.

the vet said it had the virus flv i believe it is called, also it had a upper respitory infection.

i guess i was stupid there also. The vets nurse told my husband their was no saving the cat and it would suffer terribly and did we want that to happen did we?

So my husband paid the $150.00 bill and i cried for the next three months.
Every time i think of that kitty i cry. I am such a big cry baby when it comes to the animals.

FeLV is a tough one. It is very infectious, and easily passed between cats. Unless you specialize in FeLV rescuing, it probably was the right thing to do. Of course, you can elect not to test the animals at all. That is what most TNR organizations recommend, in fact. We don't test, unless the cat is going to go into a foster network. If we plan to release them, we don't test. We just spay or neuter, treat for parasites with Revolution, and get the rabies vaccination. No point in providing the distemper vaccination - it requires a follow-up in three weeks, and we're not retrapping the ferals to bring them back in three weeks for the distemper booster. Again, that's only something we provide to cats going into a foster network.

Please don't feel stupid . You are doing a great thing for these cats . You will get that "red" cat again, don't worry. When I TNR and plan to release, I don't get the test done either. But, if the cat will be going to foster, the test is done for sure. If they test positive for FeLK, we try to find a foster who has FeLk positives. If not, they are euthanized. Do not blame yourself for this, you are saving lives by trapping and getting cats S/N. There will no doubt be heartache on our parts in doing what we do. .

IF the cat was already sick and tested positive for FeLV, it was best that they put him to sleep. It's sad, but really it was for the best. At least the poor kitty had a peaceful passing, much better than if he had staye don the streets and died under a trailer. But a vet can't put any kitty you bring in to sleep without your permission.

I'm sure you'll catch Red again! You'll probably have to use a trap this time. . .and don't let him out of the trap! Just take him to the vet in the trap and they'll take good care of him. I don't recommend having him tested, especially if you don't intend to have him PTS if he tests positive. Only have him tested if you intend to bring him inside with your housecats.