Hello everyone,
It's 3AM and I can't sleep because I have so much on my mind right now regarding an 8~10 month old male cat I came upon today. I hope you will be able to help me make some decisions.
He (let's call him Jerry) was crying nonstop in a barren back alley where cars pass through. That was how he got me and my boyfriend's attention, and I couldn't just walk away from him. He was shivering and would cringe every time a car passed by, trying to sink further into the dead grass beneath him. Jerry did not want to move an inch from his spot, and there was a full plastic pouch of dry kibbles in front of him. My bf concluded that Jerry had been abandoned very very recently, if not that same day. I agreed, because Jerry's condition did not look bad and his coat was still soft and felt neat.
We took him home and bathed him with flea shampoo. I combed him and definitely came up on flea blood sacs. Jerry did not seem infested with fleas, but I did find one unmistakable flea on his belly during the bath. His previous owner has also left him un-neutered.
I already have two cats (10 month male & 3 month female) at home, and it is a three bedroom apartment. If possible, I would like to avoid adopting Jerry myself. However, I also don't know if I can trust shelters. I live in the 92833 area code of California, and it seems very difficult to locate a shelter or cat adoption organization who is willing to take him in.
Budget is also tight and I want to do what's best for him. I called up my vet for advice and the receptionist recommended an exam along with a fecal matter testing.
What are the first things first I need to get done? Aside from neutering, of course. Is flea meds something that I urgently need ASAP or can it wait? Or is it also an option to give Jerry to a shelter?
Jerry is currently isolated in my bedroom, roaming. He is eating, drinking, and using the litterbox (I forgot how pungent a tomcat's urine smells). He is very friendly and receptive to human touch.
Requesting all advice possible in this situation, especially in the shelter matter. Or how it even goes if one comes upon an abandoned cat. I've never dealt with this situation before and I really want to make sure Jerry has a quality life from this point on.
Thank you,
Rachel K
It's 3AM and I can't sleep because I have so much on my mind right now regarding an 8~10 month old male cat I came upon today. I hope you will be able to help me make some decisions.
He (let's call him Jerry) was crying nonstop in a barren back alley where cars pass through. That was how he got me and my boyfriend's attention, and I couldn't just walk away from him. He was shivering and would cringe every time a car passed by, trying to sink further into the dead grass beneath him. Jerry did not want to move an inch from his spot, and there was a full plastic pouch of dry kibbles in front of him. My bf concluded that Jerry had been abandoned very very recently, if not that same day. I agreed, because Jerry's condition did not look bad and his coat was still soft and felt neat.
We took him home and bathed him with flea shampoo. I combed him and definitely came up on flea blood sacs. Jerry did not seem infested with fleas, but I did find one unmistakable flea on his belly during the bath. His previous owner has also left him un-neutered.
I already have two cats (10 month male & 3 month female) at home, and it is a three bedroom apartment. If possible, I would like to avoid adopting Jerry myself. However, I also don't know if I can trust shelters. I live in the 92833 area code of California, and it seems very difficult to locate a shelter or cat adoption organization who is willing to take him in.
Budget is also tight and I want to do what's best for him. I called up my vet for advice and the receptionist recommended an exam along with a fecal matter testing.
What are the first things first I need to get done? Aside from neutering, of course. Is flea meds something that I urgently need ASAP or can it wait? Or is it also an option to give Jerry to a shelter?
Jerry is currently isolated in my bedroom, roaming. He is eating, drinking, and using the litterbox (I forgot how pungent a tomcat's urine smells). He is very friendly and receptive to human touch.
Requesting all advice possible in this situation, especially in the shelter matter. Or how it even goes if one comes upon an abandoned cat. I've never dealt with this situation before and I really want to make sure Jerry has a quality life from this point on.
Thank you,
Rachel K