Just began caring for stray cat...Need advice

livvy caleb

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Last week, I came home about 11 p.m. every night.  Three nights, a cat ran from the shrubs next to my house out into my yard as I drove up the driveway.  After this, I got a look at the cat during the day late one afternoon, and the cat is in bad shape. The cat is extremely thin with matted fur.  The cat looks like an adult.  I'd guess about a year old.  The cat runs from my car.  I haven't had a chance to observe if the cat would run from me in person, but my guess is the cat is feral.  The last four nights, I've left out food and water.  The cat is eating everything I'm leaving outside.  I have some concerns I hope you can help me with.

I took care of a stray earlier this year for several weeks.  I took him to a no-kill shelter.  He tested positive for FIV and they put him down the day I brought him in.  So much for being a no-kill shelter.  I was heartbroken because I'd grown to care for that cat and didn't realize the no-kill shelter might kill him.

I'm concerned that the stray cat I'm caring for now might be ill too, with FeLV or FIV.  I have two indoor cats, ages 11 and 13.  Is there any way that my feeding this stray outdoors might put my indoor cats at risk.  I've been bringing the stray cat's bowl inside and washing it everyday in my kitchen sink.  Could I accidentally transfer a virus via my hands from the bowl to my counter top or cat? 

I can't bear to let this cat go hungry, but I'm concerned about all I don't know about him/her.  Is the cat male or female?  If the cat is female, is the cat pregnant?  Am I going to end up with a litter of kittens on my doorstep?  I'm planning to move next year?  If I continue to feed this cat, it will become dependent on me.  I won't be able to take care of it after I move.  So, am I doing the right thing by feeding him/her now?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 

jennyr

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Thank you for caring about this and the other cats that cross your path! I can understand your anger at the shelter for PTS the previous cat, but it is a fact of life that even 'no-kill' shelters will put down sick or even unadoptable cats. There is simply no room for all of them. At the shelter where I volunteer, we will never put down a healthy cat, but those who test positive for FIV/FILV have no chance.

First of all, these diseases will not normally spread through casual contact - it is usually by fighting when one cats gets bitten or scratched deeply by another, or sometimes from mother to kittens. So your cats are not at risk, and you can safely feed the outside one, observing sensible hygiene. If s/he comes from the same colony as the sick cat, then yes, there is a chance that it could be infected. But IMO there is only one sensible course of action and that is to trap it and get it tested, then decide what to do. Some people keep FIV cats in the same household as non-infected cats for years, and nothing happens, other times it can be passed by fighting or very intensive grooming of one cat by another. But outside htere is always the risk of a fight and the infection spreading. It is a difficult call, but I would take the cat to the vet.
 

StefanZ

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the cat is in bad shape. The cat is extremely thin with matted fur.  The cat looks like an adult.  I'd guess about a year old.  The cat runs from my car.  I haven't had a chance to observe if the cat would run from me in person, but my guess is the cat is feral.
It is NOT my guess. An adult feral wouldnt be so thin and desperate for food.  .(unless perhaps severly sick).  If unsuccesfull, he would be gone long before now. [edit: Unsuccesful ferales dont live into advanced adulthood, they perish long before.  And we do see this cat isnt succesfull]

Nay, my guess he is astray or dumped.  Im rather sure of it!  He may even had been pure inside cat before.

Shy?  He either learned to be shy being on his own - they often do, especielly as not all people are cat friendly. Or was a little shy already before.  Quite many (outgoing) cats ARE shy.

So for example, the home cats of my friendly neighbours allowed to go out,  although nice and friendly cats, are ALL more or less shy. I can sometimes pet just one of them.

So, please proceed with helping this one.   Also  setting up "found" ads att message boards around. tec.

Otherwise, JennyR had said it well.

Good luck!
 
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feralvr

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Thank you for caring!! :hugs: I am sorry about the other cat you took in to the shelter in the hopes of it finding a loving home. You did right by that cat and please do not blame yourself for that :hugs: Some of these "no-kill" shelters do not have extra rooms for the FIV and FeLK cats/kittens, so they do euthanize them. Such a shame because especially with FIV - it is not easily transferred unless the cat bites another cat deeply. Some shelters have rooms for FIV and FeLK cats/kittens OR they have a huge foster network with FeLK and FIV willing foster families. I am sorry that happened to that stray :sniffle:

With this new one - I would get a trap out there right away. Find a TNR organization to work through and get the cat sterilized. Hopefully it is a male and not a pregnant female. :cross: Hard to say. The older male tomcats have the distinguishing large jowls/cheeks. Females don't get those. The males who do have them are usually over 2 yrs. of age. I am careful going in and out to feed my feral cats. The bowls I wash outside in the summer. IN the winter, I usually don't need to wash them as often and sometimes just use paper bowls that can be tossed and recycled. Just take some precautions and wash your hands after handling the cat's dishes. FIV will not be a concern for you bringing the dishes in and out, but FeLK could be, so just be aware. See if you can start feeding on a schedule, same time each day, that way trapping will go more smoothly. Keep us posted and good luck :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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livvy caleb

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Thanks for your responses!  I have continued feeding the cat.  I have not seen it again during the daytime, but have seen it at night (my car headlights show me where the cat is when I drive in).  Earlier tonight, I went outside to try and see if the cat would allow me to approach it.  He/she ran away once I was within 30 ft.  The stray I was feeding a few months ago was quite friendly, this one runs both from my car headlights and from me.  

I searched online to see if there was a lost cat notice fitting this cat's description.  I didn't find anything.

There is a TNR organization in the town where I live.  I looked at their website and it said that we have a large number of feral cats in the county.  They spay/neuter ferals for $25.00 which includes a rabies vaccination.  I guess that would hold true for strays as well.  They offer other testing/services such as an FIV/FeLV test, heartworm test, general cat vaccinations, etc.  If I trap this cat and take it in to be spayed or neutered, what other tests/vaccinations should I ask for?  What do I do if the cat does test positive for FIV or FeLV?  Release it?  Have it put down?  I'm trying to help these cats and if I have anything to do with another one getting PTS, that's going to be hard to take.

Thanks again for your help and advice!
 

feralvr

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I am so happy to hear that you have a TNR organization in your area. Most organizations offer this: (but they do vary) Spay/Neuter, Rabies, Distemper, Flea product, De-worming, microchip and ear tip and the fee around me is usually $35.00. So $25.00 is really good :nod: You could have the cat tested for FeLK/FIV but that will be an additional cost to you. If you are planning on releasing the cat you do not need to do extra tests. IF you are planning on bringing the cat indoors for socialization then I would for sure do the FeLK/FIV test. Unfortunately, if the cat tests positive for FeLK only - then the right thing to do would be to euthanize OR find a place that takes FeLK+ cats - hard to do. You do not want to release a cat with that disease back outside as it will infect the other feral cats too. Although, it is likely that the other cats would already be infected too. It really is an awful disease and it is contagious. I have not yet had a feral cat test positive to FeLK or FIV for that matter, so I have been so lucky on that front. FIV is not a death sentence and can only be transferred to another cat by a deep tissue bite. We have a few member's who have positive FIV cats living happily along with their other kitties. As long as they are sweet and friendly to the other cat's - no problem at all.

Rescuing and taking in stray/feral cats comes with a great price to our hearts :heart3: and can be very emotionally painful. You have to be prepared for that :hugs: :hugs: There are many happy endings though too. :nod: :bigthumb: Best of luck with trapping this kitty :cross: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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