Saving this poor cat

shedevilx15

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There is a cat that has been hanging around my house for literally months, and I was under the impression that she was the neighbors.  Well I found out this past Thursday from the neighbor that no it was not her cat and she thought someone might have abandoned it months ago, and its been hanging around our houses wasting away to nothing since.  I was unable to find her thursday, but found her Friday morning, chased her down, and caught her.  She was so weak and emaciated that she literally fell running from me and just gave up.  I brought her inside and made a few phone calls and sent a few emails to the local SPCA and vets.  None of the vets will take her in but want me to claim ownership and pay for treatment, which wouldnt be a huge deal except I cannot afford that right now.  Then, I talked to the SPCA and they basically said with her terrible condition they would euthanize her and I wont accept that.  This cat has gone so long without eating that she wouldnt eat.  I know a LOT about dogs (breeder for 5+ years) and My moms best friend is a vet tech with 20+ years experience, so shes given me some advice too.  I have this cat in a large wire dog crate, with dry cat food, water, and canned baby chicken, litter box, and a box with a heating pad in it on low with a blanket on top.  She seems to love the heating pad.  I have been giving her 50-60ml Daily of Lactated ringers SubQ to help hydrate her (I know what I'm doing I've saved many animals this way), and I've been giving her some water mixed with canned baby food (chicken or turkey) in an oral syringe several times a day.  I have seen HUGE improvement since Friday, and she even has eaten a little of the dry food on her own today.  I have not yet seen her poop in the litter box, but she has peed.  She is very tired and sleeps most of the time, but is alert and will walk around and explore some.  When I can afford it (not until after Christmas) I'll be taking her to a vet to get the triple cat test done, and hopefully all are negative.  But like I said, I cannot take her to a vet until after x-mas, so I'm doing everything I can to get her as healthy as possible and gaining weight, and hopefully more eager to eat and drink.  Does anyone have any other advice?  I may start mixing some unflavored pedialyte in with the food I hand-feed her, and her eyes, and nose and lungs are all clear so I know she does not have an upper respiratory infection.  I'm doing everything I can to save this kitty.  I know I'll know more once she is seen by a vet and has blood-work and tests run, but any advice that may help her between now and then is very much appreciated.  I've had cats in the past, but I know a lot more about dogs than I do cats.  You cannot even see how bony and emaciated this kitty is from the picture, but she is nothin' but bones, I did already give her a bath, and trimmed her horrific nails.  I just call her kitty for now, I dont want to get too attached incase something is very wrong with her and she doesn't make it.

 

ldg

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First of all, bless you for taking in this beautiful kitty. :heart3: :hugs: It's very likely she's had liver damage from not eating - it seems you know this, but cats are not constructed to use their body fat like people are. As it seems you're also aware, eating is the only real cure, and once the cycle has started, you do have to force feed her. It's a great sign that she's eaten some of the dry food on her own!

I think it's amazing she doesn't have a URI or hasn't contracted the herpes virus!

You may want to syringe feed her some kitten glop to help - it's easy on the tummy, and full of fat and protein. Here's a good recipe: http://www.kitten-rescue.com/what_to_feed.html

If you want to continue syringe feeding her the baby food, you might want to consider mixing a raw egg yolk into it for the taurine.

But really - other than getting food into her, getting her hydrated, and keeping her warm.... I don't know that there is much to do until you can get her to a vet - although if you can afford a topical parasite-treatment, I'd consider it as soon as she's eating a little more on her own.

Can you afford a topical parasite treatment, like Revolution? I think it's still sold only at the vet because it also treats for heartworm... but as long as she's been outside it's almost a guarantee that she's got fleas, if not ticks, and round worm and tapeworm. :nod: Revolution isn't great for ticks, but it treats fleas and most of the internal parasites (except tapes, but no point in treating them if there are fleas until the fleas are gone). I don't know where you live, but lung worm is a big problem around here - the only treatment for it is a shot of Ivermectin. But if she's not coughing, it can wait until you can get her to the vet.

...and she's probably not pooping because she hasn't got enough food in her system to come out the other end yet. :dk: If you think otherwise, the very BEST help for a cat's small intestines/colon is pumpkin. It's a very safe fiber, and a tablespoon mixed with food works wonders (for both diarrhea and constipation). Our Flowerbelle needs it to keep things moving through her. Most cats like it enough - some will eat it plain, most will eat it mixed with food. Not Flowerbelle, of course. So I mix it with a mushy food and syringe feed her with it every day. :rolleyes:

Just FYI, an 8 pound cat needs about 150ml of food (4 - 6 ounces, depending upon level of activity). You want to work up to that - but if she's not getting that much on her own, it will help if you syringe feed her that much. Not sure how much info you already have, but 30ml is one ounce. :nod: (And when talking ml or ounces, I'm talking food without the added water to help keep her hydrated, that's just how much canned/wet food she needs). For a kitty in her condition, I'd work up to it (unless she starts eating more on her own quickly), and I'd give it to her probably 1/2 ounce or 1 ounce at a time - but if you work and not from home, that might be difficult. But at least several small meals. :nod:

Vibes for you and kitty! :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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stephanietx

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Bless you for caring and saving this pretty girl!  Sounds like you're doing everything right.  If she was as exhausted and emaciated as you claim, she probably doesn't have the strength to do much more than sleep and eat what you're forcing into her.  Also, she hasn't taken anything in, so therefore has nothing to poop out.  Other than keeping her warm, hydrated, and fed, the only other suggestion I have is to get some Science Diet a/d from the vet and add that to the wet food you're already feeding her.  It's chock full of nutrients and excellent for malnourished kitties, both cats and kittens.  If you can't do that, you could possibly mix up some homemade kitten formula for her.  You can find the recipe in the Kitten and Pregnant Cat forum.   http://www.thecatsite.com/t/46295/recipe-for-kitten-formula-kitten-glop

Other than that, sounds like you're on the right track.  Please keep us posted on her progress!
 

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Oh, to add to what I wrote and Stephanie's excellent suggestion, I would recommend a probiotic for her. It's part of the "optional" part of the kitten glop... but who knows what she's been eating and what's going on in her gut. We buy an organic acidophilus+bifidus supplement from the health food store, but really, any acidophilus supplement will help. Just sprinkle one capsule on or into whatever wet food you're feeding her/syringing her a day. :nod:
 
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shedevilx15

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Thanks for the advice!  I definitely think I'll need to work her up to that much food, she looks like if she was in good health she would weigh around 8 pounds, but I have a 4.5 pounds pomeranian and I Know this cat weighs less than that, shes probably more like 3 pounds.  I'll run to petsmart tomorrow, I know some of the people at the banfield there and they will sell me some of that canned food and I'll feed her that too.  I live in New Hampshire and it was literally freezing last-night, I just know if she had been out there she would have died.  Breaks my heart just thinking about it.  I'll look into the links of the kitten glop stuff right now and get the stuff for that tomorrow as well.
 

stephanietx

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Just be diligent and know it's not going to be an overnight improvement.  Slow and steady, patience, and TLC will help her overcome the odds.  You might offer her some warmed up wet food, too. 
 

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I Want to thank you for saving this kitty, without you she surely would have died. She is beautiful and I hope with the above excellent advice and your loving care she will turn the corner. She now knows what it feels like to be loved, and that is a wonderful gift. :hugs: :hugs: I hope she pulls through this :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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shedevilx15

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I did get some more chicken baby food in her tonight, and she is up and alert, she's tried to use the litter box a couple times but she wont get out of it so I'm not sure if she went potty yet or not.  My mom and I think our best bet is to get her to see a  vet this week, so despite the fact that my dad doesn't want to put any money into this poor kitty and my hubby and I are dirt poor right now, my moms going to help me.  I need to know now if she has FHW, FIV or FeLV.  I'm preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.  I'll let you all know her test results when I know.
 

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You are her hero....bless you for taking her in.

Just a note....FIV is not a death sentence.  Even if she tests positive, she can live a long, normal life.   Also, please make sure you do not use over the counter flea treatments.  Advantage or Revolution as suggested.  Ask the vet. Since she is in a low condition, neither may be appropriate at this time.  A flea comb and bowl of soapy water to drown the fleas may be your best bet for the moment.  It will also give you and her quality time of grooming and when she feels that closeness, that can work wonders.

The definition of an angel for the cats is someone who takes in a poor little one, even when times are tight.

Thank you.
 

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Well, let's hope she tests negative for everything! Heartworm has risks, but can be survivable, and FIV is a very slow acting virus that impairs the functioning of the immune system over time. It's similar to HIV in people - it often never becomes AIDS, and if not having sex or sharing needles, you pose no threat to anyone. Any "FIV literate" vet would not recommend an FIV kitty be put down. We have an FIV+ kitty living with our other seven FIV- kitties. The several vets we work with all have quite a number of people with FIV+ and FIV- mixed households. :nod:

And HOW wonderful of your mom! What a wonderful gift!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

feralvr

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YES- This is a wonderful gift from your mom :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: A big thank you to her from us :D :thanks:. Hoping for negative results too :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

stephanietx

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Your mom is awesome!!  I hope all her tests are negative.

How is she doing today?
 
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shedevilx15

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I have not been able to get kitty to a vet yet, my daughter has been home sick from school, and now myself, my husband any my other daughter are all sick!  Ugh its terrible.  But I have some WONDERFUL news.  Kitty is still not drinking on her own, even though I have a bowl of UN-flavored pedialyte in with her at all times, so she is still getting 50-60ML daily of lactated ringers, However; I woke up to her nibbling on dry cat food this morning, then when I went to feed her the baby food mixture this afternoon she saw me, and started eating dry food again, for like 5 minutes!  So i didn't force feed her, THEN again a couple hours later she was eating hard food.  And Finally this evening she was active, alert and Meowing to come out of the crate!  So my hubbs let her out, she went exploring around the room, then cam over and was begging for attention so I gave her tons.  Then I found the can of pounce moist cat treats I bought her, and sprinkled a few on the floor, and she ate 5 of them!!!  I know they are small, but still its a great start!  Shes in her crate resting on her heating pad right now, but the improvement just from yesterday to today is just incredible and I really hope she continues to improve.  And although I had no intensions of keeping her forever, just doing everything I can for her and then finding her a great home, but.. I'm getting attached, and tonight my hubby referred to her as my cat, so We'll see.  Maybe I can keep her <3
 

ldg

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Aw that is GREAT news! :clap: Vibes she keeps improving! :vibes: :vibes: :vibes:

And I have to laugh... cats have that way about them. My DH hated cats. Neither of us ever had one, and then a stray turned up on our lives... 10 years ago.

Now we have 8.
 

stephanietx

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Woohoo!!  All great signs that she's improving!! 
  Hope she continues to improve and that you and your family get well, too.  Please keep us posted on her progress and trip to the vet.  Have you named her yet??
 
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shedevilx15

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Still just calling her Kitty, lol

She is still eating a little bit of dry cat doog here and there throughout the day, and today...... Shes eaten almost a whole can of wet cat food!!!! She had NO interest in it before, but today she was sniffing a can of it, so I opened it for her, and BAM her face was in it! =)

Shes still resting a lot, but I see progress daily, and It appears that she is gaining weight,

bahaha, I know there is still a long way to go, and that there is a chance she still may not make it, but I have high hopes and I'm so happy to see her healthier and eating that I could cry.
 
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shedevilx15

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I wanted to give you all an Update on Miss Kitty.

She has been to a vet and got her rabies vaccine, feline leukemia vaccine and combo vaccine as well as tested negative for everything on the feline triple test.

she is getting stronger by the day.  Eats like a horse.  She is no longer bony at all, but still could use some more muscle, but she literally runs around the upstairs constantly, sleeps on my bed with me and hubby, and is fantastic!  She must think she is a dog because she licks me all the time and will come up and put her mouth over my fingers when I pet her but not to bite, just to hold them.  She comes running when I call her.  I just gave her the 2nd combo vaccine per vet recommendation.  She is just a sweetheart and I can't for the life of my figure out why anyone would have dumped her outside and let her waste away to nothing, and she would have died out there.  Makes me sick, but it will never happen again, she will never set foot outside.  She has no interest in going down stairs so I don't have to worry about that.  She is very spoiled and I'm so glad to have her =)

 

stephanietx

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Awww, she's a tortie!!  What a beautiful girl!  So glad she's doing well and flourishing in your home!
 
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