Help! In over my head! (badly wounded-now healed) stray needs home ASAP

jem614

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Ok-so here's the long story-starting with a tiddly bit about me;,
I have a long history of vet experience, rescue work, and fostering animals for rescues- This Christmas Eve a tabby & white ~9mo. old  male cat found his way to one of my ex boyfriends' houses. He called me when he realized that the cat had been significantly injured because he knew I would take him in. This poor guy needed help, and after negative FIV/FeLV tests I took the cat in. (I already have a cat)

It was determined that this guy had either survived severe human mutilation or an attack by a large canine, followed by an attack by another male cat (a feline claw was embedded in the shredded pad of one of his feet), and was possibly tossed from a car traveling at enough speed to shred the pads OFF of 3 of his feet almost entirely, and to give him road rash on a spot just above his tail. He had two 6-8" open, x-shaped lacerations that were hanging open in the skin underneath his forelegs and several smaller lacerations that were infected and oozing. He had multiple puncture wounds of varying sizes, a dislocated jaw, and was extremely underweight. He was seen by a vet immediately-who immediately debrided and stitched up his wounds with drains then bandaged them loosely for me to change daily. The vet also prescribed antibiotics, and gave him fluids because he was so sick. It was VERY touch-and-go for the first week-he barely ate, barely moved, and rarely left his little heating pad except to use the litter box. I had to keep moving him to check his booboos and see if he was still breathing. I knew he had to decide if he wanted to fight to make it or not because I really did think we'd lose him for that first week-but through it all he was a total sweet heart, and endured the sterilization, debridement, medicating, and bandaging with stoic tolerance-even purring and kneading the air with his shredded little feet as I cleaned and rebandaged him. Thankfully, he soon turned a corner...

I love this sweet little guy, whom we've dubbed Kenny. He is now 100% healthy and has grown into himself and his body. He is a true lap cat-loves to cuddle, wants to be held/snuggled, is a voracious eater, and adores people. He is the sweetest cat I have met in my entire life. The problem-is that I have always untended to find Kenny a home, and I am so busy that it has been almost impossible. I also only have 2 pets on my current lease and have been warned about keeping this guy-because I already have 2 permanent pets. He also does everything he can to sneak outside when people come/go, (which I haven't allowed) and I am handicapped and slow-moving, so i am petrified that he will get out! Also-my landlord just made me move into a hotel for the next 3-4 weeks while he is remodeling the house. My other cat is staying with his foster-littermate and they didn't want to keep Kenny because they have too many pets. I adore him, but I don't know how I can keep Kenny long enough to get him neutered and find him a home. I may be able to take care of him in a month or so, but I urgently need to find a place for him to stay. I am trying desperately to give this little guy a chance, after all he has been through I think he deserves one. (which is why I've paid his vet bills and taken really good care of him) If there is anything you can think of that might help him, please let me know. Thank you for reading this mess-I'm sorry I'm extremely distraught about this whole thing..
Please pm me for photos or if interested in this little guy, I can't keep him much longer, and he really is the *sweetest* little cat you've ever met!
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Thank you so much for rescuing "Kenny" and nursing him back to health .  My only suggestions are:

Signs and posters in petstores/vet offices.
Website listings on Petfinders.
Any rescue groups willing to let you post his picture? Like the Humane Society for your county/area?

Any vets willing to take kittens to adopt em out? Sometimes your vet can be helpful, amazing as that seems.

Or if you think you might be able to keep him after about a month, maybe you could find someone to foster him for you in the interim?  Animal Shelters usually have people set up to foster for them, but the problem may be that he may get adopted in the meantime, but since you really just want him to find a home, maybe that would be ok.  Just make sure if you take him to an animal shelter, that's it's a no-kill shelter.
 

Willowy

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If it's only a month, can you board him at the vet's or a boarding kennel? You can have him neutered while he's there (if it's not done soon there will be trouble!) and then he'll be fully healed by the time you can care for him. If cost is an issue, ask rescue groups if any of their foster homes can care for him. . .if they know you'll be taking him back after a month I don't know why they'd object.
 

ziggy'smom

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It would be very helpful if you would post where you are located. Are you looking for a permanent home for him now or would a temp home while you stay at the motel be okay?

Unfortunately most people on this site are big enough cat lovers that they already have a house full so unfrtunately I don't think you'd have much luck finding a home for Kenny here. I would recommend that you take a few good pictures of Kenny and write a good description of him and what he's been through (sob stories actually does help pets find homes) and email it all to as many local rescues and no-kill shelters as you can. (For a complete list go to petfinder.com and enter your zip code where it says "Find animal welfare groups".) I'd also post it on your local Craigslist to find a temp home or a permanent home. Craigslist has a bad rep for having a lot of irresponsible idiots frequenting the pet section and that's true. But there are a lot of good and caring people too. I've found some wonderful homes through Craigslist in the past. You just have to make sure that you properly screen the people before you hand Kenny over to anyone. I always check references, ask questions about current and previous pets and always visit the adopter/foster parent's home before the cat is placed there. To find a temp home I think your best bet may be Craigslist.

If possible please get him neutered before he is adopted. A cat that is neutered and current on his shots is easier to place and you can also be sure that he will never breed and bring more unwanted kittens into the world. Unfortunately only about 70% of intact cats that are adopted with a contract to spay or neuter are actually neutered as they are supposed to.
 
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jem614

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Oops! I'm in College Station, TX- and yes I want to find a permanent home for him-funds are strapped and my landlord will not allow me to keep him! :(
 
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jem614

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Oops! I'm in College Station, TX- and yes I want to find a permanent home for him-funds are strapped and my landlord will not allow me to keep him! :(
 

feralvr

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Kenny is just a beautiful baby boy. OMG - I cannot believe he sustained such terribly painful wounds. If they could only talk and tell us what happened :sniffle: He is very, very precious and will make someone a wonderful lap cat. I DO hope and pray that someone will reach out and offer him a forever home. BLESS YOUR HEART :heart3: :heart2: :heart4: for saving. I almost have tears reading his story... Please keep us posted on Kenny :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

meowmmy_aprile

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Could you maybe contact the local SPCA and give them Kennys story or a TV or radio station. With a story like that and vet back up, I am almost positive if it hit the airways someone would step forward and give this guy a great home.  I know around here when we have severe cases like that I have seen them on the news or heard the story on the radio and within a few days the animal is adopted.
 
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