Help! Stray cat adopted me...need advice!

Hi! I'm brand new to this forum but certainly not to animals. Quick background; we have two Shih-Tzu pups at home- one very mellow, the other barks at every animal he sees. We also have our big lug of a kitty, Prince (photo here). 3 days ago we found a stray across the street- I thought he/she was feral at first, which I suppose is possible still, but she is the BIGGEST love. She looks terribly sickly and was definitely starving. No idea of her age (we've dubbed her 'Boo Boo'), but she can't be more than 3-4 pounds, and a great deal of fur is missing from her mid-back down, but for a poof at the tip of her tail. She's also got several missing teeth, impossible to eat dry food. We're giving her wet food now and she's been around every day. She tries to follow us into the house, still has LOTS of bounce in her step- even jumped in the car yesterday when my husband was leaving! I've found no local agencies (no-kill or sanctuary that will take her), so my next step is the vet. Do you think she could be feral? She's such a love, though! I'm wondering how costly this will be...no idea of what could be wrong with her, but the lack of fur (mange? Flea allergy?) worries me, in addition to her dental health. I'd love to take her in but don't want to traumatized the poor thing too soon with 2 dogs and a cat around already. Any ideas what could be wrong and what else I can be doing for Boo? Have a crate with old towels in it outside for her too, but she's taken no interest in that. Thanks!

Before you expose your housepets to her, you need to have her thoroughly checked out by a vet. She needs to be checked for internal parasites, external parasites, FIV, FeLV, FHV, ringworm, coccidia, and the whole spectrum of feline diseases.  You should also wash your hands after touching her, before you touch any of your animals.

This is going to start out quite expensive, if you do all the tests needed.

It sounds like some scumbag dumped or abandoned her.  Has anybody in the neighborhood moved out lately?

Welcome to TCS and keep the questions coming.  We all want what is best for her and all of your furkids.

No, she isnt definitely no feral. Surely abandoned or gone astray. That is why she isnt no good at finding food, and also, tries desperately to be allowed to come inside. Lack of fur can be anything, but my guess is she loses every fight, and thus, loses lotsa fur too.

Loss of teeths may be she had a misunderstanding with a car, or someones shoes.

Yeah, do a vet check up, including deparasiting and tests for FIV and Felv, before you bring her in. You can use this cage as the first quarantine room when she is well inside, if you dont have extra room. Bring the cage inside. You can have in in a cellar or anywhere.  Always good they do have some quarantine time, even if they got oK from the vet, especielly as here.

My guess is she will be anxious to adapt to the other animals, please herself in. She knows you are her best practical chance....

Dont be very sorry you can give her only wet food, no dry. Wet food IS better than dry, so just proceed...  Best a little at a time but often, as she has starved.

Tx for caring!  Keep reporting and asking!

Good luck!

Welcome to our Forums!

Thank you both! Yes; I have no intention of bringing Boo in yet due to potential disease, among other things. I'm very thorough washing hands, etc., when I come back in. Made vet appointment for Wednesday, but I have a new development and need NEW advice! I have a neighbor with a dog (who I know is not very well taken care of, though I can't say for sure if she is abused or neglected), and a cat who I've heard her call but never see. My other neighbor informed me yesterday that Boo was walking outside (let's call her 'Martha'- the questionable neighbor)/ Martha's house, and before she drove off, she grabbed Boo and threw her in her house and drove off. I've yet to see her to speak with her since hearing this, but if this IS her cat, it's unforgivable and deplorable that she would allow this cat to be half-starved to death among her many other obvious issues. Would animal control do something about this? If not, I have NO problem taking Boo the next time I see her and rescuing her! I'm still scraping my jaw off the ground after hearing this! Even if its NOT here, she has other animals! Subjecting them to a sickly cat- not good either way!

So speak with this neigbour. Try to do it friendly. You can always tell you are willing to adopt her. It takes both the variation Boo IS really Marthas neglected cat, and IF Martha tried to save Boo in a somewhat clumsy way...

Yes, if Boo is their gravely neglected cat, Animal control with have a serious talk with them, at the very least, if they are worth their salt.  I suppose you also do follow the serial  about Animal Police?