my question to everyone here is: I trapped a stray cat at the colony I manage that was limping. took it to a cat rescue group that had it tested for any contagious diseases . turns out it had to be put down. the colony I manage may or may not have any contagious diseases but to be on safe side. would need to have the two cats I want to find homes for tested and then released back into same colony if tested negative. I do not have any place at my home for any more cats. do I need to wait till someone is willing to tame these two cats before getting them tested. would like your opinion on this issue.
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
the person that was planing to tame the two feral cats had a family medical emergency and the tame
- Thread starter eliza1950
- Start Date
Nay. If your plan is to relaease them, there is no point of taming them before. You do tame them only if you do hope to find them adoptions homes, or so.
Unless you mean, the vet is medically decently competent, but has no clue with working with ferales, and refuses to admit a ferale cat into his office for examination... But if so, there are tricks, like wrapping up the cat, or covering its head. You do it beforehand you go into his office, so he will just do what he is supposed to do, and dont need do nothing else, like handling them.
Also, it the colony isnt tested, and thus may or may not have contagions in them, and these two cats you have in your charge arent visibly sick, or give you suspicion they are sick or are carriers, it really doesnt matters. I myself dont see any real point to test them. You can release them back into their old group.
Nay, the problem is if they are good candidates for fostering. Its only here you are stuck, as the fostering place disappeared. And it would be a pity to release back two good candidates. Not a catastrophe, they are used to this. But a backslash.
The last question. Is testing really necessary, if the cat seems healthy and you yourself want to adopt it? Im not sure. We do usually recommend it, but is it necessary??
But if you want to adopt it out, yes you should test it.
If the cat is visibly sick? Yes.
If the cat has an injury, in itself not very dangerous, as you can do succesfull and not very complicted surgery on? Yes, because you probably dont want to put in good money of surgery and other resources, on a cat you will anyway be forced to put down...
And I suspect that is what happened with your limping cat you tried to save.
Your try to saving wasnt succesfull and become tragic to you. Instead of good life, the only you managed to give it was an easy and quick death - as an alternative to long, miserably dying, full of suffering. Both by the limping and later on, by this disease.
I hope my post did helped some in your plans and your peace of mind.
Good luck!
Last edited:
Hi, Eliza:
Do you know what the cat had that caused the decision to be made to put him down? Many rescues are so stressed, they automatically put down cats with FELV and FIV.
If you are planning to return them to the colony, testing isn't necessary. But if it was up to me, I would test them, just to be aware. FELV is very contagious and will most likely go through the colony. I wouldn't want that to happen. If they have FIV, they can live long and healthy lives with proper nutrition and care. So I think it depends on what, if anything, they test positive for.
If you are planning to foster/find another foster and try to socialize them for adoption, then definitely test them. You and the potential adopters need to know their health status.
Please keep us posted. I feel badly that you've had to go through this. It is sadly a part of trying to help feral and stray cats.
Do you know what the cat had that caused the decision to be made to put him down? Many rescues are so stressed, they automatically put down cats with FELV and FIV.
If you are planning to return them to the colony, testing isn't necessary. But if it was up to me, I would test them, just to be aware. FELV is very contagious and will most likely go through the colony. I wouldn't want that to happen. If they have FIV, they can live long and healthy lives with proper nutrition and care. So I think it depends on what, if anything, they test positive for.
If you are planning to foster/find another foster and try to socialize them for adoption, then definitely test them. You and the potential adopters need to know their health status.
Please keep us posted. I feel badly that you've had to go through this. It is sadly a part of trying to help feral and stray cats.
