Indoor cat thrown outside MN How can I help?

This is a very long story...but to start with I need to know if anyone knows

at what temperature( outside air) does hypothermia set in on a cat??? I googled it

and I can't seem to find an answer....I have alot of info. on the topic...but not an

answer to that question...just "freezing" but what does that mean exactly.  It is

17 degrees to today (with the wind chill) and my neighbors are leaving their cat

who is old and thin to be outside on their front porch  She was left outside for a week

over Thanksgiving and I went over and fed her and let her in my garage to get warm and

get unfrozen food and water. shes is very sweet and affectionate cat..very thin and frail but sweet.  I heard from another neighbor that these people said she

had to live outside now because she urinated outside of the litter box all over their furniture

and carpet.  I have tried to contact animal control to go over and talk to this guy...to let him

know a tarp over a cat carrier on his deck is not going to cut if for shelter for the winter.

My husband has tried to talk this guy...the one  time so far he told my husband that he

is "fond of" the cat and that she's been in the family forever...blah blah...and they thought

when they went out of town that they provided proper shelter for her.  Shes old for crying old loud and its getting to be winter here!!!!  Does any one have any advice on what to do here?

I know this cat is most likely elderly and her littler box issues could be any number of things

from kidney related to the fact that these people just had a baby 6-8months ago or they are

not keeping the box clean...uti....on and on with ideas on what it could be.  I have no idea

if they take her to the vet or not.  I just know that what I SEE is that they are neglecting her.

I can't take opening my curtains everyday and seeing her sitting outside on the porch in

the cold...one day she just won't be there and it will be too late.  I just don't know what to do..we called them...we hope to get someone to "officially talk" to them...what else can be done?

I tried calling shelters today to see if they could take her (if I could get them to surrender her)

and the shelters are so full...it's hard to even get someone on the phone ...I get alot of recordings

 saying you can get "on a list" for a spot when one opens up.  It's very sad.

My husband offered to call him one more time...tonite....and let him know that it's wrong

to leave her outside like this.  Any advice here?  Is she in danger of hypothermia freezing

to death in short order??? Thanks.

First, welcome to TCS!!! And thank you so much for caring for this kitty!!! :heart4: :heart4: :heart4:

Second, to answer your bolded question, I will admit I have no idea. I'm from Florida and have no experience with prolonged freezing temperatures, and all my cats are inside only anyway. But I know that if I lived in Minnesota, past probably October I wouldn't force my cat to stay outside.

The first thing you can do for this kitty is get her to the vet. Clearly her owners don't care, so if you have the resources, please get her to the vet ASAP to discover the reason for her litter box avoidance. Like you said, it could be anything -- UTI, kidney failure, arthritis since she's old, or pain from declawing, if she's declawed. If money is an issue, there's some great advice on this thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/155462/cant-afford-a-vet-please-read. In addition, you could Google "low cost vet care" in your area, apply for CareCredit, or ask neighbors to take up a donation for this kitty, since they are also concerned from what I see in your post. If getting away from work is the problem, or you have pressing obligations, you could take her in on a weekend, or try to see if one of the neighbors can do it if you pay for it.

At the vet's, she needs a full exam, testing for a UTI, and a senior blood panel done, at the least. Possibly also flea/tick/worm treatment since she's been outside, but since it's been cold the fleas and ticks might not be a problem. Other members who have senior cats will come along shortly and give you further advice.

Until you can get her to the vet, I recommend either keeping her in a small room in your house, or letting her in your garage again (I'm assuming your garage isn't heated).

A small room in your house would be best. She is an inside kitty, and although she might be scared of your house at first if she's shy, she'll certainly be happier being inside than outside. A spare bathroom, if you have one, would be ideal. Since you know she has litter box issues, take up any carpeting or anything you don't want soiled, except a pet bed, or a warm towel or blanket, and provide food and water and a litter box. Cats don't mind small spaces, so even if your bathroom is teeny tiny she will be fine. If no bathroom is available, a large closet, or spare bedroom would also work, but there you have the problems of carpeting.

If you have allergies or can't keep her in your house for some reason, your garage will also work. It at least provides her protection from the wind and rain/snow, even if it isn't heated, and you can put a space heater in there and provide a fluffy warm blanket or towel for her. Amazon sells self-heating pet beds, too. Again, in your garage she'll need food, water, and a litter box.

Once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH :heart3: for caring for this sweet girl. I'm sure your neighbors are making you really mad (I know they're making me mad!! :wife but the best thing you can do is get vet care and shelter for this kitty.

Please keep us updated and ask questions. Vibes for you and your family, and this kitty!!!

I replied to your thread in the health forum, but in addition to that reply, I second all of the advice of speakhandsforme. :nod: I wouldn't wait to "talk" to the owners at this point - they obviously have no intention of doing anything.

Sadly, for an elderly cat with potential health problems, taking her to a shelter usually is a death sentence. Of course, it may be kinder for her to die quickly.

BTW, it is illegal to deny shelter to a companion animal in MN; it is also illegal to abandon a companion animal. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=343.21

OH! One important thing I forgot to mention --

If you do keep her in your garage, and you also keep your car in your garage, PLEASE pop the hood and check the tire wells every time before you turn it on and back out. Cats often climb in there for warmth during the winter, and often just banging on the hood to make her jump out won't be enough.

I  would take her to the vet --but how? What I mean is...do I just grab her and go?  I can't get her to

come to my house right now...I live across the street from them and I have been calling her by name

to come to me and she just looks at me and kinda meows/chirps at me and just huddles up.  She won't

get off of that chair she is on.... I think she is so cold that she doesn't want to move.  I can't just go up

the driveway and grab her ...I think someone might be in the house.  I feel a little lost here..I would go

over there but  I am not real sure of what this guy is like....they have lived here for a year....but not many

neighbors know much about them or talk to them.  They are very secretive...never open their curtains

and not outside much...so  I don't know what we are dealing with here. 

Should I have my husband call him ....one more time...and ask them if she's been to a vet? If he intends

to keep her outside all winter? and then based on his answers we know if we should turn him over to the

cruelty agency?  I wrote them an email but they said this is an animal control issue to start with and then

they would contact him if further charges were needed.  I can't take her in because my kitty would freak.

She is old and very spoiled and I just don't feel it's fair to her.  AS much as  I want to....believe me....I

just can't do it.  My husband also warned me not to let her in the house.  I will let her in my garage as long

as she wants....i have a space heater in there for her...and a bed with blankets and all that....she just isn't

coming over right now.  I don't know...something is nagging at me that they are keeping her caged up at

night in the backyard under that tarp....they know we let her in our garage at night while they were gone...and they could

see our door cracked for her to get under...and all of the sudden she stopped coming over at night.  I think they got

her locked up in that carrier at night so she can't come over here and "rat them out" ...it's gut feeling only....I have

 no proof...short of sneaking over there in the middle of the night with a flashlight...I have no way to know for sure.

I just hate this...it's just so sad to think people actually DO this.  I can't really get anyone to investigate based on

"gut feelings" only what is factual....so far it's that she was out for a week all day/night alone...and now that she is

out all day in the cold.  I took pictures of her today with printouts of them temperature/time for proof.

I don't know...I am just sick about this.  I feel sick to my stomache for her.  

To get her to come to you, try warming up some smelly wet food and holding it outside to entice her over.

If that doesn't work, I would call your neighbors (or ask your husband to) and offer to take her to the vet. If they say no, tell them that denying shelter to a companion animal is illegal in your state, and the shelter they're providing doesn't cut it. That might make them a little more compliant with your desire to get her vet care and shelter.

But my feeling is that she'll come over for the food, or for your opened garage door if she sees it.

oh ok....I like that idea about my hubby asking him about taking her to a shelter or the vet and if he says no...telling him about

the denying of proper shelter and care laws.  I did look up the MN statutes and I printed them out and highlighted the ones that

they are violating... my husband should take them over to his house and hand him the copy of that along with the printouts

I made of what happens to cats in the cold winter weather....!!!!  

I just went and looked again for her and now she is gone.  I think she went to the back

because it's garbage day here and the trucks are all over right now...she gets scared

from the noise they make. 

Thank you for the tip on the wheels of the car....I always look "under it" but never thought

to check that. 

I could try the wet food warm up thing too...if she comes back to the front again....my front

of the house faces their front of the house and we are across the street from them.

scarry to think these people have a baby!

OMG- this just makes me SO mad . This guy cannot do this to his senior kitty. Absolutely, tell him you will take the cat as it is against the law to do what he has done - and you are willing to help this kitty. I do agree with Laurie - in that - if you can't take her in then a shelter might be her only option. Even if it does mean PTS - it is better than what she is enduring right now. that is just totally cruel nfire:.

She most likely has a urinary tract infection...... if she could just get treated and tested for that, then she might have a chance in another home. There is a reason she started peeing - either medically related OR stress related. :dk: Maybe they just didn't want the "old" cat anymore and she feels this for sure. How sad. Much luck with this situation. Whatever you decide - it is better to do something for this cat rather than not.

Living in MN - it's too cold for an old/frail cat to survive outside. The peeing, thin, etc may be due to renal failure, as well as any of a number of other things.

I've only skimmed the thread, do you think they would object if you took her in to get vet care? If not, I'd just go scoop her up & have your vet take a look at her.

I was thinking about his situation more overnight - and totally agree that this kitty could be suffering from renal failure too. She really does need a vet. Makes me SOOOO that she was tossed outdoors. She needs rescuing right away. Who cares what they think - they obviously don't want her anymore and probably would be relieved if someone took her :shame: - so sad...

quick update...my husband called the guy again...late afternoon/early eve.  

The guy didn't answer his cell....but my hubby left a message that we

saw her out again...multiple days and that it was way too cold and dangerous

for her to be out...that we were "worried about her health" and if there

was anything we could do to help to let us know.  He repeated the worried and

way too cold part TWICE to let him know we are watching and that it IS TOO COLD for

her to be out!!

. 

Can you suggest they get a heat lamp for the cat?  At least she'd be warm then.  Or maybe get one for them?  A heated pad for the kennel might help too.  We had barn cats growing up in MN but they had the barn and they hogged the heat lamps we had for the lambs and they grew up in the barn so they knew how to stay warm.  Putting an indoor cat outside in winter is just cruel.

Well, let's see what happens. :cross:

If no one responds, or the neighbor just gets defensive or hostile, what about you leaving a message for the wife on her cell phone? A short one, just letting her know you're taking the kitty to see a vet since you can't seem to get any answers about her health, and she's older and doesn't have adequate shelter. You're not cat-napping her, just getting her some care. If she WANTS you to keep her, she and the baby can come over to visit to see the cat?

:dk:

I was at a friends house tonite ...and they said they would take her in

if they will surrender her.   I just have to let them know

that someone else would do the right thing by this cat!  I will have my

hubby call and leave yet another message--they can surrender her

to a loving, good family who will take care of her medical issues and

love her up.....so I hope they take that option.  If they say no...well..

I just don't know. 

I am so upset after reading this. It is now Feb. & here in MN it is really cold. I can only hope for the best for the poor old lady or guy. If I was there, I would definately take the cat home with me. I would also nail a paper to their door stating that they are breaking the law. Call the Humane Society. They are supposed to be there for the welfare of the animals. You can also have to police dept. there show that you mean business. I'm sorry for my words, but this just makes my blood boil. I am an advocate for animals & this poor soul is crying for someone to step in. Just because they have a fur coat doesn't mean they are built for our MN winter weather.

Caliesmom