I've posted about this poor kitty before, but thought maybe I would give her a thread of her own as she has been through so much. Back in the fall before the weather turned cold I notice this little ginger cat (who I assumed was a male) hanging around and trying to sneak food on our porch. At that time I was feeding our 3 born-feral kittens outside and working on getting them socialized to be adopted. Ha, we ended up with all 3, now lovely indoor/outdoor cats, but that's another story. Ditto their mother Patience who started all this; she too has moved indoors with the cold weather and shows no sign of leaving.
But on with Little Ginger. I noticed a nasty nasal and eye discharge and tried to contact the people a few doors down where I discovered he sleeps on their porch in an old cat carrier to try to convince them to get him to a vet and also get him neutered. They didn't want to know about it, even though I offered to share the bills. I had some leftover antibiotics from a bacterial infection with my brood, so I just gave them to him over the course of a few days and the infection cleared up. But then the cold was coming on so I went again and tried to persuade them to improve shelter and feeding conditions. No success. After our first snow I saw the guy who lives there shoveling so I went over to have another try. Again no luck ... "it's my wife's cat she, looks after him", "he's just a street cat" and finally "my English isn't good" sigh. So I went home and grabbed a bag of straw left over from Mama Patience's insulated cat shelter on our porch and a big heavy duty garbage bag, and pretty much barged my way in and insisted on improving the shelter. There was only a partially frozen old pillow and small blanket inside - which I removed and put to use as outside insulation on the exposed side of the carrier - and I put the batch of straw inside and covered the whole thing with the garbage bag. Little Ginger immediately ran in and started burrowing in the straw, so that was a bit better but still ...
These people are hardly ever to be seen and all Little Ginger to eat was kibble, often crusty or wet, so I started taking over leftover wet food / kibble mix from our gang, who are fussy and often leave uneaten food, so I figured put it to use instead of throwing in the garbage. Little Ginger started sniffing my fingers and saying hello and allowing head rubs, and over the weeks the feeding became a regular evening thing. Then came the deep freeze, and conditions went from bad to terrible. The water and kibble were frozen and there was no reply when I rang the door bell, I even left a note to call me, but nothing. I was feeding LG wet food mixed with hot water regularly, but then came the night of 4 degrees here in NJ. I braved the cold to take the food and ... well I kind of encouraged her to come home with me, which was the beginning of our convalescent visitor. I put LG in our Florida room isolated from our four (for health and social reasons) with an electric heater, snuggle bed and litter box, and started regular feeding and attempts to socialize. Very successful, but this poor little cat had matted fur, again eye and nasal discharge and raspy breathing which improved only marginally.
So a few days back I took LG to the vet, which is when I discovered "he" was a "she"! Diagnosed with a nasty upper respiratory infection but happily negative for FeLV and AIDS and organ systems ok, but malnourished and with flea dirt though no fleas (probably frozen - but he gave her Revolution to be safe). She was soooo bad at the vet despite having let me put her in the carrier and drive her their no problem; had to be sedated for the blood work and antibiotic shot. Maybe just as well as my vet was then able to clean out her nose, eyes and ears and give her a proper exam. Then back to the Florida room where she has done not much other than eat, sleep and use the litter box (hey, that's a plus) but her breathing is improving and she purrs and lets me stroke her more and more. It's difficult keeping her isolated from our lot (the respiratory infection is likely contagious) and I'll probably let her out tomorrow so I can vacuum and mop the Florida room. I fear she will go right back to her abusive environment, but at least now she knows where to come for help and food, and even if she stays away I will keep monitoring and feeding her. Next step will be getting her spayed!
So here is a message to all. What stopped me helping this cat better and sooner? Fear that "her people" would retaliate, even prosecute me for trespassing on their property and/or taking their cat. But our vet made a very good point, nobody "owns" a feral or stray. And neglecting an animal like this, especially leaving him or her outside in frigid conditions without proper food and shelter is cruel and abusive. He also said if I had any issues with the people he would attest to what bad condition Little Ginger was in and how vital it was to get her treatment and bring her inside. So -- if you see a cat in horrible conditions like this, do please take the action that your heart dictates, and get a caring vet in your corner.
I will post pictures soon, I have some, just have to figure out how to upload them.
I know this is a small thing compared with those of you who are caring for whole colonies, but even one life saved and improved is something to celebrate. It is a sacrifice for us, yet another big vet bill and like most of you we aren't in great financial shape (funny that isn't it - those of us with the fewest resources care the most) but my conscience is clear for having done the right thing. Just wish I had done it sooner and not let fear of reprisal stand in my way.
God bless all caring for the uncared for.
But on with Little Ginger. I noticed a nasty nasal and eye discharge and tried to contact the people a few doors down where I discovered he sleeps on their porch in an old cat carrier to try to convince them to get him to a vet and also get him neutered. They didn't want to know about it, even though I offered to share the bills. I had some leftover antibiotics from a bacterial infection with my brood, so I just gave them to him over the course of a few days and the infection cleared up. But then the cold was coming on so I went again and tried to persuade them to improve shelter and feeding conditions. No success. After our first snow I saw the guy who lives there shoveling so I went over to have another try. Again no luck ... "it's my wife's cat she, looks after him", "he's just a street cat" and finally "my English isn't good" sigh. So I went home and grabbed a bag of straw left over from Mama Patience's insulated cat shelter on our porch and a big heavy duty garbage bag, and pretty much barged my way in and insisted on improving the shelter. There was only a partially frozen old pillow and small blanket inside - which I removed and put to use as outside insulation on the exposed side of the carrier - and I put the batch of straw inside and covered the whole thing with the garbage bag. Little Ginger immediately ran in and started burrowing in the straw, so that was a bit better but still ...
These people are hardly ever to be seen and all Little Ginger to eat was kibble, often crusty or wet, so I started taking over leftover wet food / kibble mix from our gang, who are fussy and often leave uneaten food, so I figured put it to use instead of throwing in the garbage. Little Ginger started sniffing my fingers and saying hello and allowing head rubs, and over the weeks the feeding became a regular evening thing. Then came the deep freeze, and conditions went from bad to terrible. The water and kibble were frozen and there was no reply when I rang the door bell, I even left a note to call me, but nothing. I was feeding LG wet food mixed with hot water regularly, but then came the night of 4 degrees here in NJ. I braved the cold to take the food and ... well I kind of encouraged her to come home with me, which was the beginning of our convalescent visitor. I put LG in our Florida room isolated from our four (for health and social reasons) with an electric heater, snuggle bed and litter box, and started regular feeding and attempts to socialize. Very successful, but this poor little cat had matted fur, again eye and nasal discharge and raspy breathing which improved only marginally.
So a few days back I took LG to the vet, which is when I discovered "he" was a "she"! Diagnosed with a nasty upper respiratory infection but happily negative for FeLV and AIDS and organ systems ok, but malnourished and with flea dirt though no fleas (probably frozen - but he gave her Revolution to be safe). She was soooo bad at the vet despite having let me put her in the carrier and drive her their no problem; had to be sedated for the blood work and antibiotic shot. Maybe just as well as my vet was then able to clean out her nose, eyes and ears and give her a proper exam. Then back to the Florida room where she has done not much other than eat, sleep and use the litter box (hey, that's a plus) but her breathing is improving and she purrs and lets me stroke her more and more. It's difficult keeping her isolated from our lot (the respiratory infection is likely contagious) and I'll probably let her out tomorrow so I can vacuum and mop the Florida room. I fear she will go right back to her abusive environment, but at least now she knows where to come for help and food, and even if she stays away I will keep monitoring and feeding her. Next step will be getting her spayed!
So here is a message to all. What stopped me helping this cat better and sooner? Fear that "her people" would retaliate, even prosecute me for trespassing on their property and/or taking their cat. But our vet made a very good point, nobody "owns" a feral or stray. And neglecting an animal like this, especially leaving him or her outside in frigid conditions without proper food and shelter is cruel and abusive. He also said if I had any issues with the people he would attest to what bad condition Little Ginger was in and how vital it was to get her treatment and bring her inside. So -- if you see a cat in horrible conditions like this, do please take the action that your heart dictates, and get a caring vet in your corner.
I will post pictures soon, I have some, just have to figure out how to upload them.
I know this is a small thing compared with those of you who are caring for whole colonies, but even one life saved and improved is something to celebrate. It is a sacrifice for us, yet another big vet bill and like most of you we aren't in great financial shape (funny that isn't it - those of us with the fewest resources care the most) but my conscience is clear for having done the right thing. Just wish I had done it sooner and not let fear of reprisal stand in my way.
God bless all caring for the uncared for.
!!
SO well put! 
