I know it has been a long time since I have been on the site.
In the time that has passed I moved from a condo to a house. for the last month a cat has consistently come to my patio door. He seemed very friendly and rubbed my legs and talked to me. When ever I said "who's my good boy" he would roll over on his belly and groom himself as if to show me he liked me.
This went on for about a month, then I noticed his eyes where very red, and then pusty, so I decided to try and get him to the vet. I got him in the carrier with food, and kept him in my bathroom (on his own floor away from my other 3 cats). I now also saw his wiskers, many of which were way too short, cut or something?? I went in to feed him every few hours. He was good about being in the bathroom, and was very excited when I came in, but would hiss and try bite (almost attack) me, but after awhile he would calm down... I would talk and look at him from the bottom of the door crack and he would knead against the door, looking back at me and I could hear him purring just becaue I was talking to him. I only had him for 2 nights till my vet was avaible.
Then I took him to the vet. He was very feral (hissing biting and strachting for no reason) with the vet and the technicians and only friendly with me, (I guess the trust I built up over the month...) My vet does help place strays in home, and TNR...my plan with this kitty was to get him neutored and checked out, if he was fine I would have tried to keep him indoors if he was ok with it and my other cats, otherwise I would release him and keep an eye on him as an outdoor cat. He was also very dirty from being outside, and his coat was really rough. The vet said his eyes were infected. He tested him for FELV/FIV and it came back positive for FIV. He said he was not going to be easy to find a home for, would probably not agree to stay indoors, and that we should put him to sleep so he doesn't suffer and infect other cats. He also found evidence of cat fights (missing fur, stratches, old injuries, and the cut wiskers was vrery odd especially since so many were). He told me he was only a little bit over a year old... I went back to take some pictures and see my outdoor buddy for the last time. Then I came home so upset, and did some reading about Felv/FIV on the internet. I am wondering if I did the right thing letting him put him to sleep? I read that some cats can live long lives with FIV? was it the fact that my vet saw sick symtoms that he didn't feel the cat could have a good life? Or the fact that there was no place for him to go? (no home, and I could not keep him because of my other 3 cats).
This was so horrible for me. I thought I was saving/helping him...I can't beleieve I am never going to see him at my patio door again. When I was in the room with him and the technicians saying goodbye, he knew exactly who I was when I came back to see him. He hissed and bit and stracthed the technitians, and rubbed my legs and purred and meowed at me continuously. The technitian said "he obviously recongnizes you, and doesn't like us!" even when he was in the carrier, in the waiting room, when I talked to him, he rolled over and purred away! This was so sad for me, to have to lose a cat who bonded with me so fast....I just hope I did the right thing because right now I feel aweful. This stray cat trusted me, and I feel as if I failed him. I feel terrible!!!!!!
In the time that has passed I moved from a condo to a house. for the last month a cat has consistently come to my patio door. He seemed very friendly and rubbed my legs and talked to me. When ever I said "who's my good boy" he would roll over on his belly and groom himself as if to show me he liked me.
This went on for about a month, then I noticed his eyes where very red, and then pusty, so I decided to try and get him to the vet. I got him in the carrier with food, and kept him in my bathroom (on his own floor away from my other 3 cats). I now also saw his wiskers, many of which were way too short, cut or something?? I went in to feed him every few hours. He was good about being in the bathroom, and was very excited when I came in, but would hiss and try bite (almost attack) me, but after awhile he would calm down... I would talk and look at him from the bottom of the door crack and he would knead against the door, looking back at me and I could hear him purring just becaue I was talking to him. I only had him for 2 nights till my vet was avaible.
Then I took him to the vet. He was very feral (hissing biting and strachting for no reason) with the vet and the technicians and only friendly with me, (I guess the trust I built up over the month...) My vet does help place strays in home, and TNR...my plan with this kitty was to get him neutored and checked out, if he was fine I would have tried to keep him indoors if he was ok with it and my other cats, otherwise I would release him and keep an eye on him as an outdoor cat. He was also very dirty from being outside, and his coat was really rough. The vet said his eyes were infected. He tested him for FELV/FIV and it came back positive for FIV. He said he was not going to be easy to find a home for, would probably not agree to stay indoors, and that we should put him to sleep so he doesn't suffer and infect other cats. He also found evidence of cat fights (missing fur, stratches, old injuries, and the cut wiskers was vrery odd especially since so many were). He told me he was only a little bit over a year old... I went back to take some pictures and see my outdoor buddy for the last time. Then I came home so upset, and did some reading about Felv/FIV on the internet. I am wondering if I did the right thing letting him put him to sleep? I read that some cats can live long lives with FIV? was it the fact that my vet saw sick symtoms that he didn't feel the cat could have a good life? Or the fact that there was no place for him to go? (no home, and I could not keep him because of my other 3 cats).
This was so horrible for me. I thought I was saving/helping him...I can't beleieve I am never going to see him at my patio door again. When I was in the room with him and the technicians saying goodbye, he knew exactly who I was when I came back to see him. He hissed and bit and stracthed the technitians, and rubbed my legs and purred and meowed at me continuously. The technitian said "he obviously recongnizes you, and doesn't like us!" even when he was in the carrier, in the waiting room, when I talked to him, he rolled over and purred away! This was so sad for me, to have to lose a cat who bonded with me so fast....I just hope I did the right thing because right now I feel aweful. This stray cat trusted me, and I feel as if I failed him. I feel terrible!!!!!!
