Poor baby!!!

This morning was a riot of activity. I kept thinking for the last week, I was hearing the momma cat and her kittens outside. Early this morning the cries sounded too desperate. I went looking to find the source.

To my complete horror, I saw familiar eyes behind a grate on the side of the neighbor's house. Luna, who I assumed wandered off some time ago was completely trapped.

Turns out, nothing brings this neighborhood together like rescuing a poor kitty. There was a hole in the neighbor's garden that led to a tiny crawlspace under the house. The one neighbor didn't see anything in there (Luna is all black and shy), so he filled in the hole.

Almost a MONTH ago.

I don't know how she survived. She had to have drunk filthy rainwater in dirty puddles. But she took chicken from me while we worked to rescue her. We tried to reopen the hole, but it had collapsed on the inside.

Our one neighbor who adopted the grey kitty, came and helped us chisel the grate out of the wall. She drank a ton and ate a whole can of food. She was moving around well, and had some force behind her cries. She's thin, but she was borderline chubby before hand. She isn't skin and bones somehow. She also refused to leave the space. We're gonna check and recheck before closing the grate back up.

I can't imagine how horrible that must have been for the poor baby. Hopefully she'll be ok, and happy to see her sister again.

THAT POOR BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my heart..... thank goodness you all pulled together and managed to rescue Luna. I would definitely take her to a vet, if you can, to get checked over and maybe some fluids. Is Luna someone's cat in the neighborhood or a friendly stray or a feral? Poor thing needs lots of food and water and a few good days to rest. I am so glad that she was able to reach you with her calls. Luna.

Definitely a friendly feral. They've been fed, cared for, and welcomed by the neighborhood since they were kittens. I personally have no money right now for a vet. But maybe they'd let me work off her debt when I could. I'm disabled, but... I'd destroy my back to help save a kitty.

She still won't leave the crawlspace. I think she's too weak and shocked to be willing to travel further than the entrance. She's got plenty of food and water made available to her. I would worry more if she wasn't acting so normal aside from that. It appears she kept everything down. Maybe she ate bugs in there... ew...

Still, we're all gonna keep a close eye on her. She fought this long, now we'll do whatever we can. This has been so emotional... I'm just grateful it doesn't appear to be too late.

Well, I tried sitting outside near the food, and Luna came out. She got spooked once, and went back in the crawlspace when Tiger came by. But she came back out right away. Her and Kira seemed very happy to be reunited.

All the cats in the neighborhood where extra friendly today. Even Tiger was being very social, and not super aggressive. Luna freaked out badly when I sealed the hole back up, and has been hiding since.

However, Kira seems determined to coax her sister back into their old routine. There's plenty of food and water. I'll be putting out a lot of extra chicken for a while.

But the prison is no longer accessible to any of them. And all the cats seem relieved. I'm still kicking myself that we didn't find her sooner. There are no windows facing their house except in the bathrooms, and I never walk on that side of the house.

It was only chance that I heard her over the construction down the road. I'm buying a trap tomorrow, just in case. Hopefully I can find a vet who would let me make payments... I don't wanna wait and chance letting her get sick.

I can certainly tell you have a heart of gold and those kitties are very, very lucky to have you looking out for them. I think we all do that to ourselves after these incidences happen - kicking ourselves to have done something different. I just had one of those with my elderly dog over the weekend. Luckily everything turned out alright as it did for you. AND, can I do a little dance of joy hearing how well Luna is doing. Really, this thread was on my mind overnight and I am glad that you replied with an update. I hope that Luna does follow her siblings back to safety and away from that area all together. Are the cats spayed/neutered? If not, maybe you and your neighbor's could band together and contact a TNR organization in your area/county. Just google it. It is extremely inexpensive to get them done through a TNR (trap/neuter/return) organization. As you know, more kittens will be born if they are not fixed. But, I digress..... :shame: I am just glad that Luna was found, is recovering, and safe. I hope that she will be alright in the long run. It is amazing how she survived. A miracle. :9:

I'm pretty sure she survived on bugs down there. That, and dirty standing water. She was able to eat a LOT after being freed though.

But best news if all, after hiding for a few hours, she came back with her sister and was even playing! She still looks a little rough, but she moves well, and even sat in the garage with me and Kira for a little while.

My goodness Kira was overjoyed. I'd never seen her THAT playful and excited. Rolling everywhere, rubbing on everything. She even slept at my feet longer than ever before.

And all are fixed except for Tiger. A new cat showed up to have kittens (probably Tiger's), and they got trapped and will be adopted once weaned.

Tiger is VERY smart, and hard to trap. That's part of why I want to own a trap. It might take a long time to catch him, and there's a huge wait on traps.

He is very friendly towards humans though. And even he was clearly happy yesterday. He sheltered with the girls over the winter, and despite his aggression, seems rather fond of them. They tolerate him pretty well too. He just keeps fighting with others outside the colony, which makes him a priority for TNR.

But Luna is being watched over by both of them. Its so good to see the sisters together again.

She may need a dose of wormer after a month long diet of bugs.  (ugh!)

But really happy you found her and that things are getting back to normal.  Vibes you trap Tiger soon.  I bought three traps for that very reason - waiting to borrow/rent them was too nerve racking!

That's a great idea! Is there any particular brand I should get? They are outdoors all the time, and its been rainy with standing water all over, and other health hazards.

So far, Luna's behavior is almost exactly as it was before. She's just getting over her nervousness very quickly. She was happy to come in from the rain tonight in the garage. Even napping a little. I'm gonna keep watching in case she acts sick or anything.

Kira keeps watching her, and won't go far from her. Its so sweet. She hasn't let her sister out of her sight since they were reunited. They're sleeping peacefully a few feet away right now. :-)

The only thing I've ever used is Drontal, which I get from my vet.  I crush it in their wet food.  Whatever you feed them, make sure it is in stinky wet food.  They can smell it and the stinkier the food the better.  It also helps if they are a little extra hungry.

I do not know if there are wormers available over the counter.  Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in. 

Astrael said:

Tiger is VERY smart, and hard to trap. That's part of why I want to own a trap. It might take a long time to catch him, and there's a huge wait on traps.

He is very friendly towards humans though.

But Luna is being watched over by both of them. Its so good to see the sisters together again.

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VERY impressive that you are on top of getting them all TNRd.. GOOD FOR YOU and I thank you for your efforts. :nod:

Now - since Tiger is so friendly try this way to catching him. If he eats up his food while you are sitting nearby, then start feeding him inside of a crate with the door propped open for a couple of days. Then on vet day, just shut the door swiftly and quietly once he is inside. You can even use sardines/tuna on vet day - a small amount when you need to close him in. That way he won't make a huge mess of lots of kitty food because he may thrash and be upset. Not to worry, that is to be expected. This is a very easy solution with a friendly cat who needs TNRing.

Really heartwarming to hear how Luna's siblings are caring for her now. I am certain they knew she was in distress and knew where she was. From the sounds of it, her siblings are just as thankful as we are that you were able to rescue her. :touch:

Ondine said:

The only thing I've ever used is Drontal, which I get from my vet.  I crush it in their wet food.  Whatever you feed them, make sure it is in stinky wet food.  They can smell it and the stinkier the food the better.  It also helps if they are a little extra hungry.

I do not know if there are wormers available over the counter.  Maybe someone with more knowledge will chime in. 

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I second the Drontal from the vet. Not recommended to use OTC dewormers though. Best to get something from the vet. Also, you can use Revolution - a spot on treatment that would go on the back of the skull. Not to low on the neck though because they can lick it off. :sick: There is also Profender - a spot on topical total dewormer, again placed on the back of the skull. Excellent product, IMO. http://www.revivalanimal.com/Profender-for-Cats.html?a=bing I think you need to get it from the vet though. And is really a great de-wormer for friendly outdoor kitties.

Well, friendly doesn't include petting. They all say it with every other affectionate gesture in kitty language, but touching still weirds them out.

Kira has even shown me her belly, rather often lately. I'm not sure I could put something on them though. Stinky food is no problem. The beef flavor should cover it well. My mom, who also has a feral colony by her is gonna help me out with wormer and vet. (I can pay her over time)

I can't take credit for fixing the others. That was other neighbors. They stayed in an abandoned house that has now been renovated and occupied on the other side of the street as kittens. I never knew about them till they were a few months old.

But, I have severe insomnia and a sheltered backyard. They stay across the street for the day, and spend all night here. They stay by friendly humans all day and night.

I am determined to help Tiger since have a soft spot for grey tabbies. We had one all my childhood who lived to 22 years old. He was a brother in my eyes. Still miss him.

Astrael said:

I am determined to help Tiger since have a soft spot for grey tabbies. We had one all my childhood who lived to 22 years old. He was a brother in my eyes. Still miss him.

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Aw - so Tiger has a soft spot in your heart... I still would try the crate method with him. You don't have to be petting him to be able to do this. All that is needed is for the cat to be comfortable to eat with you sitting nearby.