need advice As soon as possible

Please help! I have been feeding a colony of feral cats in my neighborhood for about a year now. One of the cats appears to be very ill and I don't know what to do. He appeared to be fairly healthy about a year ago when he began coming around. He was friendly and had a noticeable pot belly back then. Since then he has lost that pot belly and a significant amount of weight. He is emaciated and appears sick at this point which is why I am so concerned. He looks like he is starving he is so thin. Yet he does eat and actually has a pretty good appetite. He ate a pouch of wet food earlier this evening and just had some treats a few minutes ago. What could be the problem with this cat? Could worms cause this and should I try deworming him? I can't afford to bring him to a vet, any advice would be appreciated, I am afraid he might die soon if I don't help him but what can I do for him?

It could be worms, but he really needs to see a vet.  Can you contact a rescue group in your area and see if they can help?  It appears as though the cat might be suffering.  Worming can be difficult if you care for so many since it is hard to ensure that the right cat gets the medicine.  Also it can take more than one dose.  Thirdly, you need to know what type of worms as some dewormers will not work on all worms. 

Are all of the cats spayed/neutered?

I live in Mesa, AZ. I don't know if there are rescue groups that could help but I agree he needs to see a vet and it is breaking my heart! Does anyone know of a rescue group in this area??

A quick google search shows there might be some options.  You will need to call around.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mesa+arizona+cat+rescue&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Often times there is a veterinarian somewhere nearby that offers his services at a discount.

Check for all types of feral/stray/home needed etc. organizations. Once you landed some medical help,

you may trap him yourself or call rescue groups to help. I used a tru-catch feral trap. It works great,is easy to set up and quiet when triggered. No loud scary bang.

Again, search hard and you may find financial support. Check all websites and make calls! Call the veterinarians, shelters, and of course feral cat rescue groups. But get him to a vet.

Good luck with all your ferals.

nybody

Alex Drew said:

 
Please help! I have been feeding a colony of feral cats in my neighborhood for about a year now. One of the cats appears to be very ill and I don't know what to do. He appeared to be fairly healthy about a year ago when he began coming around. He was friendly and had a noticeable pot belly back then. Since then he has lost that pot belly and a significant amount of weight. He is emaciated and appears sick at this point which is why I am so concerned. He looks like he is starving he is so thin. Yet he does eat and actually has a pretty good appetite. He ate a pouch of wet food earlier this evening and just had some treats a few minutes ago. What could be the problem with this cat? Could worms cause this and should I try deworming him? I can't afford to bring him to a vet, any advice would be appreciated, I am afraid he might die soon if I don't help him but what can I do for him?

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Is he still friendly? ie can you give him a spot on on his neck?    It should be some whom takes both roundworms and tapeworms, but that is the next question.

That said, deworming is just the easiest possibility.   He can have several other problems.  Some are cureable, while others are more difficult, in practice demanding pts - alike advanced cancer, which is wellknown to ate you alive, in many of the forms of cancer.

Also, IF its "just" worms.  A successful semiferal has usually some immunity against worms.   And thus, him losing suddenly his immunity against worms hints he must have something else too...

So, whatever it it, a good vet should check him up.   Worms or not.