Emaciated Stray (Critter)

Okay, so I picked up a cute young male cat  two days ago, I named him Critter. I found him laying on the sidewalk while I was riding my bike and I thought he was dead or maybe was roadkill because he was SOOO incredibly skinny, emaciated. But I got closer and he was very weak and has a croaky meow that is also very weak. He wasn't scared of me at all, he was actually very friendly, so I picked him up on my bike and brought him home LOL. 

I'm taking him to the vet (spca) on tuesday, we're going to get his Aids/Feline leukemia test and a rabies vaccine, and Neuter. $98. I wonder if there's a cheaper vet/institution I could go to?

Anyway, I gave him a large cardboard box and lots of fuzzy blankies (inside the box) to sleep in, and I put a makeshift roof on top. 

The first day I fed him standard adult cat food (that I feed my indoor kitty), yesterday I fed him wet food (heated) and I put some L-Lysine in it. I have water out for him, and dry kitten food, and I give him some chicken broth every once in a while.

I'm also an idiot and gave him Advantage Flea control medication (that is intended for cats 9 pounds), he doesn't look like he's dying or anything yet from the medication (Thank you God) and I have a flea collar on him. I speak softly to him and give him lots of love.

Do you have any advice as to what I should ask the vet? Anything I should bring up?

ANY help/advice would be appreciated, THANK YOU!! <3

NOTE:  I also have another indoor kitty, is there anything I should do besides washing my arms and hands to "clean myself up" after going outside to pet Critter, as to not infect my indoor kitty? any disinfecting strategies for around the house (just in case)?

You're so sweet for rescuing Critter! He's lucky you found him.

The price from the SPCA sounds really low but you could call around to make sure it's the cheapest.

Just make sure the chicken broth doesn't have onions or garlic.

I would take the flea collar off right away. They are too strong (can be toxic) and you gave him a flea treatment anyway. I'm sure he'll be fine, he hasn't had the collar on very long.

Ask the vet about worms. Almost all outside kitties have them. They are easy and inexpensive to treat.

Maybe you could wear a T-shirt over your clothes when you hold Critter and take it off before you go back inside to your other cat. Just until he gets checked out at the vet.

Good luck with your new buddy! Do you have any pictues?

I agree with the above, including about flea collar.

You seems to do it very well, you do what he does need as most at this moment. Safety, love, nourishing food.  Not too much food in one portion, but often.

He is no feral. Astray or dumped. Why?

His friendliness you can partly explain by him knowing he was dying, and thus, trying to please himself in to save himself.  But the better proof he is no feral as he wouldnt be so exhausted (emaciated) if  feral 

If he was dying of exhaustation, you shall perhaps not take all the shots and neutering at once. Do it if possible in two - three different portions. Hopefully the vet wont charge you thrice.   Discuss with the vet (or the vets assistant at the phone)

Or wait a week with the vet visit till he has landed and builded himelf some.

IF he is astray, you can perhaps find the owner?  If this owner is missing him, you wont need pay the whole sum....  

Tx for helping this guy!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Take off the flea collar! Thanks for taking him home...Not sure if hes health or weight will be ok yet for him to be fixed..The vet will let you know..he does need a good check up and blood work...
 

Update:

Okay! I took off the flea collar, and gave him a new reflective collar with his name and our phone number on it (just in case). 

Another thing I noticed was that he has this little sore on his nose, and his third eyelids are showing significantly.

Here are some pictures (not with the new collar). 

Is he eating and drinking ok so far?He looks like a sweetheart.

PANCAKES said:

DSCN0183_zps81d9f4c6.jpg

• pancakes
• Apr 21, 2013

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Considering the fact that he's a very skinny stray you found laying still on the sidewalk, he doesn't look that bad! I think he's going to be okay with you takig care of him

Awesome job Pancakes, he looks like a sweetie!    I'm amazed you managed to bring him home on your bike - how did you carry him?    He must have been feeling very bad because I couldn't do that with even the tamest cat that I know 

PANCAKES said:

Update:
 and his third eyelids are showing significantly.

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They have it usually when there is some infection or inflammation in them going on. Can be almost whatever, from the most serious to rather "innocent". Quite often it is worms or alike.  He HAS surely worms, if not already dewormed by you.

This flea collar may also be a cause.  Some collars are perhaps OK - I saw the other day they sold some in our swedish pharmacy! - but others are directly poisoning for cats.

I agree with Bastet  your managing to take him on the bike wasnt that usual. He must have been really in need for help - OR desperately wanting to get help.

What a gorgeous cat! Congratulations on the rescue! I'm glad you took the flea collar off. I would have treated him for fleas, too, you don't want them in the house, but you might want to treat your indoor resident kitty too, and keep them both treated for a few months, just in case he sheds any eggs and they hatch.

Let us know how the vet visit goes.

He is just darling!  I hope his neuter and check up go fine on Tuesday.  I think he will be fine once he puts on a bit of weight.  Thanks so much for caring to take him to your home!
 

Bastfriend said:

Awesome job Pancakes, he looks like a sweetie!    I'm amazed you managed to bring him home on your bike - how did you carry him?    He must have been feeling very bad because I couldn't do that with even the tamest cat that I know 

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Actually, he had no energy at all when I picked him up...so he was very  limp  as I was riding with him under my arm, and he weighs probably like 3 pounds. 

smitten4kittens said:

Considering the fact that he's a very skinny stray you found laying still on the sidewalk, he doesn't look that bad! I think he's going to be okay with you takig care of him

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No, he's a little more energetic now, But I'm always so afraid to touch him because I feel all his ribs and back bones. Sometimes I wish I could just take the fat that's on my indoor kitty (Princess Lollipop) and stick it on Critter LOL

StefanZ said:

They have it usually when there is some infection or inflammation in them going on. Can be almost whatever, from the most serious to rather "innocent". Quite often it is worms or alike.  He HAS surely worms, if not already dewormed by you.

This flea collar may also be a cause.  Some collars are perhaps OK - I saw the other day they sold some in our swedish pharmacy! - but others are directly poisoning for cats.

I agree with Bastet  your managing to take him on the bike wasnt that usual. He must have been really in need for help - OR desperately wanting to get help.

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Yeah, I"ll talk to the vet about de worming him. and yeah, he wasn't a struggle at all, just sorta went limp in my arms  

Has he started eating okay? You could try kitten food too. Some of them have more fat and calories.

He's really a cutie. I'm so glad you saved him

I love your avatar cat!

If  you can get hold on goat milk, it is a safe tip. Much better than cow milk (which isnt good for many cats), with high nourishing values.

If salomonella in eggs is no problem at your place, so raw egg yolk (yellow of the egg) is good.  But avoid raw white of eggs.  Boiled white is ok.

Have this yolk into this goat milk - VERRY nourishing and mild.

Or have this yolk with minced meat.   Or almost whatever....

You can melt in some butter in, if you want to make some food more fat containing.

And as said, small portions, but often.

And once again. As he was exhausted and practically dying, dont do all the vet errands at one occasion. Discuss it with the vet, be prepared for perhaps three different occasions.  Vaccinating for example IS not easy for them, especielly not with living vaccines.

Good luck!

smitten4kittens said:

Has he started eating okay? You could try kitten food too. Some of them have more fat and calories.

He's really a cutie. I'm so glad you saved him

I love your avatar cat!

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 Yes, thankfully he is eating fine now (much better than the first day), and I bought a bag of dry kitten food and wet food. I leave the dry outside with him most of the day, and he takes nibbles of it here and there. Today was the first day I saw him go potty in the backyard, and I'm very happy because I was starting to think he was getting constipated.

StefanZ said:

If  you can get hold on goat milk, it is a safe tip. Much better than cow milk (which isnt good for many cats), with high nourishing values.

If salomonella in eggs is no problem at your place, so raw egg yolk (yellow of the egg) is good.  But avoid raw white of eggs.  Boiled white is ok.

Have this yolk into this goat milk - VERRY nourishing and mild.

Or have this yolk with minced meat.   Or almost whatever....

You can melt in some butter in, if you want to make some food more fat containing.

And as said, small portions, but often.

And once again. As he was exhausted and practically dying, dont do all the vet errands at one occasion. Discuss it with the vet, be prepared for perhaps three different occasions.  Vaccinating for example IS not easy for them, especielly not with living vaccines.

Good luck!

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Hmmm, I might buy some kitten cat milk in the store. I don't know where to buy goat milk, LOL. I might try to give Critter some egg, boiled preferably and butter is a good idea! Thank you for all the wonderful tips Stefan.

PANCAKES said:

Actually, he had no energy at all when I picked him up...so he was very  limp  as I was riding with him under my arm, and he weighs probably like 3 pounds.

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That's amazing!   The poor thing must have been very close to uncosciousness or death, so lucky you found him!

Okay, another update:

He's okay so far. The vet said he doesn't have aid's/leukemia. He has worms though, and I bought some prescription worm medicine for him at the vets, and he got a rabbies vaccine. I didn't get blood work done yet, as I didn't have enough money on me. They checked him for a chip, but none was found. So he's mine!! YAY! 

Thank you everyone for your support, just laying out the good news  

Thanks for the happy update!

I'm so happy for you and Critter!