Emaciated cat, need help!

Oh how I wish it was Monday! Or that vets were open on Sundays.

So, I've ended up with two cats in the last month or so.....well seven if you count the kittens.

One morning I woke up to meowing outside....from more than one cat. I opened the front door and saw a beautiful white cat. I don't know where she came from, but she brought along her kittens. Five of them, hiding under the porch. Of course, I brought them all inside and got them cleaned up. They were all covered with fleas, it was so sad. I've since found a home for all the kittens. The last one leaving this past week. I decided to keep the mama cat. I've named her Deja. Very sweet girl.

I had Deja spayed and got her rabies shot yesterday, and on the way back home from the vet I noticed a black cat in the road. She moved off quick and I continued on home. Today, on the way to work, I noticed the black cat again in the same spot....and then on the way back home the cat was laying in the middle of the road...looking around. I freaked, thinking she had been hit and pulled over to check on her. She immediately got up and started walking towards me (hadn't been hit, thank God)! Even from a distance I could tell she was in need of groceries and a good grooming.

She's completely black (fluffy), except for the brown from, I'm guessing, malnourishment and worms. She's nothing but a bag of bones. No meat on her at all. I've picked a few ticks off her and I haven't seen any fleas. I've given her little bits of food at a time...considering that she's vacuuming it down. She's drinking water and using the litter box. Her poops are normal, no diarrhea at all today. Didn't see any visible worms. No runny eyes or nose....just very, very thin. I don't understand how she's still standing.

She's the sweetest thing ever, very much a lap cat. I've separated her from Deja. She's in a room to herself...in case of sickness. I spent some time with her earlier today. I watched tv and petted her. I'm planning on keeping her if she makes it *crosses fingers*. I left the house for a little while and when I came back to check on her she was limping (front right). I have no idea where this limp has come from. She was walking fine earlier...and then she was limping on it....now she's not putting any pressure on it at all.

I've felt around and she doesn't pull it away or anything. She still follows me around the room and eats/drinks. She's just got this mysterious leg issue. There is a day bed and chair in the room. Could it be that she jumped down and landed on it wrong?? Bruised something?

I feel so terrible for her. She just lays there and now her leg problem. I really wish I could get her into the vet sooner, but considering they're closed tomorrow I'll have to wait until Monday.

So, until then, what can I do to make her comfortable? How often should I feed her? What's the best food right now? Any ideas about her leg? What about deworming her? I bought Deja some dewormer at the vet...should I wait and see what they tell me Monday? Any advice to help me out until then would be great!

Keep her hydrated would be my main concern being that near me its hot out. I would feed her wet food-something like friskies considering thats most likely the grade of food she was eating anything to rich may cause issues. a few meals a day and not to point shes eaten to much/looks larger in tummy.

I would NOT deworm her as in her state it could harm her. Its possible she tried to jump up or down and slipped in that state. Just for the record no human pain meds figure you know but just in case. I would make sure she has plenty of comfy spots ground level and if she insists on moving alot make sure to have it set up with a comforter on floor in case of a fall and maybe try to put something near so shes not making full jumps up and down.

Have you tried to call the vet just in case they have a service/the vet happens to go in to the office he will see you called? I would at least call-they will know somethings up monday and may hold a spot open that they may have filled first thing monday am.

Good luck

It could also be she was hit by a vehicle and has some injuries. I would try to keep her calm and its good that she is eating/drinking/litter box.
I wouldn't give any type of meds until seem by a vet as they may have to xray.
Good luck.

Yeah, I was iffy about deworming her. I'm definitely not giving her any meds at all. Just food/water and a comfy room to sleep in. I have tried calling several vets. I live in a very small town and have even called the vets in the surrounding counties. Two places I've gotten in touch with (emergency numbers) and both have told me to just bring her in monday. So frustrating!

I'm a little more worried about her today. She's more lethargic and her leg just hangs. I don't understand this at all. She was walking and jumping and even ran a little bit yesterday perfectly fine. I don't know what could have happened, it's really bothering me. God it's so sad to look at her. She still wants to be petted and will come to food. Right now I'm feeding her wet Science diet, kitten food. Which was recommended by one of the vets. Water of course is kept out 24/7. Her poops are still normal....but she's taken to sleeping in her litter box....any ideas about this one????

They normally seek out the litterbox to hide out of fear(which seems its not her case as she was up more before) or from pain. I would throw a towel in a litter box or cardboard box down(maybe try it without towel to if refuse as may be seeking a cooler spot).

Got you about the vets-At least you will be on caller id tho. That lacking in nutrtition it could be a sprain/break as weakened bones or an old injury flared up(If that turns out the case you may want to ask vet tom about a dog crate for recovery if it dont come up)

I had a cat with a leg issue who was on crate rest and he would lay in litter all day until it was time to use it then hed meow alot for me to change it. miserable for a few weeks but he healed up fine(thinking fell out of tree as he was neighbors till that day I brought him in to be treated they must have saw him as no one asked or said a word of where is our cat.

Sleeping in a litter box is comforting for a stressed cat, they are surrounded by their scent in an unfamiliar and sometimes scary environment. It's why you see so many cats in shelters sitting in their box.

She may just now be showing signs of the injury because she's calming down, eating and probably feeling a little better. Now the endorphins of trying to survive are settling down and the pain is starting to show itself.

I'd just try to keep her as still as possible today, don't make her come to you, take the food and water to her, etc. She's probably exhausted, stressed and confused. Just give her some peace and quiet today.

Originally Posted by RAFM

Sleeping in a litter box is comforting for a stressed cat, they are surrounded by their scent in an unfamiliar and sometimes scary environment. It's why you see so many cats in shelters sitting in their box.

She may just now be showing signs of the injury because she's calming down, eating and probably feeling a little better. Now the endorphins of trying to survive are settling down and the pain is starting to show itself.

I'd just try to keep her as still as possible today, don't make her come to you, take the food and water to her, etc. She's probably exhausted, stressed and confused. Just give her some peace and quiet today.

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Frankly, that's what I was thinking...she's in a safe place and it's "allowed" for her to show her weakness/pain. (Oh, and the brownness might just be from the sun. Black cats "rust" in the sun. My black kitty is quite brown in the summer.)

Also about the skinniness, it's possible she has just finished with a litter and they are weaned now...my rescue kitty had 8 kittens and she was extremely skinny after all the nursing and such.

First of all, thank you for rescuing these kitties!

As to your black baby... our Chumley seemed fine when we first rescued him, and then a day or two later was limping badly. Thankfully it was a weekday, so we rushed to the vet. Turns out he had a broken leg that was never set and had about 40% of the motion he should in his front right ankle. He must have jumped on it funny and got it twisted or something. Our vet gave him an anti-inflammatory and some pain meds, and it only took a few days to clear up.

I think RAFM has hit the nail on the head... this is a lot of change for your rescue girl. She's probably in pain, and seeking comfort.

It could be so many things... best just to ensure she's eating, make sure she has water; maybe put another litter box in there for her... and get her to the vet as soon as possible.

Try to give them a Rotisserie chicken. ONce I had a sick cat that wouldn't eat, but he gobbled it up!

Thank you so much for helping her, and Deja and her babies! She is scared for sure and the litter box is comforting her just like previously said. I will be anxiously following this thread for updates from the vet

And perhaps you can post some photos of her

I'm just reading this - are there any updates?

Wondering that myself ?