You don't throw old ladies away ...

caliesmom

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Our latest rescue was last night. Got the call of another cat in the live trap & I was on the road on my way to go get him. I got the live trap in the car with help. This large gray tabby hissed at us & hollered. Acted feral at first glance. On the trip back here (45 minutes), he was talking very loudly to me. He would meow, I would talk. And we did that the whole time. If I didn't answer him, he would meow louder. But I got back home, & hubby had a spot set up for him. He acted feral. We got him from the live trap into the cage without an issue. I set up dry food & water & a litter box for him. But he just stayed in the cat bed. I took some pictures last night & he jumped into my lap right away & started purring. A good 10~12 pounds at least. Thin, but not too bad. He has a big gash in his cheek that we cleaned up & put some medicine on. Well he was pretty stressed from everything, so I left him alone. This morning, I checked on him & he had eated most of his dry food. I gave him some can food~it took awhile for him to eat it. It was then that I was able to take a closer look at him. Turns out he is a she. And she is alot older. Probably around 10 or 12 years. She has broken teeth, & her front teeth are worn away. Skinny, but she is a big cat. She looks like a tom & acts like a tom, but she is just an older lady that wants attention. No signs of ever having kittens. I would say she is spayed. Yet another victim of I don't want the cat anymore, just throw her out. She'll fend for herself. Makes me soooo mad!!!! I can see her being in the Humane Society for quite some time before anyone will adopt her. But for now, she is resting in the cage & destressing. We are going to clean her gash again today, & I am going to give her more can food in a bit. She does eat the dry, but it's gotta hurt her mouth. I feel so sorry for her. But happy that we were able to get her out of there so she can have a comfy rest of her days where ever that may be. Hubby is going over floor plans again today for extra rooms. She will be with us until probably Wednesday ~ then I will take her to the Humane Society.
 

mrblanche

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Poor old girl.  Watch for overstimulation biting; that seems to be more common in the girls, and it's a reason some people have for throwing their cats out.

My big girl, Ella, just jumped up on my desk, asking for attention.  She could pass for a tom, too.

I wonder how she got that wound?  Are you sure it's not from the trap?  In fact, I would hope that was the cause; most other causes carry some real worries.
 
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ruthyb

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Awww what a lovely big girl, she does look like a tom probably if she has been out on her own if she has been thrown out she has had to harden up and fend for herself poor girl.x
 
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caliesmom

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We just finished cleaning up her cheek. It has greatly improved from last night. As the hubby was cleaning the gash, he did get it open to drain. Blood & clear fluid was all we saw. And the poor girl didn't even flinch when we were taking care of her owie. So not looking to be as bad as it looks. Sorry but it is an old wound, & hoping we got the worst of it out. After this, I did let her out on her own in the bathroom for a little exercise. She did good. She layed on the floor & stretched out as far as she could.Did I say before that she is a huge cat?  We had her in one of those round flat cat beds last night. She did not look comfy at all, so I took an old carrier & lined it with blankets for her. Now I can't get her out of it. She hopped in & has been purring ever since. She was live trapped in the same place that Tripod was at. I think he remembers her. But he doesn't seem to mind her. And the girls seem ok with her too. I know I just started this stray feral rescue a few weeks ago. And I also know that I am gonna get my heart broke many many many times. But I have to remember why I started to begin with. It is already so very rewarding.  This pic is after the 2nd cleaning. I think it looks better already.
 

ruthyb

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We just finished cleaning up her cheek. It has greatly improved from last night. As the hubby was cleaning the gash, he did get it open to drain. Blood & clear fluid was all we saw. And the poor girl didn't even flinch when we were taking care of her owie. So not looking to be as bad as it looks. Sorry but it is an old wound, & hoping we got the worst of it out. After this, I did let her out on her own in the bathroom for a little exercise. She did good. She layed on the floor & stretched out as far as she could.Did I say before that she is a huge cat?  We had her in one of those round flat cat beds last night. She did not look comfy at all, so I took an old carrier & lined it with blankets for her. Now I can't get her out of it. She hopped in & has been purring ever since. She was live trapped in the same place that Tripod was at. I think he remembers her. But he doesn't seem to mind her. And the girls seem ok with her too. I know I just started this stray feral rescue a few weeks ago. And I also know that I am gonna get my heart broke many many many times. But I have to remember why I started to begin with. It is already so very rewarding.  This pic is after the 2nd cleaning. I think it looks better already.
What you are doing is truly amazing and even though you may get your heart broke along the way (hope not) you are also giving lots of cats that probably would never get it without your help a chance. I will be looking forward to more updates from you with this lovely girl and other kitties that you help.xx
 
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rafm

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DH and I take in older kitties and the reasons people get rid of them are heart wrenching....my favorite Reason I've ever gotten was for our 21 yo guy that we took when he was 18. They'd had him since he was a kitten and were "tired of taking care of him, he sheds too much and he throws up hairballs". ***??!! Turns out, he was hyperthyroid which is why he was losing hair, and the hairballs was because he was eating a ton of the hair he was losing. Two little pills twice a day and he is right as rain. At least they were taking him to a kill shelter and not just tossing him out on the street.

Rescue does come with heartache but the overall feeling is good. Seeing them find forever homes, taking an untrusting and terrified kitty and transforming it into a trusting, loyal friend is one of the most amazing things to ever be a part of. What you are doing is amazing!
 

feralvr

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My goodness - you are truly a champion of all cats with the rescues you have been doing these last couple of weeks. :hugs: :heart2: AWWWW she is a beautiful girl. AND she sounds so very, very sweet and grateful for you taking her in. You and your DH are wonderful, loving people. Sending loads of vibes that this old lady will recover from her wound on her face and find her forever home at the Humane Society :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

eilcon

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Thank you so much for all you're doing to help this sweet girl.
 

juventas

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Frequent updates are welcome!  Is it easy to get the Humane Society to accept animals?  Over here in my city, they are always so full, it's a wonder how anyone decides which ones to accept.
 
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caliesmom

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We had grandma in her cage last night in the livingroom. She liked that. I call her grandma now. And she was quiet last night. I guess the 1st night in the cage she was scared & didn't know what was going on. But today I noticed that she isn't eating or drinking. I talked to the vet & if she hasn't drank anything by tomorrow morning, I will be bringing her in. She will drink if I dip my fingers in her water & bring it to her mouth that way. So she is thirsty. But I'm thinking that she is still overstressed from the trapping. The hubby brought home a large cage & a large orthopedic bed that he sized for her. And she likes it. The makeshift bed I made for her she stretched out & it was also a bit small for her. The next time I have her in my lap ~tonight~ I will have to have the hubby measure her from end to end. She is such a big cat ! But I just wanted to give a quick update on today. her cheek is doing much better today too. We didn't even put any medicine on it today. All looks good though. But I'm going to go have some cuddle time with her. Pray that I can get her to drink some & maybe eat some too.
 

feralvr

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Grandma :clap: :rub: I am sure she is so very grateful and happy to be getting care and love. I am sure she will eat and drink.... Sometimes it does take a day or so for them to settle in and feel safe enough to drink. But sending lots of vibes that she does drink by tomorrow :cross:. Maybe try some really yummy and stinky wet food for her and add a little warm water. Just try a few different ways of presenting the canned food to her..... Maybe her teeth hurt :dk:. I know you said in your first post that you offered canned food. So let's just hope she eats !!!!!

For Grandma :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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mrblanche

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I wouldn't be surprised if her mouth hurts from that sore.  I hope she starts eating again, soon.  One thing I have found works with these older cats is to give them soft food mixed with even more water, so it's almost a slurry.  I saved one old cat like that.
 
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caliesmom

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I went to Grandma's cage this morning & she had finished off the can food I left for her. Along with about 1/2 of the dry & water too. So she did start to eat & drink during the night.
 I got her more can food & fresh water & dry food. She did eat & drink quite a bit. Then I let her out for awhile & she is doing alot better. All the good vibes worked. Thanks guys.
 Now I just need to call the Humane Society in about 1/2 hour to see when to bring her in. The Humane Society in my area just had adopted out I think 8 cats in the last couple of weeks. So they do room for more. The have a sign on their door that says they do take in strays. And they are pretty good about it I have found. They do not take in ferals, & they do not do drop offs. Emergency cases of course they take. Plus they are a no kill. So that is a huge plus in my book. I will find out today what the policy is there for senior cats. If they don't have the means for her, I will be hanging on to her for awhile. The hubby said he is ok with whatever I want to do with the cats. 
  I did see that they have our first rescue ~the tortiouse kitten~ up for adoption now. So she is doing well too. Bubbers jumped up to see grandma this morning when she was in my lap & startled her. So she got restressed again. I had to put grandma back in the cage for awhile. But she is doing good now. She is napping & purring. Grandma has a loud purrrrrrr. I need to clean on her cheek again this morning just to get the dry stuff off. But that is healing nicely still. Thanks so much for all the advise guys.
 
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caliesmom

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I just got home from taking grandma into the Humane Society. They are really nice down there. I was able to show them what I have seen of her purrsonality the last few days & such. After a closer exam on her, she did loose that broken front fang in the last day or so. It also looks like she may have been hit by a car. With the gash on her cheek, & her back end being tender, her teeth broken off the way they were & when you put her on the floor it's almost like she's top heavy. It makes sense with all her symptoms when she was here. So she is going to have a full exam by the vet & they will let me know what the outcome of that is. But they put her in her own cage & brought out can food & water right away. She is eating & drinking again. They put a big cat box in the cage for her. When I called, I told them she was a big cat. And when I took her out of the carrier, they said they weren't expecting a cat that big. But they were talking about switching out the big for a bigger cat box is all. She was purring when I left. And I will be checking on her when I go to town again. The girls at the Humane Society said they thought grandma was a cute name so they were going to keep it for her. I will miss her.
 

feralvr

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AWWW Grandma...... I am sure you will miss her - but thank goodness for you, Grandma is off the streets and will hopefully be found by someone who will fall in love with her. I hope someone gives her a chance :cross: Sounds like a wonderful Humane Society and I am glad you have them to rely on to take some of these cat's that you are trapping. Keep us posted on Grandma. It will be alright :alright: She will be fine and I am glad she is eating and was purring when you left her today. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

sadiecat

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Oh my gosh, poor kitty!!  But you are clearly her Angel for taking such good care of her.  I can imagine your huge surprise when this wild, feral! jumped into your lap for a huge love session!!

How sweet is that?  You saved this kitties life.  Bless your heart, even though it does get a little broken.  Thank-you for doing what you do for these special ones.
 
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caliesmom

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I am sad to report that Grandma was euthanized yesterday morning after blood work revealed she was Feline Leuk positive. You were right mrblanche ... after her exam, they said she was probably thrown from a car. After I hung up with the Humane Society I told the hubby I may have to rethink this whole thing. But after I thought it over, I still want to do this. Just with less empathy, if that makes any sense. Years ago I had a cat that tested positive for Feline Leuk. I had bloodwork done on her after she passed because we had no idea what was wrong with her. That cat suffered so much & no matter what I did, I couldn't stop her pain. So I don't fault the Humane Society for passing Grandma on to Rainbow Bridge.  Poor thing. 
I cried last night, & this morning too. But I know that she is no longer in pain. And hopefully we saved her from further misery. May you finally rest in peace Grandma.   
 
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