Do you treat (vet) your feral/semi-ferals?

One of my semi-feral boys showed up this morning with quite a few wounds and a severe limp, the worst I've had to personally deal with. It looks like a dog got him. He's currently in a kennel in my bathroom with an appointment for 45 minutes from now at my vet. I don't entirely know what to do though. If the vet suggests it, if he's even willing to treat him and can handle him, I'll treat him, but how far? What if my vet turns us away? Do I just let him go?

 

This isn't my area, but I don't know whether people who have more experience will see this before you have to leave.

You've made the appointment and you need to do something for him.. Do take him and let us know how it goes.

We do vet our semi-ferals to the best of our ability. Maybe we are lucky; but, our vet(s) have been willing to work with us. We *do* allow our semi-ferals to be sedated if needed in order to treat them in the most effective way possible.

Since your cat has open wounds/injury, the sedation route would be what I would do, so that x-rays can be taken and the areas thoroughly cleaned to help prevent infection (or to clean it up.) I also opt for antibiotic injections vs. oral for cats that I cannot handle easily (being injured/feel unwell can make them more aggressive simple b/c they are on guard.) Use your judgement as to what treatment methods will work for you and the cat.

I would also be very open about the cat's temperament, especially is he tends to be more aggressive rather than simply timid. Help your vet make the most appropriate decisions for the cat and for everyone's safety.

I agree with CatPack.  If it is feasible, sedation will help a lot - both the cat and the vet!  It really depends on how experienced your vet is with feral cats and how wild the cat gets.

I would be a bit surprised if the vet turns you away.  If that happens, he or she should be able to recommend another vet who can handle the situation.  I'd make sure to ask that.

Also as to the cost, the vet should know this is not a "pet", so that he can help you determine the best course of action without breaking the bank.

Thank you for helping him!  Poor dear ...

Let us know how it went. It's always good to ask when making the appointment if the vet feels comfortable treating a semi feral pet.

I have two veterinarians I use-one for my domesticated cats, and one for my ferals. There are only two veterinarian clinics in my area that will treat ferals because many do not want to risk getting bitten or scratched or having the cat get loose in the office. If your regular vet doesn't feel comfortable treating ferals, then you'll need to call around and find out which ones in your area do handle ferals. Many Animal Friends clinics and clinics that offer mobile veterinarian services will treat ferals and semi ferals.

Is it possible to keep your cat inside, or will he go crazy if he can't go out?

We got him in and he did actually did really really well. The vet gave him an antibiotic injection, a pain killer injection, a dose of revolution, and some eye drops that I'm supposed to try to give him three times a day over the next week. We're due back when the eye drops are finished and he'll be getting wormed and treated for ear mites then. I've made an appointment with a low cost spay/neuter and vaccine group for two weeks from now where he'll tentatively be brought in as a feral (will be ear tipped and tattooed) unless he comes around socially before then. He's back in the bathroom now hiding in a corner. He's already eaten half a can of food and I think thats a good sign. I'll keep up with updates over the next few days.

That's great news! Try to keep him inside at least until he's neutered and has finished the course of treatment. Intact males can get into very vicious fights with other intact males when there's a female in heat around, so that might be how he got wounded. Instead of ear tipping, you might consider getting him micro chipped so if someone does trap him, he will be identified as belonging to you. If he's semi feral and you're able to handle him, then it's worth a shot socializing him and keeping him inside. It may take a few weeks or months, but at least you won't have to worry about him getting hurt again.  Do you have other cats inside? You might also consider moving him into your bedroom with the door closed so he has a little more room and can spend time with you at night. 

Oh, so glad to hear how this worked out.  MsAimee has a good idea about the microchip.  That might be the way to go to help keep him safe.  I hope you are able to work with him - and that he'll come around.

I'm sort of leaning towards getting him ear tipped regardless of how social he becomes before his appointment just because of his physical appearance. If some point in his next few years he is an outside cat again he will always look like a tom cat and a tip will be the easiest way to let other trappers know he's altered. It'll save him some stress and other people some work. It might make it a little harder to find him a home, but in the long run I think it'll be easier on him that his status be as visible as possible.

MissAmee, I wish I could give him a bigger area, even eventually, but I live in a tiny mobile home with a gaggle of my own forever cats with their own problems. Adding another one, especially an adult tom, would turn everyone into flying mess. It's nice and cool in there and he's got a place to hide, so I think he's okay for now. it's definitely not a place he'll be able to stay for long though. 

Whatever you do for him is making a big difference in his life. Because you are doing this for his good, your decisions will be the right ones! Thank you for helping him - you have already gone above and beyond!

How long should I wait before becoming concerned about him not going potty yet?

He may not have eaten for a bit before you got him, so I might start worrying after tomorrow.  He is also probably not used to good food, so that may be playing havoc with his system.

Also, if he's used to going outside, he may not recognize litter.  Sprinkle some dirt on top - that will help.

Thanks for the response, he's since gone twice and seems to know what to do. He's also done a sudden switch and is rubbing on my legs and reacting to being pet and drools when given cheek rubs. Right now he's in the bathroom yodeling and two of my inside cats are sitting at the door watching his shadow pass back and forth under the door. His neutering appointment has been moved back to the 19th and I'm debating on what to do with him until then. Keep him inside where he has to stay in the bathroom, or let him back outside after he's feeling a little better then trap him again the morning he's supposed to go out.

Unless its terribly inconvenient, I would keep him inside.  You do not know how he will react to being outside (he may take off after a lady friend) or whether you can catch him again in time.  Hang in there - the 19th is coming!

Can you put yourself on a cancellation list with the veterinary clinic? You could also try calling every few days to see if there's a cancellation to get the kitty in sooner.

I'm not sure how you trapped him the first time. If he's tame enough for you to just pick him up and put him in a carrier, then there's a chance you can catch him again. Unfortunately, if you used a humane trap, most cats will not go into it a second time after having been trapped, so if you let him go, you may never be able to trap him again.

If he's not climbing the walls and caterwauling all night long, then he's doing okay in the small space and I wouldn't worry about it.  

We still have this boy. He has his own bedroom with climbing towers and furniture and cozy bed. He was diagnosed as FIV positive and about 6 years old. We had him-====== neutered and he had some difficulties, but he pulled through. He spent the first two months hiding and being completely shut down. He would eat only after we left the room and would smush his face into the wall or floor so he wouldn't have to look at us. But then my boyfriend started sleeping in that room every night while I was at work (i work third shift) and it's been a complete turn around. He sleeps on the bed, he meows at the door when he hears someone coming down the hall, he's gained about 2 pounds, is growing a super soft thick coat, and purrs and drools like crazy when being brushed and petted. We let our youngest cat in for supervised visits, he's the only one not looking to fight, and they romp around and wrestle. The big guy is super gentle, but still a lot bigger than the baby, so there are a lot of breaks for calming down so the baby isn't overwhelmed. He loves his little toy mouse, but his favorite thing is a laser light and he goes absolutely crazy. We have him on some waiting lists still with some rescues, but it's at the point where we don't want him to revert by being stuck in a cage to languish. So he will be advertised, but he will stay with us until he finds a permanent home.

Wow - this is great news!  What a good idea for your boyfriend to sleep in there.  It showed the cat he wasn't a threat and really helped!  I'll have to remember that next time I have a feral to socialize.

Thanks for the update!