cat missing eye

I put food out because I have a lot of stray cats that come up hungry.. so I'll put the food on the porch and then look out the window and see how many different cats come around.. then i'll go outside and pet them *the ones that allow me to*, Looking out the window today.. there was a little gray cat missing an eyeball. I tried to go outside to look at him after giving him an adequate time to eat.. in case he ran off he would have had time to eat today. I'm assuming a little brat shot him in the eye with a bb gun. My husband wont allow me to take him in.. as we have rescued a lot of cats.. and the vet bills were enormous.. can anyone give me any information on what to do in this situation? Someone I could call to maybe get this cat help.. I wish I knew who did it to this baby...maybe someone could do an investigation? There was another cat that came around last year with the same problem *missing an eye*

The problem is with good-hearted souls like yourself that simply feed cats, that you really do create a problem for those cats. More and more will come to feed, and unless you are able to trap spay and neuter them, I would strongly suggest that you stop feeding. I know this sounds cruel, but I do know what I am talking about. If you have the capabilities to get them to the vet, get them spayed and neutered then by all means do so. You have one that is injured, you want to know what to do, but in the same breath you post that your husband won't let you take a cat in to the vet, so this cat obviously needs vet care that you can't provide? See the conundrum here?

One of our ferals had one eye that was obviously destroyed. When we trapped him for neutering, I had it cleaned up - vet removed what was left and sealed the lid. He has other scars on his head so I assume that he was injured in a fight. I named him Pirate Pete, since he needed an eye patch

Unless you know that there are kids in your area taking potshots at the cats, it was most likely hurt in a fight with another animal. It would be best if you could trap him and have a vet examine him. Are there any groups in your area that might help with this?

I have no idea.. I just found a kitten in.. I brought her inside.. I try to feed them, capture them, and find them a home. The little guy with the bad eye always runs from me when I try to go out and pet him.

Check out http://www.geocities.com/mizozarkros...spetlinks.html

Have you tried contacting any of these groups? Please keep in mind that neutering/spaying these animals is essential.

Originally Posted by hissy

The problem is with good-hearted souls like yourself that simply feed cats, that you really do create a problem for those cats. More and more will come to feed, and unless you are able to trap spay and neuter them, I would strongly suggest that you stop feeding. I know this sounds cruel, but I do know what I am talking about. If you have the capabilities to get them to the vet, get them spayed and neutered then by all means do so. You have one that is injured, you want to know what to do, but in the same breath you post that your husband won't let you take a cat in to the vet, so this cat obviously needs vet care that you can't provide? See the conundrum here?

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Not to be rude or anything.. but I really don't understand what the problem with feeding them is. I mean if they are going to breed.. they are going to do it whether it be in my yard or somewhere else. They are cats that live around the neighborhood and there's nothing I can do to stop them from breeding unless I took all of them in and had them fixed.. I can't afford to do that.. but I can atleast make sure they have dinner. I wish I did have the funds available to do that.. but just because I make sure they have food in their little tummys.. I cant be expected to pay expensive vet bills. Yes this cat does need vet care that I can't provide.. so I should what? Let him starve to death? He's going to suffer with not having an eye whether I feed him or not.. I dont see what difference it makes?? Maybe you could provide in more detail what you mean about the problems I am creating.

They will find food elsewhere if you don't feed them, and perhaps where they find food that person is in line to help them more than you can. The problem is once you put food outside, the cats start to network and more will show up then more and more. This creates an unhealthy colony because of lack of vet care. They need to be in a managed colony, and managed means vet care, food and some supervision. You would be better off to contact rescue organizations in your area and let them come and trap them and relocate them, and help them with vet care. Running outside everytime they eat to pet them, means that you could be bringing something harmful into your home to your own cats. That's what I meant by a problem. With all due respect, just feeding them is not really helping them.

I found this group in Little Rock...perhaps you can call them and see if they know of anyone in your area that could help with TNR.

http://www.teamfurr.org/pages/beginning01.shtml

Here is another group:

Arkansas for Animals
6674 Grant 9
Sheridan, AR 72150
p: 870-942-3465
Toll free 800-956-7289


Friends of the Animals
36 Dogwood Lane
Bella Vista AR 72715
p:501-855-0499


Katie

Okay.. well.. I wasn't trying to be rude.. I just didn't understand.. I hope that they find someone who does take them in and get them vet care..but in the meantime i'm afraid that I can't stop feeding them. Theres a cat out there that I have grown fond of. He has adopted me.. hes been neutered.. but my husband wont allow me to bring him in as I already have 4 cats. So, I started putting food out for him.. but when the other cats came around to eat I didn't mind that either. I wont stop feeding him... because I think of him as mine now.. therefore its my responsibility to make sure he has food in his tummy. Him and a little tortoiseshell cat are the only ones that let me pet them.. the rest run off.. I rarely see the tortoiseshell..she must belong to someone and just come outside sometimes.. I counted about 5 cats in all including the torti and the one I claim as mine, and I make sure to wash my hands and change clothes everytime I come in before going around my cat.. plus my cats got their annual shots last Friday.

Peppersmommy...please contact the groups I provided to you....I know you want to feed this one neutered boy....but now you have 4 other cats that you do not know the status of. Cats can breed many times in a year and if you have even 1 intact female and 1 intact male in that group (regardless of age) then you could potentially end up with multiple litters being born around your home. Now is the time to help these cats by getting them the medical attention they need...spaying/neutering is key so that you do not end up with multiple kittens.

Katie

peppersmommy-

try and find a group to help you, and in the meantime, feed only measured amounts and don't leave food out all the time. It is sort of like the movie field of dreams, if you build it, they will come. If you feed them, more will come, and more and more and more. It is just inevitable.

I found the kitty a home.. She couldn't have been more than 2-3 months.. her teeth hadn't grown in yet. I have a very large family.. combined with my husbands large family.. all of whom love animals.. so I'm hoping I can ask around and see if anyone wants to take these babies in.. and then maybe I can trap them and get them to new homes.